PA BOXING HALL OF FAME
CLASS OF 2010 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 2010 class of inductees. These nine new members will be officially welcomed at the Hall's annual banquet dinner on Sunday, May 16 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 $55 each and can be purchased by contacting the Veteran Boxers Association - Ring One at 1-215-465-1778. Tables of 10 cost $500 (a discount of $5 per seat). All the living inductees are expected to attend, as well as many other local boxing luminaries.

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Billy Arnold
Welterweight

Born: September 21, 1926
Died: May 18, 1995
Active: 1943-1948 (pro)
Pro Record: 42-9-1 / 35 KOs
Highlights:
31-fight unbeaten streak to start career
16-bout & 10-bout KO streaks
Top welterweight contender while
still in high school
 

Billy Arnold, known as "The New Joe Louis", was a teenage phenom who became a top world rated welterweight while still in high school. He started his career with a 31-fight unbeaten streak which included two impressive knockout streaks of 16 and then 10 straight KOs. A controversial 8-round decision loss vs. Fritzie Zivic in 1945 ended his undefeated string. Zivic had almost 200 fights at the time (to Arnold's 31 bouts). In his very next bout, Arnold was upset by Rocky Graziano in a war. Arnold fought on after Graziano, but he never regained his contender status.
 

Charlie 'Choo Choo' Brown
Lightweight

Born: April 16, 1958
Active: 1979-1993
Pro Record: 26-16-2 / 18 KO
Highlights:
IBF lightweight champion: 1984
Vacant USBA lightweight title shot: 1985





Charlie "Choo Choo" Brown was an exciting Rock-'Em-Sock-'Em puncher who won the IBF's first lightweight championship in a thrilling 15-round war with Melvin Paul in Atlantic City. It was Brown's career highlight, but he had to come off the floor to take the decision and win the belt. Prior to becoming champ, he posted nice wins over Gary Hinton (W10), Al Cater (TKO9), Jerome Artis (W10), and an ancient Cortez Jackson (KO1). Brown lost his crown to Harry Arroyo, April 15, 1984, by TKO in round 14. A year later, he tried for the vacant USBA title against fellow Philadelphian, Tyrone Crawley, but lost the decision. His record is marred by the 11-bout losing streak that ended his career. Brown is the nephew of PA Hall of Famer Henry "Toothpick" Brown, and the son of 1951 Diamond Belt winner, Lloyd Brown. 
 

Tyrone Crawley
Lightweight

Born: November 02, 1958
Active: 1980-1988 (pro)
Pro Record: 22-2 / 7 KO
Highlights:
USBA lightweight champion: 1985
ESPN lightweight champion: 1982
WBA world title shot: 1986

Tyrone "Butterfly" Crawley was a slick southpaw who won the USBA lightweight championship with a win over fellow PA Hall of Famer, Charlie "Choo Choo" Brown in 1985. Prior to winning that belt, Crawley won the ESPN title in 1982 with a 12-round verdict over Al "Earthquake" Carter. The world took notice when Crawley upset Gene Hatcher (W12) and Robin Blake (W10). Other wins (KO10 Anthony Murray, W10 Edwin Curet, KO8 Gary Gamble) helped land him a shot at Livingstone Bramble's WBA world title, but Crawley was stopped in round 13. He fought a few more times, but ultimately went on to a career as a Philadelphia Policeman. Today he trains his son, Tyrone Jr., another left-handed slickster and amateur standout. 
 

Ed Derian
Ring Announcer 

Born: May 05, 1937
Active: 1967-present

Highlights:
Announced countless boxing events in the Philadelphia area for decades.
 

Ed Derian, born Setrak Ejdaharian, started his career in 1967 as the announcer for Roller Derby and professional wrestling events at the Arena in West Philly. Beginning in 1975, Derian became the voice of Philadelphia boxing, working in most of the major boxing venues including the Arena, the Spectrum, the Blue Horizon, and the New Alhambra.  He announced countless boxing cards - club fights to world championships - including the 1976 title bout between Tyrone Everett & Alfredo Escalera. Derian was also a fixture during the rise of casino boxing in Atlantic City, serving as announcer for the very first Atlantic City casino fight at Resorts International in 1979.  He was inducted into the NJ Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.   
 

