Bradley Froch And Rafael Marquez Lead Boxing Hall 2023 Class

On Wednesday the International Boxing Hall of Fame unveiled it’s 2023 class with a very deep cross section of prominent fighters and contributors to the sport out of the ring. This with former world champs Timothy Bradley, Carl Froch and Rafael Marquez leading the way.

The Hall shared the results of the voting online mid-day Wednesday,

The IBHOF Class of 2023 announced! @TimBradleyjr @Carl_Froch Rafael Marquez, Alicia Ashley, Laura Serrano Brad Goodman, Joe Goossen, @bradleyajacobs Seth Abraham, Tim Ryan, Tiger Jack Fox, Pone Kingpetch & JoAnn Hagen to be honored. More info here https://t.co/UR0x1cdTJD pic.twitter.com/lzc3Bo7YtO

— Boxing Hall of Fame (@BoxingHall) December 7, 2022

From their official announcement:

“The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum announced today the members of the Class of 2023. Living inductees include champions Timothy Bradley Jr. (USA), Carl Froch (UK) and Rafael Marquez (Mexico) in the men’s Modern category; champions Alicia Ashley (Jamaica) and Laura Serrano (Mexico) in the women’s Modern category; matchmaker Brad Goodman (USA), trainer Joe Goossen (USA) and promotional executive Brad Jacobs (USA) in the Non-Participant category; and television executive Seth Abraham (USA) and broadcaster Tim Ryan (Canada) in the Observer category.

Posthumous inductees are light heavyweight standout Tiger Jack Fox (USA) and flyweight champion Pone Kingpetch (Thailand) in the Old Timer category and JoAnn Hagen (USA) in the women’s Trailblazer category. Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and a panel of international boxing historians.

“We’re extremely excited about the Class of 2023 and are very much looking forward to honoring the newest class of inductees to earn boxing’s highest honor,” said Executive Director Edward Brophy.

 The 2023 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend is scheduled for June 8-11th in “Boxing’s Hometown.”

Many events will take place in Canastota and nearby Turning Stone Resort Casino throughout the four-day celebration including ringside talks, fist casting, fight night, 5K race / fun run, boxing autograph card show, banquet, parade and induction ceremony. ”

Bradley leads strong list

As for the fighters, etc., here are some quick highlights:

The American Bradley was a two division, unified world champ at junior welterweight and welterweight finishing with a 33-2-1 record. After a successful run as junior welterweight champ that included title wins over Edner Cherry, Lamont Peterson and Joel Casamayor, he won his most notable bout in a controversial 2012 upset of future hall of famer Manny Pacquaio in Las Vegas. That disputed decision earned him the WBO 147 lb. title. He defended the WBO title in March for the 2013 “Fight of the Year” with Ruslan Provodnikov.

Bradley is now prominently seen as an ESPN commentator for their Top Rank Boxing coverage.

The Brit Froch became a world champ defeating Jean Pascal in 12 rounds for the vacant WBC super middleweight title in 2008. He defended the title against Jermain Taylor by TKO and Andre Dirrell on a decision  in the first round of the Super Six World Boxing Classic super middleweight tournament. Froch dropped the belt to Mikkel Kessler later, but rebounded to capture the vacant WBC title from Arthur Abraham by decision. Following a successful defense against American Glen Johnson to advance to the tournament final, he lost a 12-round decision to now, fellow hall of famer Andre Ward.

He later won the IBF 168-pound strap with a 5th round TKO over Lucian Bute in 2012 and the WBA belt with a 12-round decision rematch win over Kessler in 2013. Froch defended both titles in back-to-back wins over fellow countryman George Groves both by TKO by before retiring in 2014. Froch finished with a pro record of 33-2, 24 KOs and has been a prominent commentator for Sky Sports boxing coverage.

The Mexican Marquez was a two division world champ at bantamweight and junior featherweight. He was the IBF 118 lb. champ starting in 2003 and for seven successful defenses. He’s most known for his four fight series to win the 122 lb. WBC and Ring Magazine titles against Israel Vasquez, as he stopped Vasquez in their first meeting. Vasquez won by TKO in the next two fights that both were the 2007 and 2008 “Fights of the Year.” Then, Marquez got a dramatic third round stoppage in their final bout in 2010. He finished his career at 41-9 with 37 KOs.

Jacobs and Goodman are longtime executives with Top Rank Boxing who were also part of the U.S. cable television stalwart and award winning “Tuesday Night Fights” series from the 1980s and 90s. They are still very prominent in Top Rank’s fights/PPV’s to this day.

Goossen is one of the most successful trainers in the sport having worked with Michael “Second To” Nunn to 34 victories including the IBF middleweight championship. He also developed world champions Gabriel Ruelas (WBC super featherweight), Rafael Ruelas (IBF lightweight) and Frankie Liles (WBA super middleweight). In 1988 Goossen was named “Trainer of the Year” by KO Magazine.

Throughout his decades-long career he has worked with Joel Casamayor, Shane Mosley, Riddick Bowe and Chris Arreola among others. In 2005 he was in Diego Corrales’ corner for his remarkable lightweight championship “Fight of the Year” win over Jose Luis Castillo.

Goossen has been a commentator for Fox Sports and Premier Boxing Champions for the past few years, but is still an in-demand trainer working currently with lightweight star Ryan Garcia, as well as Vito Mielnicki Jr. and Frank Sanchez.

Ashley is a Jamacian, who won female world titles in three divisions in the late 2000s and 2010s finishing with a 24-12-1 record and leads the 2023 female inductees.

Abram was the lead executive for two decades for the rise of the award winning “World Championship Boxing” series on HBO and later their TVKO PPV arm for their bigger bouts.

And, Ryan is one of the most known broadcasters of the sport from the 1980s-early 2000s working for CBS’ Saturday afternoon network championship coverage and on numerous boxing pay per views for two decades.