I'm Here! I'm Here! 2022 IBHOF Trilogy Induction Weekend-Part Five

 

Induction Sunday, June 12, 2022

To accommodate the extraordinary number of men and women being enshrined, not to mention the well above average turnout of fans expected, this year’s ceremony was moved from the dais on the Hall of Fame grounds to the Turning Stone Resort Casino’s Events Center. Given the unpredictable nature of Central New York summer weather patterns, this proved to be an especially welcome change of venue as the potential for rain was relatively high according to that day’s forecast.     

The sight of so many of boxing’s living legends seated side by side onstage for this four-hour extravaganza was awe-inspiring to put it mildly. By virtue of the fact that she was the first female called to the podium, groundbreaking promoter Kathy Duva became the first woman to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and paid homage to her late husband Dan. “He was the smartest, the best, the most honorable person that I’ve ever known,” she said while fighting back tears. “To be included alongside him here forever is the best part of what’s happening to me today.”

2020 inductee Lucia Rijker sent in a pre-recorded message which was played on the overhead video screens, as did Wladimir Klitschko, still mired in the Ukrainian struggle against Russian aggression and occupation.

“I miss America. I have been in the Netherlands now for two years,” Rijker commented from a sun-dappled meditation garden adorned with a pair of Buddha statues. “I hope to be able to come home soon and receive my ring just like all of you.” Lucia gave a special shout-out to her first trainer Freddie Roach, who came to Canastota all the way from Los Angeles to support Rijker, unaware of and admittedly disappointed by her absence.  

“Look at what women’s boxing has become. It’s amazing,” Barbara Buttrick said with the aid of a friend who helped the 92-year-old trailblazer read her speech. “Of course, I’ve been asked many times what I was trying to prove. Nothing,” concluded Buttrick, the oldest living female prizefighter. “I was asked what I was fighting for. Respect.”

Christy Martin, who survived an attempt on her life by her former trainer and husband Jim twelve years ago, used her platform to call attention to the ongoing horrors of domestic violence. “Some of these fighters up here were much better fighters. Most were much better speakers,” admitted Christy. “But none of them loved their job more than I loved mine.” Deliberately timing her remarks to last two minutes, Martin wrapped up her speech by pointing out that 40 people worldwide had suffered abuse at the hands of their partners in just those 120 seconds.

“What I want to tell all of you, because you love this sport, you, all of us have to do more. These guys deserve it,” proclaimed Dr. Margaret Goodman, former ringside physician with the Nevada State Athletic Commission and current overseer of VADA. “We have to help them have a fair fight. And what does a fair fight mean? A fair fight means a clean fight.”

Lady Tyger, Class of 2021, wanted nothing more than to stand at the podium and deliver her acceptance speech. With the help of her caregiver Carmen and the genuinely chivalrous Roy Jones Jr., she gave it her best shot, but ultimately it was just too much to ask of herself. Even a natural born fighter has to learn to acknowledge and respect his or her limitations. With Carmen holding the microphone and Roy Jones looking after her papers, Lady Tyger no doubt stirred many souls throughout the room by reciting a poem called “I’m here” that she had written especially for the occasion.

“I’m here! I’m here!

I’m finally here, at the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Thanks to Ed Brophy and all his staff involved in remembering my name.

I fought just to be licensed,

Heaven knows it was a hell of a fight.

I wrote letters and begged promoters and went on a hunger strike.

Now women boxers are making millions, sold out the Garden too.

Proved that we can fight and battle,

Black eyes I’ve had a few.

I opened the doors with many pioneers, just want to make this clear.

Again I say, I’m here! I’m here!

Thank God I’m finally here.”

Her humorous and touching thank you’s were an emotional roller coaster ride, and little did any of us know—Lady Tyger included—that a surprise presentation was coming which would have the entire auditorium standing and applauding while simultaneously reaching for the Kleenex to wipe our eyes. Osvaldo, the Argentinian journalist who had interviewed Lady Tyger in her hotel room on Friday evening, lived up to his promise to assist in having her 1979 championship victory appropriately honored.

A trophy and a thousand dollar purse were her rewards for beating Sue ‘KO’ Carlson in San Antonio for the world women’s lightweight title. Forty-three years later, before a packed house at the International Boxing Hall of Fame induction ceremony, emcee James ‘Smitty’ Smith strode onstage holding an honest-to-goodness WBC green and gold world championship belt to give to Lady Tyger on behalf of president Mauricio Sulaiman. Lady Tyger was so overcome by the magnitude of this gesture that Roy Jones Jr. once again selflessly sprang into action, holding the belt in place around her waist while cameras flashed and eyes watered.

As softspoken as she was heavy-handed, three division world champion Ann Wolfe was next up. “After spending about three days with everyone on this stage, chopping it up with them, for the first time in my life I feel like I’m an equal,” she said. “They treated me with respect, and they treated me as though I was one of their peers.”

As Jimmy Lennon Jr. liked to intone while doing his ring announcing duties, Laila Ali really needs no introduction the world over. “It’s truly an honor to be in the International Hall of Fame with my father. Without him, there would be no me. All of that confidence that he had was really what got passed down to me, the confidence to fight even when he told me not to. He told me he didn’t want me to do it,” Laila confessed. “This is what I love, this is what I do. I wasn’t making a lot of money despite what people thought. I was doing it because I loved it. There was so many other things I could be doing, right? But boxing will always be my first love.”

Longtime world flyweight champion Regina Halmich (54-1-1) was pleased to be finally getting the type of recognition in America that she has long been the recipient of in her homeland. “Most of my fights took place in Germany, and I was named the Queen of Boxing all over Europe. Mainly for two reasons. One, I never gave up working and fighting for women’s rank and position in the boxing business,” Halmich avowed. Her main event bouts and 28 title defenses attracted millions of viewers and earned her million-dollar paydays which she proudly declared, “made me a pioneer in women’s boxing.” In closing, Regina stated, “I’d like to dedicate this award to all the girls and women. It is important to have goals and dreams to focus and make them count. Thanks to all the critics and opponents of women’s boxing. You made us even stronger.”

