A look at those inducted Sunday into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y.:
BARNEY AARON
Born, Nov. 21, 1800, England. A light heavyweight whose career spanned 1819-1834. A hard-hitting fighter, he was one of the standout boxers of his era. Died 1850.
GEORGE BENTON
Born May 15, 1933, Philadelphia. Considered a
skilled and defensive boxer, Benton fought as a middleweight during
the 1950s and 1960s, closing his career with a record of 61-13-1
with 36 KOs. Two decades in the ring was perfect preparation for
Benton, who went on to earn distinction as a top trainer and fight
tactician working with Tyrell Biggs, Mark Breland, Evander
Holyfield, Leon Spinks, Meldrick Taylor and Pernell Whitaker.
PAUL BERLENBACH
Born Feb. 18, 1901 in New York City. A gold
medalist wrestler in the 1920 Olympics, The Astoria Assassin boxed
professionally between 1923-1933, winning the world light
heavyweight title in a decision over Mike McTigue in May 1925.
Renowned for his punching power, Berlenbach successfully defended
his title three times before losing to nemesis Jack Delaney in July
1926. Fought five world champions before retiring with a 40-8-3
record and 33 KOs. Died Sept. 30, 1985.
JIM BRADDOCK
Born June 7, 1906 in New York City. Turned pro in
1926 and had an early undistinguished career with losses to
Hall-of-Famers Tommy Loughran, Maxie Rosenbloom and John Henry
Lewis. Stunned boxing world in June 1935 when, as a 10-to-1
underdog, he outboxed Max Baer for the heavyweight crown in a
15-round decision. He lost the title in his next fight when he was
knocked out in the eighth round by Joe Louis. Retired in 1938 with
a record of 51-25-6 with 26 KOs. Died Nov. 29, 1974.
LESTER BROMBERG
Born March 12, 1909, Brooklyn, N.Y. A
versatile sports writer who covered boxing for the New York World
Telegram and Sun and other publications. He wrote two books,
"World's Champs" in 1958 and "Boxing's Unforgettable Fights" in
1962. Died Feb. 21, 1989.
DON CHARGIN
Born June 5, 1928. Began as a promoter in 1951 at
age 23, pairing up Eddie Chavez vs. Manuel Ortiz. Among major
fights were Jerry Quarry vs. Jimmy Ellis and Bobo Olson vs. Paddy
Young.
RALPH CITRO
Born July 26, 1926 in Youngstown, Ohio. A
prodigious record keeper responsible for production of the Computer
Boxing Update, an annual record book that tracks the results of
fights worldwide. Director of the International Boxing Research
Organization from 1993 to 2000. Also considered a top cut man,
Citro was in the corner of over 125 title fights, working with a
long list of prominent boxers, including Alexis Arguello, Matthew
Saad Muhammad and Thomas Hearns.
BILL GALLO
Born Dec. 28, 1922, in New York City. Gallo has
been an award-winning cartoonist for the New York Daily News since
1960. Highly regarded for his innate ability to translate the drama
and glory of sport through art.
SAM ICHINOSE
Born Nov. 12, 1907 in Hawaii. Sad Sam Ichinose
was "Hawaii's Mr. Boxing" for 50 years. Until his retirement in
1982, Ichinose had either trained, managed or promoted every
champion who came from the island state. Promoted more than 425
fights during his career. Died Jan. 23, 1993.
ISMAEL LAGUNA
Born June 28, 1943, Panama. A lightweight whose
career spanned 1960-1971, Laguna won the world title in April 1965
in a decision over Hall-of-Famer Carlos Ortiz. Lost the title to
Ortiz in a rematch in November 1965. Regained the crown in March
1970 with a ninth-round knockout of Mando Ramos but was beaten in
November 1970 by Scotland's Ken Buchanan, another Hall-of-Famer.
Retired in 1972. Finished 66-9-1 with 38 KOs.
BILLY PAPKE
Born Sept. 17, 1886, Spring Valley, Ill. A coal
miner, The Illinois Thunderbolt turned professional in 1905 and won
the world middleweight title by knockout over Stanley Ketchel in 12
rounds in September 1908. Papke lost the championship back to
Ketchel two months later in a rematch. Unsuccessfully challenged
Frank Klaus for vacant title in 1913. Retired in 1919 with a 38-9-7
record and 30 KOs. On Nov. 26, 1936, Papke murdered his estranged
wife and then committed suicide.
LASZLO PAPP
Born March 25, 1926, Hungary. First three-time
Olympic boxing champion, winning gold medals in 1948 as a
middleweight and in 1952 and 1956 as a light middleweight. Won
European middleweight title by knocking out Chris Christensen in
May 1962. Forced to retire by Hungarian Communist government in
1965, because the government did not want to recognize professional
boxing. Professional record 26-0-3, with 15 knockouts.
WILLIE PASTRANO
Born Nov. 27, 1935 in New Orleans. Boxed in
every weight division from feather to heavyweight in career
spanning 14 years. Won world light heavyweight title in 15-round
decision over Harold Johnson in June 1963. Successfully defended
title twice before losing title to Jose Torres in ninth-round TKO
in March 1963, after which he promptly retired. Record 63-13-8, 14
KOs. Died Dec. 6, 1997.
ULTIMINIO "SUGAR" RAMOS
Born Dec. 2, 1941, in Cuba. Won
Cuban featherweight title in 1960 before leaving country for
Mexico. In March 1963, under guidance of Angelo Dundee, Ramos
scored a 10th-round knockout of Davey Moore to win world
featherweight title. Successfully defended title three times before
suffering a 12th-round KO at hands of Hall-of-Famer Vincente
Saldivar in September 1964. Twice knocked out in challenging
Hall-of-Famer Carlos Ortiz for world lightweight crown (1966 and
1967). Retired in 1972 with a record of 55-7-4, 40 KOs.
RANDY TURPIN
Born June 7, 1928, England. Considered one of
England's top boxers. He won the British and European middleweight
championships and then upset Hall-of-Famer Sugar Ray Robinson in a
15-round decision to win the world title in July 1951. Turpin lost
the title to Robinson in a rematch. In October 1953, he lost a
15-round decision to Bobo Olson for world middleweight crown.
Retired in 1964 with a record of 66-8-1, 45 KOs. Committed suicide
May 17, 1966.
MIDGET WOLGAST
Born Joseph Robert LoScalzo on July 18, 1910 in
Philadelphia. Turned pro in 1925. Considered the fastest boxer of
his time, Wolgast won the vacant New York world flyweight title in
a 15-round decision over Black Bill in 1930. Held title for five
years until he was beaten by Small Montana. Retired in 1940 with a
record of 153-35-16, with 16 KOs. Died Oct. 19, 1955.