THE 2023 International Boxing Hall of Fame class included Timothy Bradley, Carl Froch, Rafael Marquez, Alicia Ashley, Laura Serrano (who did not attend), matchmakers Brad Goodman and Brad Jacobs, trainer Joe Goossen, former HBO executive Seth Abraham and broadcaster Tim Ryan.
During Sunday’s induction speeches, Marquez thanked his mother, father and sisters and described his journey as “difficult and beautiful”.
Froch thanked his mother, Carol, and told trainer Robert McCracken he was a father figure, a brother and best friend all rolled into one, while Bradley said: “I didn’t get here because I was better than everyone I fought, I got here because I wanted it more.”
Ashley talked about being an underdog in her major fights – even when she was a champion – and having to fight often on the road. “The road that I took to get here, was akin to climbing Mt Everest,” she said.
Posthumous inductees were light-heavyweight Tiger Jack Fox, flyweight champ Pone Kingpetch, and JoAnn Hagen in the women’s trailblazer category.
WEDNESDAY
A Hall of Fame stalwarts always stumble on to the grounds a day early. UK fight fan Glenn Wilson is one, Canadian boxing supporter Eric Schmidt is another, Lee Groves, an analyst for CompuBox and writer for The Ring, is there, as is the event’s host, James ‘Smitty’ Smith.
We met and talked in
