Jose Torres

"I wish I could start this speech by saying, that you were so unenthusiastic when he was mentioning names from 1908, 1910, the turn of the century, I said to Sugar Ray that there was only one person here who knew those guys personally, Archie Moore. But in any event, you know boxing is a dynamic sport, a dynamic business. It has to go through changes like everything else. And like everything else boxing is not a perfect business. There are some perceptions in the public's mind, in the fan's mind, about boxer's always being abused by managers and trainers and promoters. And I said, nothing is perfect, even governments are not perfect. And boxing is equally imperfect. But we have to keep trying to better boxing. To improve boxing. To make fighters more progressive. To get fighters to get a voice to be more independent. To be able to argue the points. And to be able to make decisions. And I'm hoping that -- to get more boxers to make more money, that's what we need. You as a boxing a fan feels that too many organizations perhaps confuse you. Too many organizations have made more money for fighters. Because we have more champions. And the more champions we have the more money they make.

"But I must clarify that champions are always the few, in every business and in every sport. And I'd like to close by saying, that fighters, contenders, champions, those young men, now not too young because George Foreman is changing that, but boxers of all ages, they are so smart. They are so intelligent. And I want you to know that a boxing contest at each higher level is not a contest of physical abilities. It is a contest of character and intelligence. The champion and the contender is always the more, most intelligent. So when you see young people and not so young people coming here, to receive and to be a member of an International hall of fame, those are excellent, outstanding, not only, physically, but intellectually, young men and that's why I'm so proud to be a member of this people who are here, oh [He sees Christy Martin] women. I forgot. Of course, young boxers include male and female. You have seen this lady here in the ring, she is very, very smart. And I think she's going to be champion for a long time. So thank you, thank you Canastota. Thank you those responsible for getting me here to receive this great award. I will keep coming to Canastota every year and I hope that before I die I see more young boxers, men and women, together, getting better treatment from trainers and promoters and their colleagues and managers, because we are people who like to work hard and we like to receive the product at the end. Like we are doing here. Thank you and good luck."