PA BOXING HALL OF FAME
CLASS OF 2011 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 2011 class of inductees. These nine new members will be officially welcomed at the Hall's annual banquet dinner on Sunday, May 15 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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Charlie Cummings
Lightweight

Born: June 07, 1931
Active: 1953-1958 (pro)
Pro Record: 19-11 / 5 KOs
Highlights:
Popular Philadelphia attraction
Beat Cortez Jackson in 1957
Went 16-5 in first 21 fights

 

Charlie Cummings was a popular attraction at the legendary Cambria Athletic Club, where he fought almost ten times. He also posted starts at the Philadelphia's Arena, the Met, the Adelphia, Connie Mack Stadium, and St. Nicholas Arena and Madison Square Garden in New York. Cummings' best win came in his rematch with the popular and tough Cortez Jackson in 1957. Cummings faced many excellent opponents including Jimmy Soo, Eddie Corma, Carmen Bartolomeo, Ruben Davis, and Stefan Redl.
 

Don Elbaum
Match Maker & Promoter

Born: ??? (One of boxing's best kept secrets)
Active: 1960s-Present

Highlights:
Promoted, matched or advised numerous ring greats including Muhammad Ali, Roberto Duran, and Sugar Ray Robinson.




Don Elbaum has promoted fights all over the world - Philadelphia, New York, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Miami, Chicago, Buffalo, Canada, Sweden, Ireland, France, Italy, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere. Elbaum has worked with countless fighters including many boxing greats. He was the house match maker for the Blue Horizon for many years until its closure last June. Elbaum is often credited for helping Don King enter the world of boxing in the early 1970s. He has matched, promoted or advised everyone - from world champions to club fighters. Promoted late-career fights for Sugar Ray Robinson and Willie Pep. Worked with Aaron Pryor, Tony Tubbs, Simon Brown, Maurice Blocker, David Telesco and others. He is still going strong and most recently guided Israel's Ran Nakash to a cruiserweight title fight in Germany. Elbaum is credited with promoting (or co-promoting) more than 1,000 fight cards.
 

Al Ettore
Heavyweight

Born: November 19, 1913
Died: November 15, 1988
Active: 1930-1939 (pro)
Pro Record: 60-17-5 / 20 KO
Highlights:
Faced up-&-coming Joe Louis before 40,000+
Beat Leroy Haynes three times
Beat Gus Dorazio, John Henry Lewis, Jersey Joe Walcott, Jim Braddock, and others in all-star career

Al Ettore was one of the most popular fighters to come out of West Philly. He had an all-star ten year career in one of the true golden eras of boxing. Faced a full slate of fine opponents including Pete Latzo (W10), Matt Adgie (W10), Jim Braddock (WDQ4), Popper Stopper (W10, W10, W8), Charley Massera (L6, W10), Willie Reddish (W8), Leroy Haynes (W10, W12, W15), Jersey Joe Walcott (KO8), Steve Dudas (W10), Arturo Godoy (D10), John Henry Lewis (W10, L15, L15), Gus Dorazio (W10), and Tony Galento (TKO'd 8). Ettore lost his shot for the PA State Heavyweight Title with a 10-round loss to Tommy Loughran. He is best remembered for his 1936 KO loss to Joe Louis, which drew a live crowd of 40,407 at Municipal Stadium.
 

George Godfrey
Heavyweight 

Born: January 25, 1897
Died: August 13, 1947
Active: 1919-1937
Pro Record: 96-20-3 / 79 KO / 5 NC
Highlights:
Compiled impressive record against strong competition of the 1920s and 1930s, but never granted a world title shot due to the color of his skin.


George Godfrey spent the better part of his career chasing the top fighters of his day. But in an era when black fighters were "black listed" by the world's best fighters, he had to settle for two runs as the "Colored Heavyweight Champion" and a few stints as Jack Dempsey's sparring partner. The bulk of his record is still filled with a strong list of opponents like Sam Langford, Battling Norfolk, Jack Thompson, Jack Sharkey, Paolino Uzcudun, Johnny Risko, Pierre Charles, Jack Gross, Ace Clark, Primo Carnera, Tiger Jack Fox, Obie Walker, and many others. Reportedly called on to intentionally foul out (aka lose) in key fights (like Carnera), in exchange for the opportunity to keep fighting, earning, and gaining bigger opportunities that never came. frustrating career was still one of Philly's all-time best.
 

Joe Gramby
Manager

Born: June 08, 1912
Died: February 19, 1991
Active: 1930s to 1980s

Highlights:
Philadelphia's first black pro manager
Guided Bob Montgomery, Honeychile Johnson, Charley Scott, Richie Kates, Otis Graham, Bobby Green, Chicken Thompson & others


Known as "The Fox" for his uncanny boxing knowledge and ability to out maneuver everyone he came in contact with, Joe Gramby was one of Philadelphia boxing's most legendary ring men. Managed the great Bob Montgomery through two reigns as lightweight champion. His career spanned six decades, making him one of the most respected boxing minds ever. He was successful during a time when black men had few opportunities. His fighters included Randall Tex Cobb, Melvin Parker, Richie Kates, Bucky Slocum, Orville Preston, Gil Turner (with George Katz), Tiger Rankin, Bobby Singleton, Vincent Pettway (with Mack Lewis), Otis Graham, Charley Scott, Eddie "Flash" Tomlin, George Benton (1965-70), Honeychile Johnson, Chicken Thompson, Tony Thornton, Bob Montgomery and more. 
 

