Buchanan and Chandler Top Class of 2000

"We're very excited about the Class of 2000," said Hall of Fame Executive Director Edward Brophy. "The 11th class of inductees is highly credible and truly international in scope. All four living inductees are anticipated to attend and participate in 2000 Hall of Fame Weekend festivities."

Buchanan, Chandler, former middleweight champ Carl 'Bobo' Olson and promoter Tito Lectoure, of Argentina, are the four living inductees. The annual Hall of Fame Weekend is scheduled for June 8-11th in Canastota, New York. A celebrity lineup of over 25 boxing greats is expected to attend. The culmination of the weekend is the Official Enshrinement Ceremony on Sunday, June 11th at 2:30 p.m.

"This is my greatest honor in the sport of boxing," said Buchanan. "It's a dream come true and I look forward to making the trip to Canastota, New York."

Chandler said, "I'm exuberant! I have been hoping to get in and as the years went by, I was waiting to get in. Now that it's happened, I'm so happy."

Elected in the Modern Category are: Buchanan, Chandler, Jimmy Carter and Olson. Inductees for the Old-Time Category include Jimmy Barry, Battling Levinsky, Billy Petrolle and Ad Wolgast.

The lone enshrinee for the Pioneer Category was Arthur Chambers. Joining Lectoure in the Non-Participant category are Jeff Dickson and Dan Morgan.

NOTES ON THE CLASS OF 2000:

• Ken Buchanan is the second fighter from Scotland to be inducted. The first, flyweight champ Benny Lynch, entered the Hall of Fame in 1998.

• Jeff Chandler and Battling Levinsky continue the distinguished list of Philadelphia-area boxers in the Hall of Fame. Also enshrined are: Tommy Loughran, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, Joe Frazier, Joey Giardello, Harold Johnson, Lew Tendler, Sonny Liston, Bob Montgomery, Matthew Saad Muhammad and promoter Herman Taylor.

• Throughout his career, Tito Lectoure promoted such Hall of Famers as Carlos Monzon, Pascual Perez, Emile Griffith, Carlos Ortiz, Kid Gavilan, Joe Brown and Luis Rodriguez.

Induction Weekend 2000
The 11th annual IBHOF induction weekend will take place June 8-11. All segments of the boxing community will gather in Canastota, New York, for the four-day celebration. This year's extravaganza will kickoff at 1 p.m. on June 8 with opening ceremonies on the museum grounds and end Sunday afternoon following the induction ceremonies. There are enough events during the weekend to satisfy the appetite of any fistic fan.

Although all the events are worthwhile, Saturday is the key day for boxing aficionados. You can mix and meet with some of the sport's all-time greats and many other boxing celebrities at the Golf Tournament at the Casolwood Golf Course. Meanwhile, across town at Canastota high school, the largest collectors show dedicated exclusively to boxing is going on. Many of the celebrity guests attend the collectors show and are available for autographs.

Saturday evening there is a cocktail party and then it's off to the Rusty Rail for the Banquet of Champions. Then it's back to Graziano's restaurant for debates and laughs into the early morning hours.

Numerous Hall-of-Fame alumni and boxing celebrities attend induction weekend every year. For more information, call 315-697-7095.