Holly Holm couldn’t contain her emotions while affirming that she would not be where she is today if not for the loyalty of her family and team members, all of whom have stuck with her throughout her ventures into both boxing and mixed martial arts. “There’s a lot of people out here in this sport, as we all know, between managers and promoters and coaches, they’re all in it for their own glory a lot of times,” said Holly. “And, I’ll tell you right now, I’ve always been surrounded by people who have only wanted the best for me, the very selfless love and support I’ve had. So, I don’t see this as my Hall of Fame day, but a joint effort. Thank you.”  

Bernard Hopkins shared the stage with his mentor Rudy Battle and son Bernard III, Andre Ward stressed the importance of existing in a comfortable middle ground between criticism and acclaim, and Roy Jones Jr. closed the show with a rousing rendition of his rap song “Y’all Must’ve Forgot” which, believe me, no one who was there will soon forget.

When all was said and done, the newly-enshrined Hall of Famers and their guests were treated to a pizza party in a common area upstairs at the Turning Stone which is where Roy Jones and his wife were relaxing on a couch. I congratulated Roy on his induction, told him how much I enjoyed his rap performance, and thanked him for going above and beyond to take such good care of Lady Tyger onstage. Knowing that she would like to extend her gratitude to Roy personally, I asked if he might stop by to say a quick hello.

He was certainly under no obligation to say yes, but showed his true character by happily following me back to Tyger’s room two doors down where she was resting after a physically and emotionally draining day. “You’re back,” she smiled when I came through the door. “And I brought a guest,” I replied, and Tyger’s always expressive eyes lit up in blissful surprise when Roy walked into the room.              

“I would have fallen myself before I would have let you fall,” he guaranteed Tyger when she thanked him for helping her stand up momentarily during the ceremony. She was embarrassed by a photo taken of the championship belt presentation that captured her in the midst of what she referred to as an “ugly cry.” Roy told Tyger, just as Carmen and Georgina and Cecilia and I all did, that the expression on her face was beautiful because it was an authentic emotional response that came from a place of sheer joy and appreciation. He had no problem admitting that the poignancy of the moment moved him to tears.

You could pretty much tell just by the heft of it that the WBC belt was the real deal, and Roy confirmed that the green and gold now in her possession was no cheap replica but the same exact type that they had issued to him and all the other champions. “You worked hard for this and now you’ve got your recognition all these years later,” he beamed.

There was more said that I can’t go into here without betraying Roy’s confidence, which I would never think of doing. He is as real as they get, and it was a profound, intimate experience that ended with handshakes and hugs and all of us sitting in a shared state of stunned disbelief for a minute or two after Roy left, simply looking at one another as if to say, without having to utter the words aloud, “Can you believe that just happened?” More than two weeks later as I write this, I still can’t quite believe it, or that I didn’t somehow dream the entire weekend.      

 

Afterword

We bid our fond and final farewells to Sue Fox, Sumya Anani, Eva Jones-Young, Bonnie Mann, Barbara Buttrick, and Jimmy Finn at the Emerald Restaurant later that night but not before Lady Tyger had one last distasteful encounter with the “bozo” memorabilia dealer who had been harassing her all weekend. He cornered Tyger on her way back from the restroom with Carmen, once again insisting that she write her last name on the induction program she had already signed “Lady Tyger,” as she does with all of her autographs for reasons that were explained in an earlier chapter.

It was clear he wasn’t giving this up, so Tyger had no other choice but to let him know how aggressively rude he had been to her and that he made her special weekend stressful and unpleasant. For what it’s worth, which is absolutely nothing in my estimation, he stopped by our table shortly after to apologize. Lady Tyger accepted, just happy to be rid of him once and for all so we could get back to celebrating her momentous achievement in peace.

Tyger, Carmen, and Cecilia tried their luck in the casino until we found a little lounge in which to wind down the evening. Brenda Glur Spinks joined us and we reminisced about Lady Tyger’s accomplishments and how much all of us missed Leon. We all had early wake up calls and packing to do for our Monday morning departures, and it was with heavy hearts but huge smiles that we said goodnight. But not goodbye.

Lady Tyger doesn’t like ending conversations by saying “goodbye.” Much too final. It’s always, “later.” So, with that in mind…until next time, “later.”  

 

IBHOF Class of 2020:

Bernard Hopkins

Juan Manuel Marquez

Shane Mosley

Barbara Buttrick

Christy Martin

Lucia Rijker

Lou DiBella

Kathy Duva

Bernard Fernandez

Dan Goossen

Thomas Hauser

Frank Erne

Paddy Ryan

 

IBHOF Class of 2021:

Wladimir Klitschko

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Andre Ward

Marian Lady Tyger Trimiar

Laila Ali

Ann Wolfe

Dr. Margaret Goodman

Freddie Brown

George Kimball

Jay Larkin

Jackie McCoy

Davey Moore

Jackie Tonawanda

 

IBHOF Class of 2022:

Miguel Cotto

Roy Jones Jr.

James Toney

Regina Halmich

Holly Holm

Ron Borges

Bill Caplan

Chuck Hull

Tod Morgan

Bob Yalen

I'm Here! I'm Here! 2022 IBHOF Trilogy Induction Weekend-Part Four

 

Pre-Induction Sunday, June 12, 2022

Induction day was a hectic day. Ultimately, though, the stress and anxiety and sleep deprivation were well worth it. My internal alarm clock went off before the one on the bedside table, and I used those extra few minutes to pack up in anticipation of hitting the road early the next morning for the five-plus hour drive home.

I grabbed only what was necessary to have with me and headed toward Verona and the Turning Stone Casino after two pits stops to fill my car with gas and pick up a cappuccino for Carmen from Dunkin’ Donuts. There was a 9:45 call time for inductees and their families to gather in the fourth floor lobby for a trip to the IBHOF museum where we would get to enjoy a private tour. I didn’t allow myself the luxury of time for breakfast, but had to run down to the sweet shop on the lower level that luckily brewed Starbucks coffee so I could at least scratch my caffeine itch.

As we were loading off the bus, I jogged over to find my buddy Len so that he could have a few moments to spend with Lady Tyger that he hadn’t gotten all weekend. Things were already running late and security was just doing their job by rushing us inside, but I made sure Len and another boxing friend of mine named Chris got to say an all too brief hello and have Tyger sign their induction programs. Like the rest of the weekend, it all went by way too quickly.

