PA BOXING HALL OF FAME
CLASS OF 2009 ANNOUNCED
 

It is that time of year again. All the votes have been cast and the results are in. So, today the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame announced the 2009 class of inductees. These nine new members will be officially welcomed at the Hall's annual banquet dinner on Sunday, May 17 at 4:00 PM. The event will be held at Romano's Catering at Castor Avenue & Wingohocking Street in Philadelphia (1523-63 Wingohocking Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19124). Tickets for the event are priced at $50 each and can be purchased by contacting the Veteran Boxers Association - Ring One at 1-215-465-1778. All the living inductees are expected to attend, as well as many other local boxing luminaries.

Sidney 'Sweet Pea' Adams
Lightweight

Born: December 16, 1935
Active: 1958-1962 (pro)
Pro Record: 17-5-2 / 9 KOs
Highlights:
1957 Jr. National AAU Champion (amateur)
1953, 1955, 1956, & 1957 -
Middle Atlantic AAU Champion (amateur)
1953 Philadelphia Golden Gloves Champion (amateur)

Sweet Pea Adams was one of Philadelphia's finest amateur boxers ever. He began competing in tournaments in the early 1950s and quickly began filling his trophy case. Adams' illustrious amateur career paved the way for his solid run as a professional lightweight. He went 15-1-1 in his first 17 paying bouts, and looked like a future champion. Adams scored notable wins over Jethro Cason (KO2), J.D. Ellis (W6), Jimmy Arthur (TKO3), Bobby Rogers (W8) and Chuck Taylor (KO5).
 

Eddie Aliano
Cut Man

Born: 1919
Died: April 19, 1996
Active: 1970-1996








Eddie Aliano was the premiere cut man for a generation of Philadelphia-area fighters and national boxing stars. He began working as a cut man in 1970, after years of carrying the bucket, serving as a general corner man, and observing other cut men, including fellow 2009 inductee Jimmy Wilson. He worked with countless fighters in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, including Matthew Saad Muhammad, Jeff Chandler, Mike Rossman, Tyrone Everett, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Rocky Lockridge, 2009 Inductee Dave Tiberi, and many, many more. His uncanny ability to stem the flow of blood earned him the nickname "The Clot". Aliano also was a trainer in his early boxing days, guiding Johnny Gilmore among others. Aliano will be inducted in the "Non-Boxer" category.
 

Henry 'Toothpick' Brown
Lightweight

Born: January 03, 1935
Active: 1951-1958 (pro)
Pro Record: 24-7-2 / 14 KO
Highlights:
1950 Middle Atlantic AAU Champion (amateur)
1950 Philadelphia Golden Gloves Champion (amateur)

Brown won both major local amateur titles in 1950 (Mid-Atlantic AAU & Philly Golden Gloves) before turning professional later that year, with legends George Katz as his manager and Willie Reddish as his trainer. Posted a 24-3-2 record before dropping his final four pro bouts. His notable victories included W8 Arthur Persley, KO1 Bobby Rogers, and KO1 L.C. Morgan, who was a world-ranked lightweight at the time. Brown fought a classic three-bout series with fellow-Philadelphian Boland Abrams, which ended 1-1-1. Toothpick made eight starts at Madison Square Garden and also appeared several times on national television.
 

Calvin Grove
Featherweight 

Born: August 05, 1962
Active: 1982-1998
Pro Record: 49-10 / 18 KO
Highlights:
IBF Featherweight Champion: 1988
USBA Featherweight Champion: 1985-1987
USBA Jr. Lightweight Champion: 1989-1990

Grove won the IBF title in 1988 with a 4th round TKO of Antonio Rivera, and successfully defended it against Myron Taylor (W15) before dropping the crown by decision to Jorge Paez later in 1988. Grove also won two regional titles (USBA) in two different weight classes (126 lbs. & 130 lbs.). He also later challenged Paez for his old title and Azumah Nelson for the WBC lightweight belt. He scored notable wins over Irving Mitchell (W12), Julian Solis (W10), Troy Dorsey (W10), and Jeff Fenech (TKO7).
 