Richie Kates
Light Heavyweight

Born: May 21, 1951
Active: 1969-1983
Pro Record: 44-6 / 23 KO
Highlights:
NABF Lt. Heavyweight Champ: 1974-75
Twice challenged for the WBA world title: 1976 & 1977




Light-heavyweight contender Richie Kates fought out of Bridgeton, NJ but was major attraction in Philadelphia. He fought in Philadelphia 22, almost half of his professional bouts. His NABF title fight with Matthew Saad Muhammad in 1978 is considered one of the greatest from the Spectrum era. But most of the noise that Kates made in boxing was on the world stage. He twice challenged the great Victor Galindez for the WBA world 175-pound crown. In the first meeting (1976), Kates was ahead on points with the title within grasp when Galindez battled back with a devastating left hook that knocked Kates down and out. The fight ended one second before the scheduled final bell. In the rematch one year later, Kates and Galindez again waged a brutal war. This time Galindez defended his title by unanimous decision. Kates fought and beat many fine opponents in his career including Jerry Martin, Len Hutchins, Roger Russell, Don Fullmer, Pierre Fourie, Carlos Marks, Murray Sutherland, Jerry Celestine, Richie Bennett and Jeff Lampkin. Kates won the NABF light-heavyweight title with a first round knockout of Jimmy Dupree in 1974.
 

Tommy Marciano
Welterweight

Born: August 16, 1934
Active: 1952-1956 (pro)
Pro Record: 20-5-3 / 5 KO
Highlights:
Eastern Golden Gloves Champ as
amateur lightweight
Went 17-1-3 in his first 21 bouts
Beat Charley Scott twice, Earl Clemmons,
and Johnny Busso


Tommy Marciano had a successful amateur career winning the Eastern Golden Gloves title at lightweight. As a professional, Marciano went undefeated in his first 17 bouts, including five knockouts and three draws (versus Jimmy Washington, Ike White & Jimmy Arthur). Early victims included Chico Corsey (twice), Johnny Busso, and a young Charley Scott. Later in his career, he again defeated Scott and added Reuben Davis, Harry Deputy, and Earl Clemmons to his list of victories. After going 6-5 in his final eleven fights, Marciano retired in 1956. Marciano fought all over Philadelphia, including the Cambria, Arena, and Toppi Stadium. He also had two starts at Madison Square Garden and one at St. Nicholas Arena. 
 

Jerry Martin
Light Heavyweight

Born: November 29, 1953
Active: 1976-1984
Pro Record: 25-7 / 17 KO
Highlights:
NABF Lt. Heavyweight Champ: 1979-80
USBA Lt. Heavyweight Champ: 1979-80
Challenged for the world title three times:
1980, 1981, 1982



Jerry "The Bull" Martin won 19 of his first 20 bouts as a professional. The run included wins over Jerry Celestine, Willie Taylor, Billy Douglas, and James Scott (in Rahway State Prison). During the stretch, Martin also picked up the vacant NABF title with a 12-round TKO of Dale Grant, and the USBA title by defeating Jesse Burnett over twelve rounds. The win over Scott propelled him into his first title shot. On July 20, 1980 Martin faced WBA champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. He fought well but was stopped in round ten. After three more wins, Martin fought Matthew Saad Muhammad in 1981 for the WBC light-heavyweight title. In a nip-and-tuck battle, Martin lost in round 11. Many thought the fight was stopped far too quickly. In his very next fight he received his third chance at a world title when he was matched with Dwight Muhammad Qawi in 1982. Qawi stopped Martin in six rounds. In the final two years of his career, Martin went 3-3, but beat Willie Torres and Anthony Witherspoon during that time. Martin was a talented and accomplished fighter who probably would have been a world champion had he come along at a time when the "Mighty Muhammads" did not rule the division.
 

David Reid
Junior Middleweight

Born: September 17, 1973
Active: 1997-2001 (pro)
Pro Record: 17-2 / 7 KO
Highlights:
Olympic Gold Medal at 1996 Atlanta Games
National Golden Gloves Champ (1993)
USA Welter champ (1994)
USA Light-Middle champ (1996)
WBA Jr. Middleweight champ: 1999-2000
WBC Continental Americas champ: 1998

David Reid was known as "The American Dream". He capped his excellent amateur career with a Gold Medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games with a third round KO of Cuban Alfredo Duvergel. If that wasn't enough to qualify him for the PA Boxing Hall of Fame, Reid went on to an important four-year professional career. He turned pro against undefeated (10-0) Sam Calderon, whom Ried beat by decision. One year into his professional run, Reid topped James Coker by 12-round decision to win the WBC Continental Americas title at junior middleweight. In his next fight, he won the WBA world junior middleweight title with a decision over Laurent Boudouani. Reid defended his crown with decisions over Kevin Kelly and Keith Mullings, both in 1999. He lost his title and posted his first defeat on March 3, 2000, when he lost a decision to Felix Trinidad. Reid rebounded with three straight wins, but decided to retire after a stoppage loss to Sam Hill in 2001. Reid currently lives in Michigan and works with Al Mitchell at Northern University's U.S. Olympic Education Center Boxing Program.
 

John DiSanto - April 07, 2011

Hall of Fame Ticket Info
Date: Sunday, May 14, 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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