The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum has announced the newest class of inductees to be honored during the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend June 5-8, 2025 in “Boxing’s Hometown” Canastota, NY.
The Class of 2025 includes Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao, “The Pazmanian Devil” Vinny Paz and Michael “Second To” Nunn in the Men’s Modern category; Yessica “Kika” Chavez, Anne Sophie Mathis and Mary Jo Sanders in the Women’s Modern category; Cathy “Cat” Davis in the Women’s Trailblazer category; referee Kenny Bayless, cut man Al Gavin (posthumous) and referee Harry Gibbs (posthumous) in the Non-Participant category; broadcaster / journalist Randy Gordon and television producer Ross Greenburg in the Observer category; Rodrigo Valdez (posthumous) in the Old Timer category and Owen Swift (posthumous) in the Pioneer category.
paz? like arturo gatti does not belong in the hall of fame! if thats the case let ricardo mayorga or fernando vargas in
The IBHOF mandates 3-5 male boxers from the “modern” era must be inducted every year. This inane rule allows a lot of fighters whose careers were just good to very good to enter. IMO Pacquiao is this year’s only deserving member.
Vinny Pazienza was very popular and fought bigger names across a wider weight range than Gatti. Not sure he deserves to be in but I’d choose him over Gatti.
Personally, I don’t care for the idea of a Hall of Fame for any sport. There should be a museum for each sport so you can show the true history, not just glorify guys who were never caught using steroids. Also, you don’t have to wonder what to do with past inductees who go on to commit heinous crimes.
Paz does not merit. I agree, it’s like Gatti who made great fights, was entertaining but not worthy.
Did Vinnie Paz ever win any of his biggest fights? His comeback from his injuries was
miraculous, I’ll give him that. Maybe that’s why they are letting him in.
There are so many fighters worthy for different reasons. Belts and victories are only 2 of them.
Boxing is about entertainment and very few were as fun to watch as Arturo Gatti!
You knew you were going to get your moneys worth every time he stepped in that ring. A True Warrior. Definitely worthy of the hall of fame.
Wins vs losses are way overrated anyhow, especially on the judges cards.
There are many fighters with great records that would put the spectators to sleep but they are hall worthy as well in their own way.
Hell I would vote for Emmanuel Agustus to be in the hall. That dude was amazing too!!
That bar is getting lower and lower now. Never would have thought Paz would get in before Eubank & Benn. Meldrick Taylor’s shot to get in some day probably just got bigger. Yuri Arbachakov and Pongsaklek’s chances just got bigger… Fernando Vargas, Ike Quartey…. Jorge Arce. You have to take a look at all of those guys now.
Anne Sophie Mathis is also getting in. Easily one of the hardest punching women there’s ever been. Her ko of Holly Holm was, far and away, one of THE most sickening I have ever seen.
Spot on Lucie!!! I’m thinking how Eubank and especially Benn were riveting in their weight class and while Fernando basically lost in the fights that really mattered, he still made for must see TV!! Damn, Ricardo Mayorga would’ve starched Vinny!!
With Gatti and now Paz, you’re putting guys in who most certainly were not GREAT (and you saw how far away they were from great when Gatti fought Mayweather and when Paz fought Roy Jones), but really good fighters who were VERY exciting… absolutely Nigel Benn belongs. Vargas at least beat Quartey and Winky. I’m fine with none of them being in, but if you put Paz in….
Al Gavin, RIP. Well deserved.
Whether Paz deserves to get in or not is up for debate, but from first hand experience, when I first began serious boxing training back in the 1990’s, I used to watch him and Brian the Bull Barbosa spar; made me fall in love with the sport, that and the smell of the blood and sweat as well as the sounds of the speed and heavy bags. They used to put on a show. Pacman is obvious, and Nunn is up for debate as well. They definitely are lowering the bar, but fighters don’t have long careers with dozens of fights like back in the day, so someone has to get in for nostalgia purposes.
The Intrnt’l Hall should lead with gladiatorial mer·i·to·ri·ous, but is rather ‘selecting’ by fame and then name. Mr. Nunn and Mr. Pazienza should be in the room of honorable mentions, like many other subpar pugilists. Micheal Spinks, Jeff Fenech and Muhammad Ali to name a few.
If Michael Spinks and Muhammad Ali don’t deserve to be in the hall, who does?
The fact remains Mr. Ali incurred health erosion career long for not honouring his craft healthfulness synchronicities.
For Mr. Spinks to exit a gladiatorial sport on his loss to Mr. Tyson is not worthy to be honoured alongside those with longevity, who persevered, and are conquerors of in-ring psychological deficits. Boxiana is an intellectual and gladiatorial mastery foremost. The aforementioned do not exemplify these uncommon credentials.
Once again, so who does belong? Give me a few names. I’m sure I’ll find something to criticize about your choices.
Provocative Coach but ass backwards… the undisputed LH and subsequent lineal HW champ with only one loss should not be inducted?!
Joe Louis left the sport as a KO by victim, so he doesn’t get HOF kudos either? I want to read your defense of the indefensible Coach…
Showing your ignorance as usual, boxing coach lol not in a million years maybe a tennis ciach or the like
If they inducted Calderon, we can expect anything from Canastota.
Some second tier elite talent has be inducted or else the Hall would stagnate. There is a thoughtful limit to this.. Nunn is digestible because he was briefly elite. Respectfully, Paz and Gatti should get no love on the HOF level of the sport.
Not briefly, Nunn was elite for a number of years. lol!
Great to see Michael Nunn getting in!
An IBHOF fighter varies from fan to fan. When I think of an IBHOF fighter, I think of a fighter who has:
1) a high skill level (chess). In my mind, I have to think that fighter is very special. This highly skilled, very special fighter could present any boxing style.
2) multiple title belts, belts in multiple weight classes and/or multiple title defenses in one (1) weight class (5 or more defenses).
3) far, far more wins than losses.
4) abilities to win major fights.
5) at least 30-35 fights.
I do not watch enough women’s boxing to make a full determination. As for the men, I see PacMan and Nunn as IBHOF fighters. Paz was tough, good, entertaining and gritty, but I do not believe he satisfied all five (5) requirements above summarized – I never thought of Paz as a very special fighter, but he was good, though.
Please feel free to add to the above IBHOF requirements.
So Usyk won’t get in (<30 fights)?
One of the most recent ones is tim Bradley. Good fighter, but not for the hall of fame.
I have said before and I will say it again…it is called the Hall of Fame…not the Hall of Great fighters. Correct me if I am wrong but I do not believe Aaron Davis is in. The reason I mention it is because I remember Davis really doing a number on Paz yet Paz going on to a title shot against Lucas and Davis barely being heard of again. My point is Davis was much better but Paz was more famous. I get where many do not think it is fair but Paz like Ray Mancini had a story and charisma that put butts in seats and got people to tune in. He had fame so if one takes the name Hall of Fame literally I understand why he got in.
I know I need glasses but Paz in the HOF?Am I seeing right?
Last year’s class wasn’t too good either…….I love boxing but Paz only beat an old Duran! He got a gift on his first Haugen fight……Mayweather schooled him….etc etc
Whether deserving or not fighters like Gatti put asses in seats and exposed the sweet science to a lot of fans that might never have tuned in otherwise.
It’s awesome to be an armchair computer warrior whom tosses out stats etc, but the bottom line it was their ass taking punches not yours and they did it for YOUR entertainment so have some class.
Every fighter that steps between the ropes deserves our respect.