Hall of Fame: Ricky Hatton, Michael Moorer, Diego Corrales, Ivan Calderon to be inducted
Ricky Hatton, Michael Moorer, Diego Corrales, Ivan Calderon and Luis Angel Firpo have been elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Class of 2024, it was announced Thursday.
Also elected were Jane Couch and Ana Maria Torres.
Electees are voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and international boxing historians.
The latest class will be inducted into the Hall next June in Canastota, New York.
Hatton (45-3, 32 KOs) was a strong, gritty two-time 140-pound titleholder from England who is best known for stopping fellow Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu and being knocked out by the two greatest fighters of his generation, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
Hatton, whose prime was in the 2000s, also has victories over Vince Phillips, Luis Collazo, Jose Luis Castillo and Paulie Malignaggi.
“That’s incredible,” Hatton said when he learned he had been elected. “You never think of when you lace the gloves on at 10 years old that you’ll end up in the Hall of Fame with some of the great fighters already there.
“I’m a bit speechless. There’s no greater honor. I’m delighted.”
Moorer (52-4-1, 40 KOs) was an unbeaten light heavyweight and three-time heavyweight titleholder in the 1990s.
The native of Brooklyn stopped all 22 of his opponents at 175 pounds, although he faced no big-name foes at that weight. And he outpointed once-beaten Evander Holyfield to become a heavyweight beltholder for a second time in 1994.
He famously lost his title in his first defense later the same year. He was leading 45-year-old George Foreman on the scorecards when he was knocked out in the 10th round.
“I appreciate this very much,” Moorer said. “The Hall of Fame Wall is the wall of the elite and I am so happy to be inducted alongside some of my favorite boxers like Salvador Sanchez, Alexis Arguello and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. I made it to the elite.”
The late Corrales (40-5, 33 KOs) was a dynamic boxer-puncher who took part in one of the greatest fights in history, his thrilling come-from-behind 10th-round knockout of Castillo in 2005.
He was a two-division titleholder who had a series of high-profile victims, including Derrick Gainer, Angel Manfredy, Joel Casamayor and Acelino Freitas. He was stopped by Mayweather in 2001.
Corrales’ wife was elated when she heard that he would be inducted.
“I’m over the moon happy to hear that Diego will be enshrined with his boxing peers and family that he loves so much at the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the Class of 2024,” she said. “Our entire family thanks the voting committee for recognizing the hard work and dedication that Diego gave the sport of boxing with the highest level of recognition a champion can ever ask for.
“I’m sure Diego is smiling from ear to ear as I accept this news on his behalf. Thank you.”
Calderon (35-3-1, 6 KOs) was one of the top little men in boxing in the 2000s.
The Puerto Rican southpaw and master technician was a strawweight titleholder from 2003 to 2010, one of the longest reigns at any weight during his era.
“This is something great, a dream come true,” Calderon said. “I dreamed to be a boxer. I dreamed to be a world champion. I especially dreamed to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. And now I’ve got everything!”
Firpo (31-4, 26 KOs) is best known for his brief, but epic encounter with heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey in 1923. The burly Argentine went down seven times in the first round, put Dempsey through the ropes with a huge punch late in the same round and then was stopped in Round 2.
“The Wild Bull of the Pampas”, who will enter the Hall in the Old Timer category, had a number of notable victories before his setback against Dempsey. That includes a knockout of former champ Jess Willard.
Couch (28-11, 9 KOs) won multiple world titles but probably made her biggest mark when she sued British officials for the right to fight in the U.K. and won. Women couldn’t compete there legally until she took her stand.
“Oh my God, I’m in shock over this news,” Couch said. “Wow! I can’t believe it. I’m so excited and cannot wait to get to Canastota and meet everyone during the Induction Weekend.”
Torres (28-3-3, 16 KOs) was a two-time 115-pound beltholder from Mexico known for her polished boxing technique.
“It is a great honor to be in the International Boxing Hall of Fame with great champions,” Torres said. “I am very happy! Thanks to my mom, who has always been with me. My husband, my children and I have taken this great news as another championship.”
Here are the other inductees:
- Theresa Kibby (10-3-4, 3 KOs), boxer. Trailblazer fought in the 1970s.
- Kenny Adams, trainer. Former coach of the U.S. National Team.
- Jackie Kallen, manager. Worked with James Toney, among others.
- Fred Sternburg, publicist.
- Wallace Matthews, journalist.
- Nick Charles, broadcaster.