We were brought up the ramp to the back entrance and began to take in all of the historic artifacts from pugilism past all looked after by life-size statues of hometown heroes Carmen Basilio and Billy Backus. In 2015, six championship belts—four of which were won by Basilio and two belonging to Tony Zale—were stolen from the museum in a heist that some have suggested may have been an inside job. They have yet to be retrieved despite a Bring Back the Belts movement spearheaded by Zale’s great niece Haley which had the high-profile support of Mike Tyson, who offered a reward.

I had visited the museum a few times before on past trips to Canastota, but seeing it as if for the first time through the eyes of Lady Tyger was a unique experience. She marveled over Joe Louis’ boxing gloves, robes worn by Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Christy Martin (whose powder-pink garment was spattered with bloodstains), and the quite unusual display case of mouthpieces. The museum’s newest donation was the pair of blue and orange gloves Amanda Serrano used during her recent, history-making battle with Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden.

The best part for the inductees who had yet to step inside the museum to that point was getting to view their Hall of Fame plaque newly installed among boxing’s immortals. Seeing her plaque alongside Barbara Buttrick’s (best not to speak of Jackie Tonawanda) as the first-ever enshrined Women’s Trailblazers ranked high up on the list of significant and meaningful experiences for Lady Tyger. And there were more yet to come.  

I had a pleasant conversation with Dr. Margaret Goodman, former ringside physician and president of VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association), who was being inducted later in the day and very grateful for the recognition, though she told me how aware she is that more work lay ahead for her to help make boxers’ safety the sport’s top priority. At long last I took advantage of the opportunity to introduce myself to Laila Ali. She was as nice as you would hope, gladly posing for photos with me and Lady Tyger and signing my 2021 HOF program, thus completing my mission of getting every female inductee to autograph the set of three, each for their specific class, with the lone exception of Lucia Rijker who unfortunately could not attend. We also had a nice visit with James Toney and his family before it was time to get going for the parade.

I happened to spot Franchon Crews-Dezurn admiring the plaques, perhaps picking out a nice blank space where hers might go someday, and couldn’t leave without congratulating her on becoming undisputed world super-middleweight champion at Madison Square Garden. I told her that I was not only at that fight with Lady Tyger but here as well. Her excitement at the prospect of meeting the great Lady Tyger was palpable and infectious, and I told her we had to hurry because they were ushering her out the back door as we spoke. Just as Tyger approached the exit’s threshold, Franchon and I came barreling around the corner and she got to thank her hero for paving the way for future generations of female boxers like herself. Another surreal moment that I had the privilege to be a part of, just as it was to travel with Lady Tyger, Carmen, and Georgina in the Parade of Champions.      

Because riding through downtown Canastota in an open-top car would have been too great a burden on Lady Tyger, she opted to remain on the wheelchair-accessible school bus. So that the parade-goers would know who was inside, the Hall of Fame went to the trouble of decorating the side of the bus with a large banner bearing her name and three most identifiable likenesses—with a bald head, sporting a mohawk, and wearing her trademark tiger-print robe.

She stood up periodically to lean out of the open window so that she could wave and blow kisses to the thousands of fans lining North Peterboro Street. My friend Len came up close to see us one last time, and Britt Van Buskirk ran over to grab Tyger’s hand and share a moment with her old friend and sparring partner. Georgina hopped on and off the bus when we would come to a complete stop so that she could jog ahead, lugging 30 pounds of camera gear no less, and grab some good shots of the procession for her documentary before rejoining us for the next leg of the parade route.

As serendipity would have it, we were deposited at the American Legion building, where a pre-induction lunch would be provided, just as Barbara Buttrick and Jimmy Finn happened by. We all made the most of the opportunity to chat for a bit before heading inside for some much-needed sustenance. As a vegetarian, burger and hotdog-style buffets like these often leave me with few if any options in the way of protein. This was no exception, so I indulged in a carbo-loading marathon, filling up on pasta and potato salad to get me through what would be a lengthy induction ceremony. 

I'm Here! I'm Here! 2022 IBHOF Trilogy Induction Weekend-Part Three

 

Saturday June 11, 2022

In keeping with the often repeated assessment of boxing as being the theatre of the unexpected, many of the more joyful moments experienced during Hall of Fame weekend in Canastota are the ones you never could have seen coming.

Case in point, bumping into Sumya Anani and her one and only trainer Barry Becker on an otherwise uneventful Saturday morning on the HOF grounds. What a pleasant surprise to meet the four-time world champion who, in her first career ten-rounder, handed Christy Martin only her second defeat to that point. Barry told me that Sumya beat her up so badly that Christy ended up in the hospital that night. Rewatching the fight for the first time in a long time after I got back home several days later, it was easy to see why.

Her resume is also highlighted by victories over Dora Webber (twice), Britt Van Buskirk (avenging her first career loss to Britt by winning their next two), Fredia Gibbs, Lisa Holewyne, Jane Couch, and Belinda Laracuente. Sumya was inducted into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame in 2016 as part of the same class as Lady Tyger Trimiar.   

A massage therapist and yoga instructor dating back to her boxing days, Sumya is incredibly humble and kindhearted. Rather than pose for the camera with balled-up fists, which is usually standard operating procedure when taking a photo with a boxer, I followed Sumya’s lead and flashed a peace sign instead. As luck would have it, while she was signing my copies of Malissa Smith’s A History of Women’s Boxing and Mary Ann Lurie Owen’s Extraordinary Women of the Ring, Bonnie Mann stopped by to say hi to Sumya. I asked Bonnie if she wouldn’t mind waiting to add her autograph to both books as well, which she was all too happy to do.      

One other chance meeting was with Ivan ‘Mighty’ Robinson, one of boxing’s esteemed Philly fighters best remembered for his pair of 1998 wars with Arturo Gatti. Ivan was nice enough to spend well over an hour outside the Hall of Fame museum signing autographs and posing for photos with everybody who wanted one.

