Micky Ward To Return To Canastota

International Boxing Hall of Fame 1 Hall of Fame Drive Canastota, NY 13032 P: 315.697.7095 F: 315.697.5356

“IRISH” MICKY WARD TO RETURN TO CANASTOTA

FOR 2012 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND

CANASTOTA, NY - FEBRUARY 1, 2012 - The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced today “Irish” Micky Ward, whose life was portrayed in the Academy Award-winning motion picture The Fighter, will attend festivities planned for the 23rd Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend set for June 7-10th.

“Micky Ward was a true warrior inside the ropes,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “He is a fan favorite and we’re so excited to welcome him back to Canastota.”

Boxing out of Lowell, MA, Ward was one of boxing's most exciting fighters. He turned pro in 1985 and used a crowd-pleasing style to register a 38-13 (27 KOs) record that includes wins over Shea Neary, Reggie Green and Emanuel Burton. In 2002 and 2003 Ward engaged in an epic trilogy with Arturo “Thunder” Gatti (1-2). Following their third bout Ward announced his retirement from the ring. During his career, he was in “Fight of the Year” three times (2001 vs. Burton, 2002 and 2003 vs. Gatti). The Fighter, an Academy Award-winning motion picture chronicling his life, featured Mark Wahlberg as Ward and Christian Bale as his brother / trainer Dicky Eklund.

Events planned for the weekend include a banquet, a heavyweight bash, parade, golf tournament, boxing autograph card show, cocktail party and the Official Induction Ceremony honoring the Class of 2012. Living inductees to be honored at the Official Induction Ceremony on Sunday, June 10th are multi-division champion Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, two-division champion

Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson, “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble” ring announcer Michael Buffer, trainer Freddie Roach, broadcaster Al Bernstein and journalist Michael Katz. Posthumous inductees will also be honored.

An impressive list of over 40 boxing greats from the United States and abroad are scheduled to participate in weekend festivities.

For more information on the Hall of Fame’s 23rd Annual Induction Weekend please call (315) 697-7095 or visit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InternationalBoxingHallofFame and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BoxingHall.

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Hall of Fame Weekend June 7-10th

"Irish" Micky Ward