International Boxing HOF delays induction to 2021

With the Coronavirus pandemic continuing to widen and escalate, it’s no surprise that Sunday night the International Boxing Hall of Fame had to officially postpone its 2020 induction ceremony in upstate New York.

The Hall released a statement on its website and social media confirming what had been believed for several weeks, that the ceremony will not take place in June but rather, 15 months from now in combination with the 2021 ceremony:

IBHOF announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Class of 2020 & the Class of 2021 will be enshrined together during the 2021 Induction Weekend scheduled for June 10-13 in “Boxing’s Hometown.”

For more info please visit the IBHOF’s website here https://t.co/8R6NcCHnmB pic.twitter.com/xDR473UQUi

— Boxing Hall of Fame (@BoxingHall) March 29, 2020

The Hall’s executive director updated the unique adjustment to not only postponing, but now having two classes be inducted at the same time a year from now,

“By combining the celebrations of the Induction Classes of 2020 and 2021, the Hall of Fame can honor inductees with all the bells and whistles that the Hall of Fame Weekend is known for and provide each inductee with the recognition they each so richly deserve,” said Edward Brophy.

“By honoring the two classes in a one-of-a-kind Induction Weekend, the Hall of Fame will be able to put all the winning combinations together for the inductees, fans and the entire sport of boxing.”

As we wrote previously, the International HOF had been holding out hope that the COVID-19 outbreak would be better contained, enabling them to make a decision later in April or early May to continue to have their scheduled ceremony in June.

However, in New York City alone, the number of confirmed cases and deaths escalated for several days last week essentially making the decision for the HOF.

This 2020 class is star-studded, including former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Bernard “the Executioner” Hopkins. Hopkins was inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame last August.

Other fighters going in include, multi-division World Champion Juan Manuel Marquez and one of the most dynamic fighters of the Welterweight and Jr. Middleweight divisions in the early 2000’s, former two division World Champ, “Sugar Shane” Mosley.

This was also the first year that females have been inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame, and that included former world champion fighters Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker. The International Hall will also induct promoters Lou Dibella, Kathy Duva and the late Dan Goossen in this class.

It is the first time in 31 years since the Hall of Fame opened in 1989, that they will not hold a ceremony. However, they further announced the HOF will put the 2020 plaques up of the induction class starting in June that will be available obviously for later in the year for all visitors and fight fans that want to see them.