Mike Everett
Jr. Welterweight

Born: May 01, 1954
Active: 1972-1979 (pro)
Pro Record: 24-10-1 / 11 KO
Highlights:
WBC jr. welterweight title shot: 1977
3-time Phila. Golden Gloves Champ (amateur)





Mike Everett fought in the shadow of his older brother Tyrone for his entire career. But he was a fine fighter in his own right. As an amateur, he won the Philadelphia Golden Gloves three years straight. As a professional Mike streaked to a 22-2-1 to start his career. Along the way, he defeated Miguel Barreto (W10), Dale Hernandez (W10), Norman Goins (W10), Tim Walker (W8 & W10), and split two bouts each with Ronald "Bo" Whyms and Johnny Copeland. The Copland bouts were wild-punching affairs. Everett gained a shot at the world title in 1977, but lost to Saensak Muangsurin by TKO in the sweltering heat of Thailand. Much of the remainder of his career was spent being a measuring stick for many upcoming lions including Wade Hinnant and Jimmy Rothwell. This year Everett joins his brother Tyrone in the PA Hall of Fame.
 

Gary Hinton
Jr. Welterweight

Born: August 29, 1956
Active: 1978-1989
Pro Record: 29-5-2 / 11 KO
Highlights:
IBF jr. welterweight champ: 1986
USBA jr. welterweight champ: 1984-1986 WBC Continental Americas Champ: 1985-86




In his first title crack, southpaw Gary Hinton almost beat legend Aaron Pryor, but allowed the decision to slip away due to a late round knockdown. A year later, he took the same crown, by then vacant, by defeating Reyes Cruz by decision. Leading up to his title reign, Hinton took two major regional titles. He won the USBA belt with a decision over Jerome Kinney, and defended it twice (W12 Brett Lally & D12 Joe Louis Manley). In 1985, Hinton gained the WBC Continental Americas belt with a decision over Darryl Fuller. 
 

Leotis Martin
Heavyweight

Born: March 10, 1939
Died: November 20, 1995
Active: 1962-1969 (pro)
Pro Record: 31-5 / 19 KO
Highlights:
NABF heavyweight champ: 1969
KO'd Sonny Liston in televised stunner
Competed in WBA elimination tournament



Leotis Martin was a hard-luck heavyweight contender who had to retire immediately after his greatest win, a stunning knockout of former champion Sonny Liston. He won the NABF title with the feat, but had to call it quits due to a detached retina. Vied for the WBA portion of Ali's vacated title, but lost to Jimmy Ellis in the elimination tourney. Defeated many god pros in his career including Thad Spencer (KO9), Johnny Alford (W6), Dave Bailey (W8), Don Warner (KO1), Sonny Banks (KO9), Von Clay (W8), Karl Mildenberger (KO7) and Roger Russell (W10, L10).
 

Quenzell McCall
Trainer

Born: 1921
Died:  1985
Active: 1940s-1985

Highlights:
Trained numerous quality boxers
Proprietor of Champs Gym

 

Quenzell McCall was one of Philadelphia's greatest boxing trainers. No question about it. He guided countless young fighters and provided one of the best boxing proving grounds the city (and the world) has ever seen - the legendary Champs Gym. Most famous for his work with Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Percy Bassett, Len Matthews, Kitten Hayward, Leotis Martin, Youngblood Williams and Bennie Briscoe. The list goes on and on. A fighter himself, McCall placed second in the Philadelphia Diamond Belt Tournament twice, and went 5-2 as a professional. But McCall's calling was as a trainer, and Philly Boxing History is all the better for it.
 

Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Light-heavyweight & Cruiserweight

Born: January 05, 1953
Active: 1978-1998
Pro Record: 41-11-1 / 25 KO
Highlights:
WBC light-heavyweight champ: 1981-1983
WBA cruiserweight champ: 1985-1986
WBC Continental Americas champ: 1989
IBHOF induction: 2004



Dwight Muhammad Qawi was born Dwight Braxton in Baltimore. He grew up in Camden, NJ, and started his boxing career at Joe Frazier's Gym. He beat Tony Mesoraca TKO6), Johnny Davis (W10), Al Bolden (W10), Mike Rossman (KO7) and James Scott (W10) in consecutive bouts to earn his WBC title shot against Matthew Saad Muhammad. Dwight won the bout by TKO in 10 rounds. He defended the crown three times before losing it in a unification bout with Michael Spinks in 1983. Moving up one division, Qawi took the WBA cruiserweight title with a TKO of Piet Crous in 1985. He defended his new title against Leon Spinks (TKO6) before losing it to Evander Holyfield one year later. Qawi challenged for the cruiserweight title twice more (KO'd 4 & L12) and won the WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight belt (W12 Andre McCall). Qawi was managed by Wesley Mouzon and trained by fellow inductee Quenzell McCall.
 

John DiSanto - February 23, 2010

Hall of Fame Ticket Info
Date: Sunday, May 16, 2010, 4:00 PM
Location: Romano's Catering
(Castor Ave. & Wingohocking St., Philadelphia, PA, 19124)
Price: $55 per ticket (or table of 10 for $500)
To purchase tickets call: (215) 465-1778
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