Speaking of Philly fighters, longtime middleweight champion and 2020 IBHOF inductee Bernard Hopkins delivered an impassioned Ringside Lecture as the morning drifted into afternoon. Fans lined up at the table set up on the side of the stage in anticipation of Hopkins coming over to sign autographs, only for him to be whisked off to a nearby tent to do an interview. I waited for awhile with my friend Len until I got word from Lady Tyger that they were getting ready to take her over to the memorabilia show at the high school right down the road from the Hall of Fame. I wished him luck with getting Bernard to sign his induction program and set off on a short, brisk walk down North Peterboro Street.

I wouldn’t find out until later from Len that Hopkins bounced around from place to place on the grounds, causing confusion among the fans and volunteers who were now following him aimlessly, not knowing what was going on. Ultimately, Bernard lit into the fans for wanting his autograph only so that they could sell the items and make money off his name. As I mentioned earlier, and will come back to in a few moments, this undoubtedly and unfortunately happens. So I understand him up to a point. But his outburst directed at everyone as a whole was misguided, as the true fans like Len and myself regard an autograph as a treasured souvenir and not a salable commodity.

The boxing memorabilia and autograph show at Canastota High School is one of the events I always look forward to most during induction weekend. I knew ahead of time that legendary promoter J. Russell Peltz was going to be set up there selling and signing copies of his memoir Thirty Dollars and a Cut Eye, and I made his table my first stop.

Immediately after stashing Peltz’s book into my backpack for safe keeping, I had the great pleasure of once again encountering Eva Jones-Young. She was having the time of her life, as I imagine she does everywhere she goes, enthusiastically posing for pictures as well as handing out photos from a large stack she had printed up at her own expense which she was carrying around with her and happy to autograph, all free of charge. She was kind enough to sign one for me, in addition to my copies of Malissa Smith’s and Mary Ann Lurie Owen’s books on women’s boxing. Eva has such an energetic spirit and a personality so big no room she happens to occupy at any given time could possibly contain it. Getting the unexpected opportunity to spend time with Eva Jones-Young and Sumya Anani put an extra wide smile on my face all weekend long and for days afterwards.    

Lady Tyger arrived very shortly after, and I spent the remainder of my time at the high school with her and her wonderful home health aide and friend Carmen. For the next hour or so, Tyger signed gloves, photos, and even a piece of custom artwork painted by one particularly talented fan.

Before I go any further, allow me to explain that Lady Tyger is how she likes to be known in direct relation to her boxing career and is exactly how she signs autographs. Marian Trimiar is her birth name and how she is addressed by close friends, but she prefers to keep her personal life separate from her boxing identity. She was asked numerous times throughout the weekend to also add her real name to her signature. The requests were always polite, as were the reactions to the fans she took the time to explain all of this to. Except for one “bozo” that is.

The pushy memorabilia dealer I wrote about in the first installment rents out a table at the show each year where he peddles his wares. It was our great misfortune that he abandoned his post and resurfaced with his induction program in hand, the very same one she had already signed “Lady Tyger” at the Turning Stone on Thursday night. He asked that she at least write her last name, presumably so that he would have a unique item that would be more valuable, and wouldn’t take “no” for an answer even after she explained to him about her separation of Marian Trimiar from Lady Tyger.

“I don’t want to make you do anything you’re uncomfortable with,” he said. She affirmed that she was not comfortable with his request or his persistence, but he kept at it regardless. Finally, or so we thought, Lady Tyger, Carmen, the nearby volunteer, and I all made it abundantly clear that it wasn’t going to happen and that he should walk away now. Appearing very put out, he did. For the time being.

When she was done signing autographs, Tyger wanted to do a lap around the gymnasium to check out the wide array of items for sale. We didn’t even get around the first corner after stopping to look at a Muhammad Ali Halloween mask and vintage Mego action figure when the “bozo” appeared yet again. Thrusting his program under Tyger’s nose, he insisted that she sign her last name. I doubt he knew how very close he was to me knocking his teeth down his throat at that very moment. If the volunteer assigned to stay by her side wasn’t there to defuse the situation, the potential was very real for it to have escalated and gotten ugly. I would like to report that the matter was settled once and for all. I would like to, but I can’t. Sit tight for the final showdown between Lady Tyger and the “bozo.”

The surprise that came next was all the more gratifying given Tyger’s bad experience at the show. A wheelchair accessible mini school bus was lady Tyger’s mode of transportation throughout the weekend, driven by different volunteers depending on their schedules. The woman behind the wheel on Saturday afternoon happened to be the driver of that very same bus during the school year. One of her young riders is the daughter of a friend of a friend of the person who had designed the Dunkin’ Donuts cups with the boxers’ pictures emblazoned on them which I mentioned in Part Two of this series. She went out of her way to let him know how much Tyger would like to take her cup home as a one-of-a-kind memento, and he told her by all means to stop by and pick it up to give to her. Lady Tyger was so happy and appreciative of this gift when we got back to the bus and she was handed her coffee cup. Seemingly small gestures can mean quite a lot in the grand scheme of things, and this really made everyone’s day.

Since there were a few hours to spare between then and the meet-up time for that evening’s Banquet of Champions, I headed back to the Hall of Fame grounds to hang out with Len while Tyger and Carmen were treated to a nice sightseeing tour of the Finger Lakes region before being dropped off at the Turning Stone to get ready. Lady Tyger proudly showed off her Dunkin’ Donuts cup when I got to her room a little later, and we did a fun little photo shoot of her posing with it.

She also got to tell me about finally meeting Laila Ali earlier in the day and talking to her about the times she visited her father’s home where she would play and shadowbox with Laila when she was just a little girl. She has photographs from back then, but couldn’t locate them in time to bring and show Laila.

While we are on the subject of Laila Ali, she and Ann Wolfe got to sit down and converse with one another for the first time ever in the private reception room prior to the banquet. A mega-bout between these fierce female warriors was one that topped the wish list of many boxing enthusiasts but never came to pass.

Speculation ran rampant among fans and members of the press, and has ever since, that Laila was afraid of Wolfe and unwilling to risk her perfect record or equally unblemished face against such a renowned and feared power puncher. More than fifteen years later, the two women were given the chance to get to know one another on a personal level and agree not to allow a nonexistent feud manufactured by the media prevent them from being friends. This was a private moment that I was obviously not witness to, but both Ann and Laila posted photos they took together on social media with captions relating this awesome story that I was very happy to read about.  

