2025 Induction Weekend

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

CLASS OF 2025 HONORED DURING HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION WEEKEND IN BOXING'S HOMETOWN

CANASTOTA, NEW YORK

CANASTOTA, NY - JUNE 8, 2025 – Over 40 boxing legends of yesterday and today, members of the worldwide boxing community and thousands of boxing aficionados from around the world congregated in Canastota to celebrate the “sweet science” and recognize the Class of 2025 as they joined boxing’s immortals as Hall of Famers.

The Official Induction Ceremony capped a fun-filled four-day weekend. A multitude of memorable events took place including a 5K Race / Fun Run, boxing autograph card show and Parade of Champions. A variety of activities took place on the Museum Grounds, including the popular "ringside talk" question and answer sessions, celebrity fist casting, raffles and a silent auction. Evening events included Friday night’s Fight Night at Turning Stone and Saturday’s Banquet of Champions at Turning Stone Resort Casino

The Official Induction Ceremony took place in the Oneida / Mohawk room at Turning Stone.

Inductees in Canastota included boxing stars Manny Pacquiao, Vinny Paz, Michael Nunn, Yessica Chavez, Anne Sophie Mathis, Mary Jo Sanders, Cat Davis, referee Kenny Bayless, broadcaster / journalist Randy Gordon and television producer Ross Greenburg. Living honorees received the official Hall of Fame Induction Certificate and Hall of Fame ring symbolizing their status as Hall of Famers.

The ceremony began with popular ring announcer David Diamante introducing the boxing legends to the dais. Congratulatory messages for the Class of 2025 from WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman and former WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel followed before the official induction process began.

Former middleweight champion Rodrigo “Rocky” Valdez, bare-knuckle champion Owen Swift, cutman Al Gavin and referee Harry Gibbs were inducted posthumously

The Hall of Fame accepted for Swift and Gibbs and will forward Hall of Fame honors to their families.

Gavin’s son, Al Gavin Jr. and Valdez’s son, Rodrigo Valdez Jr., were both on hand for the ceremony and took home the Hall of Fame certificate of their loved one

Former HBO president Greenburg was the first living member of the Class of 2025 to accept Hall of Fame honors and reflected on landmark moments in HBO Boxing history.

"We told the stories of these boxers. Every fight was a mini movie for us. We gave you stories outside the ropes and then we called it inside the ropes. The sights and sounds were mesmerizing. Lampley’s ‘It happened' when George Foreman unloaded the right hand on Michael Moorer. Jim’s call ‘Mike Tyson has been knocked out’ and Larry Merchant saying ‘It’s over, it’s over.' Two sentences we thought we’d never hear. These memories are there forever,” Greenburg said.

Former chairman of the NYS Athletic Commission Gordon was up next.

“Believe in yourself. Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve. Can’t be done, won’t be done, and cannot be done? Tell that to Vinny Paz. We can do it," said Gordon.

Veteran referee Bayless was next to speak.

“The crowning moment for me was Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. When I did that fight I was in heaven. I want to congratulate the inductees past and present. I’m thankful to the Lord for watching over me. I want to thank my family. God Bless,” said Bayless.

Trailblazer Davis was next to deliver acceptance remarks.

“I want to let you know a little bit how you’ve made me feel…spectacular! This is a dream I never even had because we didn’t know anybody was ever going to accept us. We fought outside of the ring just to get inside the ring. I won’t remember your names but in the future some time your face will pop into my head and I’ll just smile remembering how you made me feel,” Davis said.

Mathis, the first female boxer from France to be inducted, accepted next and offered words of encouragement.

“Thank you to everyone near and far who contributed to this incredible adventure. This Hall of Fame belongs to each of you too. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Now I have a new family… the Boxing Hall of Fame.” Mathis said

Mexico’s two division champion, Chavez delivered a heartfelt speech.

“Here we are. Those kids who once dreamed of being world champions. Here we are those who love to give the best of us day after day to entertain the world of boxing. And it is all of us here who understand and cherish what the International Boxing Hall of Fame is all about. We made it through the grace of God and our hard work and dedication.” said Chavez.

Detroit’s Sanders, whose father Charlie Sanders is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was next.

“Good afternoon Canastota, NY! This whole weekend has been a rebirth, a resurgence, a recharge. Thank you to the Hall of Fame for that. I’m honored to be in such beautiful company...I’ve never felt closer to my dad than right now. He was an absolute example. I love you, Dad! I am Mary Jo Sanders. I am my father’s daughter and my daddy’s girl. And I am an International Boxing Hall of Famer!” said Sanders.

The pride of Davenport, Iowa, "Second To" Nunn spoke next.

“I’ve been through a lot but I’m a survivor and I know how to get knocked down and get up. To be here today getting inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame is probably the biggest thing to ever accomplish and I’m very thankful,” said Nunn

The colorful “Pazmanian Devil” Paz accepted next.