Garnet 'Sugar' Hart
Welterweight

Born: February 22, 1936
Died: October 15, 2003
Active: 1954-1961 (pro)
Pro Record: 29-7-2 / 22 KO
Highlights:
#1 Welterweight Contender (pro)
1954 National AAU Champion (amateur)
1953 Philadelphia PAL Champion (amateur)



Won his national amateur championship in Boston by knocking out every one of his tournament foes in two rounds or less, and was named the AAU Boxing Tournament's "Most Outstanding Fighter". With his fast-hands and feet, and speedy hard-punching style, his movie star looks, and natty dressing style, inevitable comparisons to the great Sugar Ray Robinson quickly came. Hart turned pro in 1954 and fought his way to a #1 world welterweight ranking, beating Isaac Logart (W10), Ralph Dupas (W10), Earl Dennis (TKO3), Hector Constance (TKO10), Gene Johns (TKO6), Barry Allison (TKO7), Tombstone Smith (TKO8), Al Wilson (W10), and drawing with Gil Turner (D10) along the way. Hart lost his #1 spot in 1959, when he was beaten by Charley Scott in one of Philly's all-time greatest wars. Scott will also be inducted on May 17th.
 

Robert 'Bam Bam' Hines
Jr. Middleweight

Born: March 28, 1961
Active: 1981-1990
Pro Record: 25-3-1 / 17 KO
Highlights:
IBF Jr. Middleweight Champion: 1988-1989
USBA Jr. Middleweight Champion: 1987-1988





This slick southpaw won the IBF jr. middleweight title with a 12-round decision over Matthew Hilton in 1988, to mark his ultimate career highlight. He lost the title to Darren Van Horn in his first defense the following year. Hines beat Kevin Howard (W10), Ismael Negron (TKO7), Tony Montgomery (TKO10), and Steve Little (W12) in other notable victories, but brittle hands figured prominently in his decision to retire from the ring.
 

Charley Scott
Welterweight

Born: November 05, 1936
Died: October 31, 1994
Active: 1953-1964 (pro)
Pro Record: 34-31-7 / 31 KO
Highlights:
#1 Welterweight Contender (pro)
PA State Welterweight Champion 1959-1962




Scott was an exciting and popular fighter who was far better than his record indicates. He fought a who's who of boxing talent over his 13-year career. His most memorable night came when he defeated Garnet 'Sugar' Hart by TKO in nine rounds at Philadelphia's Convention Hall on October 19, 1959. The savage victory won him the Pennsylvania State welterweight title and the number one welterweight world ranking. Hart will also enter the hall posthumously on May 17th. Charley Scott also beat Isaac Logart twice, Ernie Burford, Ralph Dupas, Gaspar Ortega, and Frankie "Kid' Anslem during his outstanding career.
 

Dave Tiberi
Middleweight

Born: September 12, 1966
Active: 1985-1992
Pro Record: 22-3-3 / 7 KO
Highlights:
Challenged for the IBF Middleweight title in '92

 

Tiberi is most famous for his unsuccessful challenge for the IBF middleweight crown in a nationally televised fight with James Toney in Atlantic City. The bout went the scheduled distance and most observers believed Tiberi had done more than enough to take the title. However in one of boxing's worst verdicts, Toney retained his belt by split decision before a shocked national television audience. Tiberi protested the official result and did his best to have the decision overturned. But when his final appeal was rejected, Tiberi retired from the ring and never fought again, turning down lucrative rematch offers. Tiberi, a member of the fighting Tiberi family, was a Delaware-based fighter but fought in Pennsylvania nine times during his career, including six starts at the Blue Horizon.
 

Jimmy Wilson (Vincent Silvano)
Trainer & Cut Man

Born: September 07, 1904
Died: October 26, 1958
Active: Late 1920s - 1958








Generally recognized as Philadelphia's most accomplished trainer and cut man, Jimmy Wilson was a major influence to such aspiring cut men as Ralph Citro, Joe Polino, Mitt Bailey, and fellow 2009 inductee Eddie Aliano. Wilson also played a role in the careers of Adolph Ritacco, Sam Solomon, and Gene Johnson, who began their days in the corner as Wilson's assistants. Jimmy served as trainer / cut man for an amazing list of boxing greats including Sonny Liston, Ike Williams, Johnny Saxton, Lew Jenkins, Midget Wolgast, Arthur King, Clarence Henry, Coley Wallace, Eddie Cool, Gus Dorazio, Wicky Harkins, Bobby Jones, Young Gene Buffalo, Dan Bucceroni, Billy Fox, Eddie Giosa, Santa Bucca, George Larover, Jimmy Soo, and many more. Prior to his days in the corner, Wilson was also a professional welterweight. Wilson will be inducted in the "Non-Boxer" category.
 

John DiSanto - March 03, 2009

Hall of Fame Ticket Info
Date: Sunday, May 17, 2009, 4:00 PM
Location: Romano's Catering
(Castor Ave. & Wingohocking St., Philadelphia, PA, 19124)
Price: $50 per ticket
To purchase tickets call: (215) 465-1778
Ticket Order Form
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