Chairs lined all four walls of the reception room with the inductees’ names posted above in the order they would be introduced when they did their walk-ins at the beginning of the banquet. Most of them were temporarily unoccupied as the fighters, writers, promoters, and special guests all mingled around the room, so I sat down in one while Georgina filmed some conversations between Lady Tyger and Laila Ali for her upcoming documentary Right to Fight which I wrote about earlier.

Momentarily lost in thought, I was startled by the approach of someone who said jovially, “Hey, what’s going on, ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley?” I peered up, and who did I see standing before me but ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley. I craned my neck to look at the sign hanging above the chair bearing his name. Turns out I had stolen his seat. Ever the nice guy, Shane just laughed and clapped me on the back when I shot up out of his chair, mumbling some sort of inarticulate apology. “It’s all good, champ,” he chuckled.     

A coincidental and pretty neat twist of fate saw to it that Tyger, Carmen, and I were seated at the same table for the banquet as the Mosley family, all of whom were as cool as the other side of the pillow and funny as can be. Also sharing our table was former Golden Gloves champion (who fought one pro bout) Corey Frizzell and his wife, both great people as well. The food might have been substandard (especially at $175 a plate with a bowl of ravioli as my only vegetarian option?!) but the company was top notch.

It was a long evening, but a fun one, with the speeches ranging from genuinely touching to needlessly melodramatic—not to name any names. Let’s just say that, just as boxing can be considered the theatre of the unexpected like I mentioned at the outset of this piece, it can just as often prove to be the theatre of the absurd, which is how I would have to categorize the choice of one individual to stand at the podium and cry crocodile tears for five minutes before uttering a single word, especially when everyone was asked to keep their remarks to three minutes or less out of respect to their fellow speakers. I guess when you have that kind of money, some people feel as though the rules don’t apply to them. 

It was all a little much for me, and I know for a fact that I’m not alone in my opinion. Especially gross was the blatantly disingenuous effort this person made of jumping down to help Barbara Buttrick stand and wave to the crowd when she was introduced from her seat at a table below the stage. Even at the age of 92, and still recuperating from the effects of a bout with Covid, it was obvious to anyone who spent any sort of time with her, or just briefly observed Barbara for a few fleeting moments, that she had no trouble getting around on her own. This display was not born of altruism but the kind of last ditch effort made by a wayward Boy Scout trying to earn his merit badge by helping the little old lady across the street who, it’s quite plain for all to see, needs no such assistance. Enough said about all that.

There was an after party at a night club called Exit 33 just downstairs, but with the night already growing late and a big day ahead, I said good night to Tyger and Carmen, dropped Georgina off at her hotel, returned to mine, and somehow managed to get a few hours’ sleep.  

I'm Here! I'm Here! 2022 IBHOF Trilogy Induction Weekend-Part Two

Friday June 10, 2022

Lady Tyger had a free schedule until that afternoon’s fist casting ceremony, so I let her rest and relax and took advantage of the opportunity to finally catch up with my good buddy Len after five long years. Upon further examination, the doctors opted not to go through his wife’s heart procedure after all, deciding instead on a regimen of medication which will hopefully keep her heart rate close to where it should be. She urged him to go enjoy himself, and he at least felt secure in the fact that family members would be popping in to check on her. It was so nice getting to once again reminisce and laugh with Len and his grandson Steven.

Sean O’Grady, who posted an astounding 81 wins (70 by knockout) against just five losses in an eight-year career, had the opening slot on that day’s schedule of Ringside Lectures. ‘The Bubblegum Kid’ told some fantastic, witty stories about his scraps with Danny Lopez, Jim Watt, and Hilmer Kenty, as well as his post-fight days in broadcasting. He sat down to sign autographs afterwards and could not have been more gracious with, and appreciative of, the fans.

Len had a spare O’Grady trading card that he gave me for Sean to sign, and I also had him add his name to my copy of Bert Sugar’s 100 Years of Boxing, which I have been collecting autographs in for the last fifteen years on my annual trips to Canastota. I ran into Sean later that night at the Turning Stone as we all prepared to head downstairs for that night’s dinner before the fights and thanked him again for being such a funny and humble guy.

Roy Jones Jr. wasn’t listed on the itinerary as a guest speaker that day, but surprised everyone by sitting down to deliver some off the cuff remarks about his humble beginnings, fighting days, notable opponents, and the honor of being inducted into the IBHOF. Again, I can’t say enough about what a good, decent human being Roy Jones Jr. really is.

Speaking of good dudes, I got to meet up with my West Coast boxing writer friend Chris Smith at long last on the Hall of Fame grounds. Chris authored the immense and authoritative biography of Eder Jofre titled Brazil’s First Boxing World Champion which was published to great acclaim last March. I was honored to not only serve as a proofreader for Chris’ awesome tome, but provide a testimonial about Eder included in the back of the book in addition to a blurb for the rear cover. Back in Los Angeles, Chris hosts regular get-togethers and autograph signings for great champs like Michael Nunn, Danny Lopez, Michael Spinks, Ruben Olivares, and many more.     

It was time for a coffee break, so Len, Steven, and I headed across the street to Dunkin’ Donuts for some air-conditioning and caffeine-fueled refreshment. In a display case adjacent to the cash register was a collection of coffee cups, each one decorated with the image of a current inductee from this combined class. I immediately, and erroneously, jumped to the conclusion that they were on all of the to-go cups being handed out or could at least be purchased separately. Len pointed out the sign above the case reading NOT FOR SALE which I neglected to notice in all my excitement of getting the one of Lady Tyger to give to her later.

Turns out they were custom made by a local resident especially for the event. I took a photo of Lady Tyger’s cup and texted it to her with my promise to do whatever I could to see that she went home with it. She was so tickled by it and expressed how much she wanted to have her cup. I asked the employee about coming back on Sunday to speak to someone about it, but no promises were made and it looked like a photo of the cup might have to suffice. As it would turn out, all was not lost thanks to one of the many great volunteers who assist the inductees and their families throughout the weekend. I’ll return to the coffee cup saga and its happy ending in the next installment. 

