International Boxing Hall of Fame Welcomes Alicia Ashley and Laura Serrano as Class of 2023 Inductees

 

Alicia ‘Slick’ Ashley and Laura Serrano shared a boxing ring back in 2000, with Serrano maintaining her then-unbeaten record by way of an eight-round unanimous decision over Ashley in Tunica, Mississippi. Twenty-three years later, they will share the dais in Canastota, New York at the International Boxing Hall of Fame as fellow inductees proudly representing the Class of 2023.

Serrano, no relation to Cindy and Amanda, held an already established Christy Martin to a six-round draw in her 1994 debut and, in addition to beating Alicia Ashley, claimed additional signature victories over the likes of Deirdre Gogarty, Layla McCarter, Tracy Bird (twice), Kelsey Jeffries (twice), and Chevelle Hallback.

All told, Serrano wrapped up her eighteen-year career in 2012 with a 17-5-3 record and a brief reign as WIBF world lightweight titleholder courtesy of her knockout win against defending champion Deidre Gogarty in only her second bout.

Ashley, a Jamaican southpaw who fought out of world famous Gleason’s Gym after settling in Brooklyn, began her professional boxing sojourn in 1999 and would achieve a level of immortality sixteen years later by becoming the oldest female world champion when, at the age of 48, she reclaimed the WBC super-bantamweight belt with a unanimous decision win against Christina McMahon. She had first won the title five years earlier by outpointing Christina Ruiz and made three successful defenses before being unseated by Jackie Nava.

Alicia’s lengthy resume includes impressive victories over Bonnie Canino, Kelsey Jeffries (twice, same as Serrano), Marcela Eliana Acuna (twice out of three, winning the WIBF super-bantam title in their first match), Elena Reid, Brooke Dierdorff, and Chantall Martinez, among many more. Having put in a nineteen-year tour of duty as a prizefighter, Ashley’s ledger stands at 24-12-1 with 4 KOs.

With Ashley and Serrano being the standouts of the Women’s Modern category, 1940s and 50s female boxer JoAnn Hagen, who passed away in 2004, will be enshrined as the Women’s Trailblazer next June. A lifelong resident of South Bend, Indiana, Hagen is best remembered for being the only boxer to defeat the legendary Barbara Buttrick in the first ever women’s bout to be broadcast over the radio. Hagen’s Trailblazer plaque will hang alongside Buttrick’s in Canastota, as well as that of Lady Tyger Trimiar. Tiger Jack Fox and Pone Kingpetch will also be inducted posthumously.              

Alicia Ashley and Laura Serrano will be celebrated along with their male counterparts Timothy Bradley Jr., Carl Froch, and Rafael Marquez. Newly elected nonparticipants include trainer Joe Goossen, matchmaker Brad Goodman, promotional executive Brad Jacobs, television executive Seth Abraham, and broadcaster Tim Ryan.

The 2023 International Boxing Hall of Fame induction festivities will take place June 8-11 in Carmen Basilio’s hometown of Canastota, New York.