The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Class of 2018 boxing champions inducted
CANASTOTA, N.Y. » Growing up in the Soviet Union where professional boxing was outlawed, Vitali Klitschko was unable to watch the sport that made him famous until the Iron Curtain began to recede.
In 1986, the teen whowould become “Dr. Ironfist” and his buddies eagerly piled into a restaurant to watch Mike Tyson become the youngest heavyweight champion in history with a 2nd-round knockout against Trevor Berbick.
Overcome with emotion, Klitschko boldly proclaimed to his friends that one day he would be a professional boxer and take on champions like Tyson. He would wear the green belt synonymous with being the world heavyweight champion.
The gangly Klitschko’s friends laughed at him.
“This was so painful to listen to, but they did not know I have a good memory,” Klitschko said during his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Sunday. “18 years later, I remembered everyone who was kidding me. I invited themto the restaurant. I brought a bag with me and take from the bag the same green belt worn by Mike Tyson 18 years ago.”
“But this was mine,” he added with a grin, eliciting a roar from the crowd at the IBHOF museum grounds.
In a heartfelt, humorous speech, Klitschko, who likened his journey from a too-skinny youth to boxing immortal to a fairy tale, thanked his parents and friends before turning his attention to younger brother Wladimir, who also attained the world heavyweight belt andwas present at the induction. Eye-rolling the
annoying youngster who had to copy everything he did, from choice in schools to deciding to box to tackling a PhD, Vitali credited Wladimir for pushing and supporting himthroughout his career.
“Without this person, this would be impossible,” Vitali said of his induction. “I am more than sure, very soon, Vladimir Klitschko, you will also be here. I am very proud to have the strongest brother in the world.”
Joining Vitali Klitschko were Ronald “Winky Wright and Erik “El Terrible” Morales in the Modern category; Sid Terris was posthumously inducted in the Old Timer category; broadcasters Jim Gray and Steve Albert were honored in the observer category; German promoter KlausPeter Kohl earned a nod to the Hall in the Non-Participant category; and promoter Lorraine Chargin and ring announcer Johnny Addie were posthumously honored in the Non-Participant category.
Morrales followed in the footsteps of his boxing father, taking up the sport at an early age. The first Mexican boxer to win titles in four weight divisions, Morrales’ career began with a loss at the age of six. The referee called the fight in under a minute because Morrales’ nose was bleeding.
“I went back to my corner and cried,” El Terrible said with a grin.
Morrales credited his parents, manager, family, and promoter for helping him reach the pinnacle of boxing.
“I want to thankmy Dad. He is the one who taught me andmademe what I am today, but as usual, it was my mom who decided that I was to be a fighter.”
Wright, a DC native whose career began in Florida, captured four light middleweight titles in career. Despite his prowess as a pugilist, the southpaw did not expect to make a career out of boxing, let alone a hall-of-fame one.
“I never wanted to be a professional boxer. I loved boxing and always wanted to fight, but never wanted to be a boxer. I didn’t think I could do it.”
Wright, who thanked his family, trainer and friends, spoke of persevering through relative anonymity in the sport until finally breaking through with big bouts against Fernando Vargas, “Sugar” Shane Mosley and Felix “Tito” Trinidad.
Gray was welcomed to the podium by Tyson, a delight to the fans in attendance.
“He’s always been honest. He’s always been a straight shooter with me,” Tyson said, choking up as he congratulated his friend. “This opportunity and award he is receiving is way, way overdue.”
Gray’s relationship with Tyson is symbolic of his career in broadcast.
“Somewhat ironic that the man who threatened to kill me in public is now inducting me into the Hall of Fame,” Gray said, adding that some his most memorable experiences in his career and boxing were unexpected. He never imagined his career launching with a spot-interview with Muhammad Ali, being taken inside the boxing life of Floyd Mayweather Jr., or forming close relationships with Dr. Julius Irving, Floyd Little, Deontay Wilder, and Larry Fitzgerald, all of the latter group in attendance to watch Gray accept his honor.
Albert had no doubts about his career path.
“All I ever wanted to do was be a sportscaster. There was no Plan B,” he said, recalling how he and his brothers grew up calling Yankee games with the television muted.
The practice paid off as all three of the Albert boys ended up in broadcast. Thanking his parents, colleagues at SHOWTIME, and friends, Albert touched on the two greatest fights he ever covered: Corrales- Castillo and Tyson-Holyfield II
“This is truly a culmination and validation of years of hard work and dedication in a job I always tried to do with honesty and integrity
“To be the announcer who called it fromringside, to this day, still blows my mind,” Albert said of calling Tyson-Holyfield II.
WB Senior Vice President John Dudley accepted the honor on behalf of promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl. Dudley credited Kohl for working with hundreds of boxers, dozens of champions - including Vitali and Vladimir - and being a pioneer of female boxing for promoting the first Euro championship card headlined by female boxer.
“He is a hall of fame promoter not just because the hundreds of championship events and scores of champions he promoted. His great contribution to boxing is how he promoted boxing. Epic pageantry, triumphantmusic, monumental trade style and spectacular showmanship. Ultimately, Klaus-Peter Kohl’s great contribution to boxing is that he loved boxing and all of its participants,” Dudley said.
Richard Terris, son of Sid Terris, accepted his fathers’ honor on behalf of family.
“I can just imagine how excited he would have been about being inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Richard said, adding that growing up, he knew his father was a good boxer but was unaware of just howgood until old-timers shared stories of Sid with him.
“Having this award given to him, I can say, ‘He must have been very good.”
Hall- of-Famer J. Russell Peltz spoke on behalf of the late Chargin, regaling fans with how she and her husband Don - also a Hall-of-Famer - met when Don was fleeing an angry mob in California and ran head-long into the hostess of a restaurant while seeking refuge.
“One of the great love stories of all time,” Peltz said of the Chargins. “They were more efficient than some of the promotional groups today with 20 to 25 employees...They kept boxing alive in Northern California.”
“Sure Don made the matches. That’s what he did. But Lorraine did everything else. She rented the arenas. She hired the security, the ushers, the tickettakers, the ticket-sellers. She took care of the liability insurance, the hotel accommodations, the travel arrangements, the food vouchers, the publicity, the posters, the fliers...she did it all.”