Arturo Gatti, Mills Lane, Virgil Hill Inducted into International Boxing Hall Of Fame

The International Boxing Hall of Fame sent out the following:

MODERN BOXERS ARTURO GATTI, VIRGIL HILL AND MYUNG-WOO YUH ELECTED TO INT’L BOXING HALL OF FAME

Mills Lane, Jimmy Lennon, Jr. and Colin Hart
also enter Hall of Fame

CANASTOTA, NY – DECEMBER 10, 2012 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum announced today the newest class of inductees to enter the Hall. Modern category inductees include two-division champion Arturo “Thunder” Gatti (posthumous), five-time world champion Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill, two-time light flyweight champion Myung-Woo Yuh, “Let’s Get It On” referee Mills Lane, ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr., and journalist Colin Hart.

“We’re extremely excited about the Class of 2013 and very much looking forward to honoring the 24th class of inductees,” said Executive Director Edward Brophy.

The 24th Annual Hall of Fame Weekend is scheduled for June 6-9th in Canastota, NY. Over 20 events, including a golf tournament, banquet, parade and autograph card show, are planned. An impressive celebrity lineup of boxing greats of yesterday and today will attend this year’s Induction Weekend. The highlight of the weekend will be the Official Enshrinement Ceremony on the Hall of Fame Museum Grounds in Canastota, New York on Sunday, June 9th to welcome the newest members.

The Class of 2013 also includes lightweight Wesley Ramey and middleweight Jeff Smith in the Old-Timer Category (posthumous); manager Arturo “Cuyo” Hernandez in the Non Participant Category (posthumous); cartoonist Ted Carroll in the Observer Category (posthumous); and Joe Coburn in the Pioneer Category (posthumous). Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians.

For more information on the events planned for the 2013 International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend, please call the Hall of Fame at (315) 697-7095, visit online at www.ibhof.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InternationalBoxingHallofFame and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BoxingHall.

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COMMENTS UPON RECEIVING INDUCTION NEWS

“It is the biggest honor that’s ever been bestowed upon me. It’s more than winning the five world titles and the Olympic silver medal. It’s the biggest thing – outside of my children and wife – that’s ever happened to me. It’s such an honor. I know this would have meant so much to my father. He passed away a year ago and this was a big thing for him. I’m so happy. You have no idea.”

– Virgil Hill

“Thank you so much. I feel honored and I’m proud as a boxer. I would like to share this happiness with all of the boxers.”

– Myung-Woo Yuh

“Mills was thrilled and appreciative to learn that he was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013. He loves boxing. Even more, he loves the boxing community that has been such an important part of his life for over fifty years. This is a terrific honor.”

– Kaye Lane on behalf of her husband Mills Lane

“Wow. What an honor. I’m thrilled. This is just fantastic news. The fact that my role and what I do in boxing will live on through the Hall of Fame is something I never really thought about before. It’s a tremendous honor and humbling also because the sport is all about the boxers themselves and we who play peripheral roles, we support the boxers. But to be honored in a way that people see a value to what I do is a tremendous honor. I’m just thrilled. This is very special.”
– Jimmy Lennon, Jr.

“For anyone involved in the boxing business the ultimate honour is to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. I was overwhelmed with pride when I was told my name was to be added to the list of the giant figures who have graced our sport. This year in New York I received the Nat Fleischer award from the American Boxing Writers Association. Now Canastota in 2013. Not bad for a Limey! I just hope this isn’t all a dream.”
– Colin Hart