The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced today legendary middleweight champion “The Raging Bull” Jake LaMotta will be among returning Hall of Famers attending festivities planned for the 2016 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend June 9-12th.
“The Raging Bull” Jake LaMotta
“It’s always exciting for fans to see ‘The Raging Bull’ in Canastota for the Hall of Fame Weekend,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “Jake LaMotta is a living legend and one of the most popular champions in the history of boxing. We are thrilled to welcome him back to ‘Boxing’s Hometown.’”
Boxing out of the Bronx, LaMotta captured the world middleweight championship via 10th round TKO over Hall of Famer Marcel Cerdan in 1949. The cagey middleweight also scored wins over Bert Lytell, Tommy Bell and Hall of Famers Holman Williams, Fritzie Zivic and Sugar Ray Robinson, whom he met in six legendary bouts. His pro record stands at 83-19-4 (30 KOs). LaMotta’s life story was made into the motion picture Raging Bull starring Robert DeNiro. LaMotta was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.
Events planned for the weekend include a banquet, Flashback Friday: 1990s Night, parade, golf tournament, boxing autograph card show, cocktail party and the Official Induction Ceremony honoring the Class of 2016.
Inductees include Puerto Rico’s multi-division champion Hector “Macho” Camacho (posthumous), Mexico’s two-division champion Lupe Pintor and Panama’s two-division champion Hilario Zapata in the Modern category; judge Harold Lederman, commissioner Marc Ratner, journalist Jerry Izenberg and broadcaster Col. Bob Sheridan.
Posthumous inductees Petey Sarron in the Old-Timer Category and trainer Whitey Esneault in the Non-Participant Category will also be honored.
An impressive list of over 40 boxing greats from the United States and abroad are scheduled to participate in weekend festivities.
In addition to LaMotta, returning Hall of Famers include three-division champion Julio Cesar Chavez, light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Michael Spinks, welterweight champion Pipino Cuevas, three-division champion Mike “The Body Snatcher” McCallum and lightweight king Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini.
Special guests confirmed to participate include gold medalist and heavyweight champion Leon Spinks, junior welterweight star “Irish” Micky Ward, heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney, 1976 Olympic gold medalist Leo Randolph, female boxing legend “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” Christy Martin and1990s heavyweight star Andrew Golota.
Additional Hall of Famers and special guests will be announced in the coming months as the 27th Annual Induction Weekend nears.
