Congratulation Class of 2021 International Boxing Hall of Fame
Fans, fighters, and pundits all took to social media to congratulate the International Boxing Hall Of Fame inductees
Floyd Mayweather Jr, Andre Ward, Wladimir Klitschko, Ann Wolfe and Laila Ali.
The highest honor all athletes hope to achieve is being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Moreover, being a first-ballot inductee, even more cements your legacy as worthy of praise. Furthermore, it is a symbol that your name and accolades will spread throughout time, passing from generation to generation.
In boxing, it is something every fighter hopes to achieve. It is the reason why fighters make life-changing sacrifices. It is a journey that will have great rewards and even greater disappointment. However, their determination and drive is the reason we praise them achieving this high honor.
Floyd “Money” Mayweather
There are two Mayweather personas that fans remember. “Pretty Boy” was flashy with quick hands and feet, making him an offensive force. Moreover, as time would pass, the world got to meet “Money”, a supreme defensive wizard and excellent counter-puncher.
The patented counter-right hand became his signature calling card. “Money” goes into the Hall with an unblemished record of 50-0, 27 KOs, and as a five divisional champion. He has held The Ring title in those five divisions and the Lineal title in four divisions.
Andre “SOG” Ward
The 2004 Olympic Gold medalist enters the Hall with a career that spans over thirteen years and is a two-divisional champion with a record of 32-0, 16 KOs.
Ward would prove his greatness by winning the World Boxing Super Series tournament in 2009. As a huge underdog, he would defeat then WBA ‘super’ Super Middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler. Nevertheless, he would advance to the finals and be victorious in a unification bout with WBC champion Carl Froch.
In 2016-2017, he would move up to light heavyweight to take on the biggest challenge of his career in hard-punching unified champion Sergey “Crusher” Kovalev. The former Olympic Gold medalist would be victorious in their first meeting and punctuated his claim as a great fighter by knocking out Kovalev in the rematch.
Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer” Klitschko
The 1996 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist’s career is filled with ups and downs in the sport. However, that did not keep him from becoming one of the most dominant heavyweights with two reigns as champion. This Included a run as a champion for over ten years with a career record of 64-5, 53 KOs. The Ukraine fighter would suffer a surprising early-career defeat to hard-punching veteran Ross Puritty back in 1998. This almost derailed everything. However, he would bounce back defeat WBO champion Chris Byrd in 2000 to win his first championship.
Now, Klitschko would suffer two more crushing defeats in his career. One of them was against Corrie Sanders in 2003 and the other in 2004 against Lamont Brewster. The latter defeat was extremely crushing, as it was with legendary trainer Emmanuel Steward. They regrouped and became a unified champion in the pursuit of the most historic run in boxing.
“Dr. Steelhammer” joins his older brother Vitali Klitschko and trainer Steward in the Hall of Fame.
Ann Wolfe
The stories of this Texas native female fighter are legendary. She held titles in three divisions simultaneously and had a career that ran from 1998 to 2006 with a record of 24-1, 16 KOs. Furthermore, her sole knockout defeat at the hands of Valerie Mahfood back in 2000 was avenged three years later.
Moreover, the sensational first-round knockout of Vonda Ward in 2004 remains one the most talked-about knockouts still. Nowadays, she can be found training fighters. The most noticeable name is former junior middleweight contender James Kirkland.
Laila “Madame Butterfly” Ali
Madame Butterfly is the daughter of legendary heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. She decided to become a boxer after watching the “Coal Miner’s Daughter” Christy Martin.
Now, it did not take her long to grab the spotlight in boxing; especially with a legendary last name attached. However, she would quickly prove that there was more to her than just having a famous last name.
Her career ran from 1999 to 2007. She would win championships in two divisions with an undefeated resume of 24-0, 21 KOs. Ali also set a record for headlining the first boxing card led by a female. The Ali vs Frazier saga was rekindled when she stepped in the ring with Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, daughter to Hall of Fame fighter Joe Frazier, the arch-rival of her father.
This father-daughter duo will be side by side in the Hall of Fame, something she has to be excited about.
3kingsboxing wants to congratulate all of the inductees and say thank you for the memories.
By: Garrisson Bland