The fist casting ceremony kicked off shortly after 2:30 to immortalize each inductee’s weapon of choice, left hand or right. Lady Tyger being a southpaw, she had a permanent caster impression made of her left fist which she balled up and lowered into a bucket containing dental plaster for several minutes.

It was during this time that I first got to meet ‘Sweet Magic’ Eva Jones-Young, three-time world bantamweight champion and all-around sweetheart of a woman. She had come over to say hello to Lady Tyger and before I could even introduce myself, Eva somehow recognized me from our interactions on Facebook and greeted me like we were old friends. The boxing community is a beautiful thing to be part of because of people like her.

Lady Tyger happily obliged photo and autograph requests until the bodily crush of overeager fans became a little too intense. We were brought inside the gift shop where Tyger signed gloves featuring the autographs of all the female inductees for the Hall of Fame to auction off, and got to see the old Madison Square Garden boxing ring on display, inside of which her idol Muhammad Ali first fought Joe Frazier, among many other memorable bouts.    

I bid a temporary farewell to Len and Steven until we would reconvene at the fights that night before getting an early start over to the Turning Stone Casino to spend some time with Tyger before the pre-fight dinner for inductees. She was interviewed in her room for a TBS Argentina broadcast by a very nice man named Osvaldo who was aghast at the fact that she had received only a trophy and not a championship belt for winning the world lightweight title in 1979. Osvaldo vowed to use his connections at the WBC to personally address this injustice with Mauricio Sulaiman. He would turn out to be true to his word, and in amazingly quick fashion. Again, stay tuned.

Afterwards, Sue Fox swung by the Tyger’s lair for another awesome visit, during which I asked her to please sign my copy of Mary Ann Lurie Owen’s Extraordinary Women of the Ring, a hard-to-come-by book I was able to snag for a great price about a year and a half ago. Her inscription “To Chris, the great writer” is something I will always humbly treasure.

Another first-time meeting for me was with award-winning documentary filmmaker Georgina Cammalleri, who has been working for over two years on a feature called Right to Fight, encompassing the struggles of female boxers to obtain licenses in the 1970s. Lady Tyger is the focal point of the narrative, and getting to film her IBHOF induction made a fantastic climax for the film. I have gladly assisted Georgina here and there with research for the documentary which will hopefully be completed and released by late fall or early winter.     

On the way to dinner, we met up with Ann Wolfe and her family, who I had the pleasure of being seated beside at the fist casting earlier. Terence Crawford and Shane Mosley were nice enough to come over and pose for pictures with all of us until it was past time to head to the Events Center for fight night.  

Tyger, Carmen, and Georgina headed down to the VIP seating area, while I set off to find my friend Len who had bought tickets for me, his son Greg, and grandson Steven. Because I was late arriving, I unfortunately missed the pro debut of 2020 Olympic bronze medalist Oshae Jones, who won a six-round unanimous decision over Sonya Dreiling.

I did get to connect at long last with Eddie Montalvo, a former amateur boxer and lifelong friend of both Hector Camacho and Lady Tyger, with whom I share a commitment to advocate for female boxers. Eddie served in the capacity of Executive Director for the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame until he retired last August. It was so very nice to share a hug and some friendly conversation.

I took in a few of the heavyweight bouts, but had to excuse myself prematurely to give Georgina a lift back to her downtown Syracuse hotel, as Ubers were impossible for her to come by and expensive to boot. And that was a wrap on Friday.        

I'm Here! I'm Here! 2022 IBHOF Trilogy Induction Weekend-Part One

Preface

Late last Sunday night at the Turning Stone Casino, well after Roy Jones Jr.’s rap performance brought down the house at the conclusion of the International Boxing Hall of Fame induction ceremony, the Emerald Restaurant was the only eatery still open for business.

I was beyond privileged to attend the 2022 Trilogy weekend as a special guest of women’s boxing trailblazer, 2021 IBHOF inductee, and my very dear friend ‘Lady Tyger’ Trimiar, as well as her home health aide Carmen who, as Tyger expressed in her acceptance speech, is not just her caregiver but a surrogate daughter. We weren’t ready to let the experience end just yet, so off we went to the Emerald dining room for post-induction food and drinks along with Lady Tyger’s friend and attorney Cecilia.

To our pleasant surprise, we weren’t the only ones hanging onto the weekend for as long as we could make possibly make it last. Sue Fox was there, reveling in the moment, and Bonnie Mann too. Bonnie is a familiar face to anyone who has attended the Hall of Fame induction festivities. An eight-year veteran of the prize ring and 2021 inductee into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame, she fought Holly Holm in her second pro bout (which was also only the fourth fight in the burgeoning career of ‘The Preacher’s Daughter, who won a four-round decision), and challenged Elizabeth Mooney for the WBE welterweight title in 2007.   

It was so very nice to once again see ‘The Island Girl’ Sumya Anani, a four-time world champion in three divisions, and three-time bantamweight titleholder ‘Sweet Magic’ Eva Jones-Young, who traveled to Canastota from Kansas and Indiana, respectively, just to attend this historic event. Last, but certainly not least, the lovely and legendary 92-year-old pioneer Barbara Buttrick was enjoying everyone’s company with her friend and biographer Jimmy Finn, a brilliant Irish gentleman who is about as affable as they come.

Upon our arrival, Lady Tyger joined this intimate and unplanned gathering of her peers and, naturally, everyone’s phones came out for an impromptu photo session in the entrance to the Emerald Restaurant. Sumya Anani’s battery had died, but she didn’t want to leave without getting a photo with Lady Tyger. I happily offered to snap some pictures with my phone and text them to her.

I couldn’t help but ask Jimmy Finn to please take one last photo of me and Barbara after first sitting down at their table so that I could tell her how moved I was by her induction speech and what a thrill it was for me to meet her after admiring her for so many years and never dreaming I would get the opportunity.

