The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum announced today the members of the Class of 2023.
Living inductees include Timothy Bradley Jr. (USA), Carl Froch (UK) and Rafael Marquez (Mexico) in the men’s Modern category; Alicia Ashley (Jamaica) and Laura Serrano (Mexico) in the women’s Modern category; matchmaker Brad Goodman (USA), trainer Joe Goossen (USA) and promotional executive Brad Jacobs (USA) in the Non-Participant category; and television executive Seth Abraham (USA) and broadcaster Tim Ryan (Canada) in the Observer category.
Posthumous inductees are light heavyweight standout Tiger Jack Fox (USA) and flyweight champion Pone Kingpetch (Thailand) in the Old Timer category and JoAnn Hagen (USA) in the women’s Trailblazer category.
The 2023 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend is scheduled for June 8-11 in Canastota, New York.
Absolutely cannot stand Carl Froch but, to give him his respect, I guess I’m not too surprised he got in. I think he would have been borderline and he has been out for over 8 years, so I guess he waited long enough. I think Bradley was going to get in anyway as a combination of his career in the ring and broadcasting (same thing will happen with Sean Porter someday, in my opinion) and I’m now wondering if Izzy Vazquez gets in someday now that Marquez has.
Good for Laura Serrano & Joe Goosen as well.
I remember Froch’s girl constantly screaming his name throughout the entire fight. I think he deserves to get in for sure. He fought every good fighter in a stacked division, took Bute and Pascal’s 0’s, avenged his loss to Kessler, who was a beast, had that dramatic comeback in against Taylor when he was still good. Beat Abraham when he was highly regarded. Only other loss was to Andre Ward in a boring fight that reminded me of the first Roy Jones- Hopkins fight. He won about 4-5 rounds from a guy that rarely lost any in his prime. Bradley was a hard fighter but he doesn’t belong in the hall. He lost the pacquiao fight handily. Horrible decision. Good determined fighter but not great. The Marquez fights against Vasquez were absolutely incredible. That being said I could go either way with him getting in. Froch most deserving of the 3 IMO.
I don’t know, the Hall seems to be a little generous these days with inductions, IMO. I think eligible fighters should have at least 40 pro fights with at least 10 of those being world title bouts and/or defenses, with a winning record in those title bouts, and a low rate of KO/TKO losses. In that case, Bradley and Froch fall short with 35 fights, and Marquez falls short due to being stopped 7 out of 9 losses. Tough one to call, but I think these guys fall just little short. Why not Hatton or Benn, if these guys got in? Fighters somewhat recently inducted into the hall include Mayweather, Mosley, Hopkins, klitschko, Jones Jr, and Toney, all had well over 40 fights and easily over ten championship bouts, that’s Hall of Fame worthy.
I think that 40 fights is a bit heavy, especially going forward, but if you just look at it as it would be now – Andre Ward and Kostya Tszyu neither have 40.
Guys like Lomachenko, Spence Jr., probably even Inoue and definitely Katie Taylor have virtually no shot to hit 40. They came up in an era where the best fighters fought twice a year, three times maximum and that’s not their fault.
I think Hatton eventually gets in. I don’t think Nigel Benn does.
Thank you Lucie for being subtle about how you feel about Carl Froch!!! LOL!!!! BTW about your comment yesterday I think Muarata might too much for Martinez at his age not sure about Zerafa. Sorry off this topic. I hope to go to Hall of Fame weekend some day..it is on my bucket list.
Murata may be too far of a reach. I was thinking he’s getting up there as well and he’s only had one fight in the last 3 years and he lost it, but it was against GGG.
Lucien Bute retired and Carl Froch wished him well and he added something at the end like, “thanks for giving me the opportunity to sting you”, or something like that – unnecessary, arrogant ass.
A 40 fight rule would be purely arbitrary.
Nigel Benn deserves it more than Bradley.
I remember Pone Kingpetch fighting when I was a kid. Guess that puts me in the old timers category, too!!!!
Seems like he was flyweight champion forever back then.
This is a tough modern day IBHOF matter because I get into discussions with family members, friends and strangers. Unlike old school fighters (maybe before 1970), modern day fighters are not fighting as often (I still enjoy it). Individuals argue top modern day fighters (maybe after 1970) are/were not facing each other as often (different time periods/new financial plans).
Therefore, here is my version of modern day requirements for the IBHOF (maybe for fighters during/after 1975) and please feel free to adjust it to your version:
1) At least 20 fights.
2) At least five (5) title defenses against opponents ranked in the top five (5).
3) If a fighter has less than 5 title defenses, then have at least two (2) titles in different weight classes; but earned against opponents ranked in the top three (3).
4) No more than ten (10) losses.
Just tossing it out there to see what sticks.
Good luck.
What if he is a heavyweight that is in only one weight class? So many weight classes now that being a champion in more than one is not Henry Armstrong worthy.
Why took so long to give Pone Kingpetc his place in the IBHOF?
The IBHOF lost all credibility when Sven Ottke didn’t get in on the first ballot.
froch beat down roy jones pretty good bradley has a major win over pac man but after that i cant recall anything of note
Calzaghe beat Jones, not Froch.
Timothy Bradley Jr. does not deserve to be in the boxing hall of fame.
Middleweight Champ Al Hostak belongs in this HOF. Check his record and the guys he fought in the 30’s and 40’s and tell me I’m wrong.