This Sunday a new line of immortals were inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. The new breed of great characters who wrote a chapter in the history of boxing included: Vitali Klitschko, Erik Morales, Winky Wright (boxers), Klaus -Peter Kohl (promoter), Steve Albert and Jim Gray (journalists), in addition to the posthumous honor category Sid Terris (legend) and Johnny Addie (announcer), in addition to Lorraine Chargin (non-participant).
The class of 2018 immortalized its name into the golden books of boxing history through much effort and success to put the finishing touch on the journey at this Sunday’s ceremony in one of the best events of world boxing this year. They received the much awaited image inside the Canastota museum that accredits them as a boxing immortal.
As usual before receiving this distinction, all the elected members share their experiences and joys with those present and this year was no exception.
At the taking the microphone, Vitali Klitschko turned back time to his teenage days and his first steps, and saw in Mike Tyson an idol to follow. “If you want to be great you have to surround yourself with the best team, this is what a friend told me, and this is what I did,” the great Ukrainian champion recalled.
“You always have to dream and have goals to achieve things. Whoever does not dream does not win,” he concluded.
Erik Morales, on the other hand, extended his gratitude to all the people who collaborated with him to reach the top of Mount Everest in boxing, including agencies, coaches, and their families.
In addition, the idol of Mexico told an anecdote through which he recalled an occasion when, in the beginning, he was left with his gloves on, without doing what he likes most, and stated that his maturity as a boxer was thanks to the quality of opposition that he faced throughout his career, including his compatriot Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao, among others.
As every year, journalists also enter through the front door, who do not lose any footfall to the great champions. This is the case of Jim Gray, who was accompanied on the spot by Mike Tyson, with whom he wove a close relationship by working for big networks such as ESPN and Showtime.
“I understood Mike as a human being, something that not everyone managed,” said Gray, who thanked the promoters for granting the spaces.
Another who highlighted the best of his career was the American Winky Wright. To be the best in his years, he said, he had to fight with the best and he feels that he can hold his head high to have fought with other legends.
“That’s the formula for success: getting into the ring with the best, thanks for that to my opponents and the great champions of yesterday,” Wright closed by saying.
All the inducted fighters saw action at the time under the ranks of the World Boxing Association (WBA) and without a doubt are the living example that boxing is a vehicle for social improvement and great agent of change.