It wasn’t until the wee hours of the morning when I was scrolling through the pictures I had taken that day back in my crappy room at the Motel 6 in East Syracuse that I was struck by the historic relevance of that group photo consisting of Barbara Buttrick, Lady Tyger, Sue Fox, Bonnie Mann, Sumya Anani, and Eva Jones-Young, collectively embodying generations of remarkable trailblazing female prizefighters in the same place at the same time for the same purpose of celebrating being in one another’s presence. The fact that I got to witness scenes like this, and many more like them, throughout the course of my four-day adventure is not at all lost on me.

I’m not sure I am equal to the task of effectively communicating the profound nature of how the entire weekend played out, not to mention my gratitude toward the incredible people with whom I shared it, but I’ll take a swing at it.           

 

Wednesday June 8, 2022

I used to begin my annual treks up to Canastota from Long Island with a Thursday morning alarm at the ungodly hour of 3:30 so that I would arrive at around 9am to meet up with my friend Len in the Hall of Fame parking lot. Even before Covid hit, postponing the last two inductions, I missed the previous two years thanks to money and/or car problems. Since my last visit in 2017, I turned 50 and the thought of dragging my sorry carcass out of bed that early became all the more unappealing. To quote Danny Glover from Lethal Weapon, “I’m getting too old for this shit.”

The decision to head up a day early turned out to be a wise one, and my commute was leisurely and relatively hassle-free. Check-in at the Motel 6 was followed by lugging my stuff inside and heading out to bring back some not half-bad pizza which I ate while trying and failing to find something entertaining to watch on the ten available channels. I put in a call to Lady Tyger to let her know I arrived safe and sound and see how the last-minute preparations for her and Carmen’s trip the next morning were coming along.

With the air conditioner cranking at full capacity, I drifted off to sleep in the third quarter of the Celtics/Warriors NBA Finals game and got what would turn out to be my only decent night’s rest of my entire stay. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I was well aware that this was going to be a once in a lifetime experience which would call for late nights and early mornings, and I resolved myself not begrudgingly to the fact that a proper sleep would have to wait until I got back home if I was going to make the absolute most of it.

 

Thursday June 9, 2022         

I always look forward to Hall of Fame weekend, but this year was special and not just because three classes of inductees were being enshrined simultaneously. Of particular significance this time around was that the International Boxing Hall of Fame would be presenting rings and plaques to female boxers and non-participants for the first time in its 32-year existence.

People may wonder, and some have in fact asked, why I have dedicated myself with such passion to the advocacy of women’s boxing. The first time I responded to that question, my answer came organically and without forethought, taking even me by surprise.

The short answer is that my hero has always been, and forever will be, Clare Szczygiel. Please indulge me as I elaborate. I was extremely close to my Mom, who was forced to assume the dual role of mother and father because my old man was not much of a physical presence in our lives, and when he was around the house was filled with tension and dread for fear of what might transpire as a result of his alcoholism and generally ill-tempered moods. Mom went above and beyond to ensure that my two brothers and I were clothed, fed, educated, and entertained. I still honestly don’t know how she made it happen, but she did.

Besides suffering the abuse and neglect of a loveless marriage, there were the financial hardships that followed the divorce and lack of child support payments. More than likely because of the relentless stress and anxiety that took a hellish toll on her, Mom’s health took a serious turn for the worse when I was fifteen. A long-undiagnosed heart aneurysm brought about complications in the form of total renal failure, necessitating dialysis treatments three times a week for the rest of her life. I offered one of my kidneys, but her aneurysm made the possibility of a transplant too risky. Back in the late 1980s, the life expectancy of a dialysis patient was seven years. She survived for twelve, until lung, liver, and bone cancer ultimately took her from us. Mom was only 50, younger than I am now.

Despite the physical and emotional punishment she endured throughout her life, I never once saw Mom hang her head and cry “why me?” Instead, every time life knocked her on her ass, she picked herself off the floor, regrouped, and got back to taking care of business. We are all fighting for something, and I can draw a direct parallel line between my Mom’s existential struggles and those of the women who have had to battle tirelessly outside the ring just to be able to step between the ropes. I hope that makes sense.

When I first began to delve into the history of women’s boxing, two individuals resonated with me more than any others—Lady Tyger Trimiar and Barbara Buttrick. I have had the distinct honor of befriending Lady Tyger after writing a feature story on her in October 2020. To know that I would be getting to share the induction experience with Tyger was a dream come true for me, and getting the opportunity to meet Barbara Buttrick was the icing on the cake.

Unfortunately, my friend Len’s wife Jan has been experiencing heart issues and had a procedure scheduled for Thursday morning which meant that he would obviously be by her side and unable to meet up with me. He assured me that, as long as all went well, he would do his best to make it to the hall the following day and to the fights at the Turning Stone that night. I wished them both the best, asked Len to please keep me posted, got some coffee, and headed over to Canastota to get the festivities under way.

Thursday is generally a very relaxed, informal kind of day with fans and fighters trickling in a few at a time. Indeed, Lady Tyger’s Amtrak train wasn’t due in until late that afternoon, so I was on my own until then. As a tribute to Marvelous Marvin Hagler, the antique car he would always ride in during the Parade of Champions through downtown Canastota was on display on the Hall of Fame grounds. I got to chat with fellow women’s boxing historian Mark Jones and former trainer Aaron Snowell in the morning hours of this rainy, breezy opening day.

Off in the distance, I could identify Sue Fox scampering about taking dozens of photos and immediately ran over to introduce myself. It hopefully goes without saying how instrumental Sue, herself a trailblazing prizefighter, has been in preserving the history of women’s boxing and keeping the momentum going through the present day and into the future. On a personal and reciprocal level, she has been incredibly supportive of me and complimentary toward my writing which I am humbled by and very thankful for.

Accompanied by Britt Van Buskirk, a generation-spanning female prizefighter from 1979 to 2003 who I also got to meet for the first time, Sue was doing a quick drive-by of the Hall of Fame grounds on her way to get checked in at her hotel. We would get to reconnect later that evening, but due to an often hectic schedule and unfortunately bad timing, I never did get to cross paths with Britt again over the weekend.

