BOXING PERSONALITIES COMMENT ON CLASS OF 2003On The Class of 2003
- Angelo Dundee, trainer, 1992 Hall of Fame Inductee. "The selectors for the International Boxing Hall of Fame, who are the experts in boxing, will regard the Class of 2003 with great respect." - Arthur Mercante, referee, 1995 Hall of Fame Inductee. "I think they are very deserving selections. This is definitely a great class of inductees." - Emanuel Steward, trainer, 1996 Hall of Fame Inductee. "The Class of 2003 certainly lives up to expectations. It's made up of great new entries into the Hall of Fame and they will be well received by fistic followers." - Hank Kaplan, boxing historian. On George Foreman "George Foreman was probably one of the most interesting people in boxing in a million years! Here's a guy that laid off for ten years, came back a different individual than we knew. Prior to his comeback he was a tough guy, and he came back mellow. He was remarkably good for boxing. He's done so many nice things. It was a joy to be around him and to work with him." - Angelo Dundee, trainer, 1992 Hall of Fame Inductee "George Foreman was menacing in his appearance and also menacing in his power. He was very focused as a heavyweight, very powerful and was devastating." - Arthur Mercante, referee, 1995 Hall of Fame Inductee. "I think he's one of the most amazing athletes and individuals of our lifetime. Throughout his whole professional career, he was always such an extremely strong person not just physically, but mentally as well. He's one of the individuals that I have total respect for in every facet of life. He's been good for boxing." - Emanuel Steward, trainer, 1996 Hall of Fame Inductee. "Great role model for boxing. A great performer. He made an impact on the sports history to the extent that he'll probably figure into anybody's top 10 all-time heavyweights." - Hank Kaplan, boxing historian. On Mike McCallum "Mike McCallum is an artist. He had some moves that were reinvented in the art of boxing. A tremendously interesting fighter because he was able to counteract a lot of styles and beat a lot of people. He was a heck of a fighter." - Angelo Dundee, trainer, 1992 Hall of Fame Inductee "His record speaks for itself. He was a great fighter." - Arthur Mercante, referee, 1995 Hall of Fame Inductee. "Mike McCallum is the most natural boxer I've ever worked with. He had tremendous natural talent and did everything with so much ease. His talent has never been appreciated properly and it's really good to see him getting the respect now." - Emanuel Steward, trainer, 1996 Hall of Fame Inductee. "Beautiful boxer/puncher. Great body puncher. He realized that if you kill the body the head will die. He's a beautiful selection for induction into the Hall of Fame." - Hank Kaplan, boxing historian. On Curtis Cokes "Curtis Cokes was a tall and lanky banger who utilized his height real well. He was a tough guy to get to." - Angelo Dundee, trainer, 1992 Hall of Fame Inductee. "He comes from the era that I was brought up in. A very tough gladiator." - Arthur Mercante, referee, 1995 Hall of Fame Inductee. "Cokes was in an era when there were lots of good fighters out there. He was a great right hand puncher with lots of patience. As a trainer, he's been nothing but a gentleman and I'm glad to see him getting his glory." - Emanuel Steward, trainer, 1996 Hall of Fame Inductee. "Great straight right hand puncher, a wonderful boxer, and very disciplined. A very deserving entry into the Hall of Fame." - Hank Kaplan, boxing historian. On Nicolino Locche "I had the pleasure of watching him operate. He was slick, smart, and played the ropes. He was like Willie Pep meaning he could stay in one spot and you wouldn't be able to hit him. He was a very smart fighter." - Angelo Dundee, trainer, 1992 Hall of Fame Inductee. "Argentina has produced many champions and great fighters and Locche was one of the standouts." - Arthur Mercante, referee, 1995 Hall of Fame Inductee. "He was one of the great products out of Argentina. A tremendous boxer, very busy and a great technician." - Emanuel Steward, trainer, 1996 Hall of Fame Inductee. "Locche was the closest thing to Willie Pep. He was a defensive marvel known as 'The Untouchable' and he truly deserved that name. He was entertaining to watch and was a great performer. He follows in the great tradition of Argentine champions." - Hank Kaplan, boxing historian. On Budd Schulberg "He's the man! Anybody wants to know about Ali vs. Foreman in Zaire just call Budd Schulberg. He was there from day one and he was a joy to have around." - Angelo Dundee, trainer, 1992 Hall of Fame Inductee. "Without a doubt one of the greatest writers of the past century. He is a great student of boxing and his boxing movies set standards for all future boxing movies." - Hank Kaplan, boxing historian. On Jack Fiske "Jack Fiske. What a man! My friend! One of the great columnists of our time. He was so good for boxing." - Angelo Dundee, trainer, 1992 Hall of Fame Inductee. "Jack Fiske was a brilliant writer. He said what his heart dictated him to say." - Arthur Mercante, referee, 1995 Hall of Fame Inductee. "A very good boxing man. He was the voice of boxing for the West Coast. I developed a good relationship with him and he called it like he saw it. He was very good for boxing." - Emanuel Steward, trainer, 1996 Hall of Fame Inductee. "People looked eagerly to his bi-weekly boxing columns. He could pack more information into his column than most writers could in a whole page." - Hank Kaplan, boxing historian. |