“I’m so glad to be here and so happy you are all here sharing this with me. It don’t get any better. I say I got lucky but it’s not really luck, it's kickass power and a lot of hard work. I fought my balls off for you guys! Thank you. This right now is Paz land! ” said Paz

Boxing’s only 8-division champion and pride of the Philippines Pacquiao was the last to receive Hall of Fame honors.

“Boxing gave me a way out. It turned my struggles into strength, my failures into lessons and my pain into purpose” said Pacquiao. “I never chased greatness. I just worked hard to be better than the Manny Pacquiao I was yesterday. But greatness isn’t what you call yourself, it is how you live your life and how you inspire others. Some ask who is the greatest of all time? That is not for me to decide. It belongs to the fans. It belongs to history.”

Among the boxing stars on hand for the weekend were Hall of Fame alumni Bob Arum, Al Bernstein, Ivan Calderon, Joe Cortez, Chiquita Gonzalez, Brad Jacobs, Roy Jones Jr., Jackie Kallen, Jim Lampley, Christy Martin, Erik Morales, J Russell Peltz, Marc Ratner, Freddie Roach, Michael Spinks and Felix Trinidad.

Other special guests in attendance included Billy Backus, Gerry Cooney, Ray Mercer, Kelly Pavlik, Shawn Porter, John H. Stracey and Micky Ward.

The Grand Marshal of the 2025 Parade of Champions was actress and producer Sydney Sweeney, who will portray Hall of Famer Christy Martin in an upcoming biopic.

WEEKEND NOTES:

FIGHT NIGHT AT TURNING STONE – Turning Stone Resort Casino hosted an exciting night of professional boxing promoted by Salita Promotions and streamed live on DAZN. The action packed card saw Brandon Moore successfully defend his USBA heavyweight title and Franchon Crews-Dezurn retain her WBC/WBA female super middleweight championships. Local favorite Bryce Mills scored a scintillating first round knockout to up his record to 19-1 (7 KOs).

IN THIS CORNER – For the eighth year, James “Smitty” Smith, host of the popular In This Corner TV podcast, handled emcee duties for the weekend. “Smitty” hosted the “Ringside Talk” question and answer sessions held on the Museum Grounds each day where fans had the unique opportunity to ask boxing stars questions directly. The long-time radio and TV broadcaster also emceed Saturday evening’s Banquet of Champions.

BOOK SIGNINGS –Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley answered fans’ questions about his biography IT HAPPENED! A Uniquely Lucky Life in Sports Television. Author and ESPN boxing analyst / essayist Mark Kriegel also fielded questions from fans on his latest book BADDEST MAN. Both graciously singed copies of their books for fans on the Museum Grounds.

HIGH SCHOOL AMBASSADORS – For the fourth year, the Hall of Fame partnered with the Canastota school district for a leadership program. Since September, 30 high school students have learned skills including communications, event planning, hospitality, professional image and marketing. They took the classroom lessons and put them to real world use by volunteering as “Event Ambassadors” at the gift shop, raffle, silent and live auctions and membership booth during Hall of Fame Weekend.

SANDERS MET WITH STUDENTS – 2025 Hall of Fame Mary Jo Sanders was a featured guest at a special assembly for students at the South Side Elementary School. Sanders graciously answered questions and offered advice about never giving up on your dreams. The new Hall of Famer posed for photos and signed autographs for the appreciative students. The students particularly enjoyed the opportunity to hold world championship belts.

SIRIUS XM LIVE FROM CANASTOTA – 2025 Hall of Famer Randy Gordon hosted his SiriusXM show At The Fights live from the Hall of Fame Grounds on Friday, June 6. Along with co-host Gerry Cooney, Gordon interviewed boxing stars and shared stories about Hall of Fame Weekend with their many listeners.

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE for the 2025 Hall of Fame Weekend festivities were COO of The Ring Rick Reeno, executive chef and star of Chopped Chris Santos, DAZN host Ak Reyes, In This Corner TV co-host Lee Groves, promoter Sean Gibbons, International Secretary & Global Chair of WBC Cares Jill Diamond, WBO supervisor Russell Mora, referees Mark Nelson, Robert Byrd and Tony Weeks; judges Patricia Morse Jarman, Glen Feldman, Don Trella, Tom Schreck and Don Ackerman; ringside physician Dr. Raimundo Leon.

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TURNING STONE RESORT CASINO

OFFICIAL RESORT CASINO OF THE INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME WEEKEND

The multi-year partnership between Turning Stone Resort Casino and the International Boxing Hall of Fame spotlights the entire region, garnering national attention and boosting tourism in Central New York. The partnership includes a series of nationally-televised boxing events at Turning Stone, culminating every y ear in June with an elaborate and bigger-than-ever International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend with several exciting events in Madison County and Oneida County throughout the four-day celebration.

The Class of 2025 (left to right): Yessica Chavez, Michael Nunn, Anne Sophie Mathis, Ross Greenburg, Manny Pacquiao, Vinny Paz, Randy Gordon,

Mary Jo Sanders & Kenny Bayless