Shortly before the 3pm Opening Ceremonies, Christy Martin made her first appearance to sign autographs, pose for photos, and give a Ringside Lecture. Her autobiography Fighting For Survival (written with journalist and fellow Hall of Fame inductee Ron Borges) had just been released the day before, and Christy had a small handful of copies on hand. I waited on line to buy her book which she signed for me, as well as her induction program and two trading cards, and got to say hello once again to Christy’s wife and one-time opponent Lisa Holewyne, who kindly autographed my copy of Malissa Smith’s book A History of Women’s Boxing. Malissa was sadly unable to attend and was missed for sure, but she was there in spirit and I think it’s safe to say we all felt it.

By this time, Lady Tyger let me know that she and Carmen had arrived, so I drove over to the nearby Turning Stone Casino and Hotel to hang out for a little while prior to the inductee’s welcome dinner. Sue Fox dropped by Tyger’s room beforehand and got to spend time with her boxing “sister” which was great for the both of them to share and for me to get to see.    

The autograph hounds were out in full force down in the Turning Stone lobby. Don’t get me wrong, a large percentage of the fun I experience during Hall of Fame weekend is derived from taking away treasured keepsakes of my meaningful interactions with the fighters by way of autographs or photos, or hopefully both. These keepsakes are strictly meant for me with no intention whatsoever of selling them. The same is true of the genuine fans gathered in Canastota every June. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for everyone across the board.

After a while, you can spot the memorabilia dealers and eBay guys from a mile away. It doesn’t take long to learn to identify them by their Rubbermaid tubs full of boxing gloves and stacks of laser-printed 8x10s awaiting signatures for resale, as well as by their irksome persistence and sometimes crass behavior. Marvin Hagler was always wise to them. Lenox Lewis, Julio Cesar Chavez, Ray Mancini, and Wladimir Klitschko are just a few of the boxers who grew weary of, and even irate at, the flagrant rudeness of these “bozos” (as Len and I refer to them) that very often ruin it for the rest of us and give the true fans hoping for autographs a bad name as a result of mere guilt by proximity. Just ask Bernard Hopkins. Anyone who happened to be on the Hall of Fame grounds Saturday knows what I’m talking about.

On our way to the welcome dinner, Lady Tyger had her first, but by no means last, encounter with one such bozo who has been on my shit list long before this weekend. He had obtained her address in the not too distant past and mailed a selection of photos for her to autograph and return. She didn’t, and I made her aware of who he was and what kind of reputation he had.

Despite the fact that we were legitimately running late, she was happy to stop and oblige a few autograph requests when he materialized with an induction program for Tyger to sign. She did, after which he pulled out three identical 8x10s, demanding “and now these too.” Before I could even give her shoulder a gentle but knowing squeeze, she gave me a look as if to say, “this is that guy, isn’t it?” I interjected, saying we had to be going as she was expected at the dinner which was already in progress.

“I hear it’s not starting until 7:30,” he chimed in, as if he were the event organizer and not a common vulture. I wanted to tell him to “fuck off” but I bit my tongue and simply told Tyger we had to go. Carmen agreed, probably sensing the unspoken tension in the air, and we left him no doubt fuming at being rebuffed.

As Lady Tyger’s guest, I was granted special access to the inductee-and-family-only events. The interactions I was privileged to share with the dozens of esteemed boxers gathered together for the event I would otherwise never have gotten to experience. This sort of intimate camaraderie was a first for me and something for which I will be eternally grateful to have been a part of.

Tyger knew Iran Barkley from the neighborhood back in the day and fought his sister Yvonne twice, so I was happy to bring him over to reunite with her for the first time in decades. Iran said he tried to get Yvonne to come with him, but she couldn’t make it. Marlon Starling stopped at our table and spent a good deal of time getting to know Tyger.

It was amazing to see so many folks come by unasked to say hello and congratulations to Lady Tyger, and I know how much their many kindnesses meant to her. Lou DiBella, Holly Holm, Regina Halmich, ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley, Terence Crawford, Shawn Porter, James Toney, and Roy Jones Jr. were just a few of the men and women who went out of their way to shake her hand, pose for pictures, and swap stories or at least offer a few words by way introduction. I was completely unprepared for the meaningful impact Roy Jones Jr. would have on our weekend. More on that in later installments. For now, suffice it to say Roy is one of those people who says what he means and means what he says, from his heart to yours. He couldn’t be a greater guy in my book.

Barbara Buttrick just so happened to be seated at the table next to ours with her longtime friend Jimmy Finn who co-founded the WIBF with Barbara in 1993 and is currently working on her biography. Jimmy and I had communicated through Facebook but never met in person until he escorted Barbara over to our table. The pairings of Jimmy and Barbara, and Tyger and I, had a special dynamic, like boxing kismet, and we quickly developed a neat writer and fighter kind of connection among one another.

Having recently been hospitalized with Covid at the age of 92, Barbara’s attendance was in serious doubt until Jimmy confirmed just days before the kickoff to the weekend that she had quickly bounced back and they would in fact be making the trip. That tells you everything you need to know about Barbara’s strength and resilience in a nutshell.

No words can adequately describe my first meeting with the legendary Barbara Buttrick, the ‘Mighty Atom of the Ring’ who fought all comers—male and female—in carnival boxing booths across the English countryside in the postwar 1940s before contributing extraordinarily to the remapping efforts of the nearly desolate American landscape of women’s prizefighting in the 50s.

Possibly better than getting to meet her myself was bearing witness to the first time fellow trailblazers Barbara Buttrick and Lady Tyger had ever come face to face. Barbara sat down beside Tyger and these two amazing women got to talk and laugh together as if rekindling a lifelong friendship. This experience was so profound that I’m in no way embarrassed to admit I was moved emotionally to the point of tears for the first of many times throughout the weekend.

Holly Holm and Regina Halmich rejoined us for a group picture, and there was an encore photo-op with these tremendous women when Ann Wolfe showed up shortly after. Lady Tyger wanted to go over and introduce herself to Michael Spinks before the party broke up for the time being, and we all took photos with the 1976 Olympic gold medalist and former light-heavy and heavyweight champion.

After seeing Tyger and Carmen back to their room and thanking them both for a memorable evening, I drove the half hour back to East Syracuse where sleep eluded me as I replayed the events of the day over and over again in my awestruck mind. And there was so very much yet to come.