PHILLY BOXING HISTORY - October 03, 2021  
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Anthony Fletcher, Bernard Hopkins, and Frank Kubach

PABHOF INDUCTS
2020 & 2021 CLASSES
 
Story by John DiSanto
Photos by Vic de Wysocki
 

 
   

On Sunday, October 3, 2021, the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame inducted twenty-three new members in their sixty-third annual ceremony. The inductees were made up of the 2020 and 2021 classes. The event was held at the Bridgeman's Ballroom in Northeast Philadelphia. Last year's inductions were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The twenty-three inductees included boxers Bill Bossio, Derek Ennis, Troy Fletcher, Johnny Forte, Marvin Garris, Otis Graham, Kelvin Kelly, Julian Letterlough, Jack McClelland, Willie Moore, Fernando Rodriguez, Curtis Sheppard, Paul Spadafora, Maxie Strub, Myron Taylor, Billy Wallace, and Bee Bee Wright, trainers Jim Deoria Sr., Bozy Ennis, Al Mitchell, promoter Marshall Kauffman, judge Carol Polis, and referee Rudy Battle.

Family ties seemed to be the theme this year, with father and son Bozy and Derek Ennis entering the Hall together. This was the first time such a pair were honored in the same year. Troy Fletcher joined his brother Frank Fletcher and Anthony Fletcher and uncle Dick Turner as a fellow inductee. Johnny Forte joined his brother Tommy Forte. Willie Moore joined his brother Pal Moore. Myron Taylor joined his brother Meldrick Taylor. And finally, Jim Deoria Sr. joined his son Jimmy Deoria. In another historic note, Carol Polis became just the third woman inducted into the PABHOF, joining boxer Jacqui Frazier-Lyde and judge Lynn Carter.

This year's banquet was attended by a number of celebrities from the local boxing scene, including former champions Bernard Hopkins, Charles Brewer, and Meldrick Taylor, current world champion Mikaela Mayer, rising welterweight contender Jaron Ennis, active boxers Travis Kauffman, Charles Brewer Jr., former fighters Eldrick Taylor, Farah Ennis, Bryan Jones, Anthony Fletcher, Jimmy Deoria, Keenan Collins, Joe Wyatt, Lamar Williams, Jimmy Rivera, Mike Rogers, Gerardo Martinez, Anthony Caputo Smith, Hank Quinn, Monty Sherrick, promoters J Russell Peltz, Don Elbaum, and Brittany Rogers McCloskey, matchmaker Gary Hegyi, referees Vic de Wysocki, John Carroll, and Rick Steigerwald, writers Bernard Fernandez, Nigel Collins, Ken Hissner, Jeff Jowett, Vincent Ciaramella, Rich Pagano, Derek Gionta, publicist Marc Abrams, cut man Joey Eye, VBA President Frank Kubach, VBA Vice President Joe Mathis, David Ruff and others.

Former boxers Norman Torpey and Gerry Cullen each won special awards. Torpey was named the VBA Man of the Year and Cullen received the VBA Legacy Award.


Paul Spadafora and friends at the PABHOF.


Kelvin Kelly accepts his Hall of Fame plaque.


Trainer Al Mitchell is inducted.


Former contender Myron Taylor.


Former fighter Fernando Rodriguez.


Carol Polis, the first female boxing judge.


Marvin Garris accepts his plaque.


The family of Bill Bossio accepts on his behalf.


Promoter Marshall Kauffman holds his HOF plaque.


Troy Fletcher, member of the fighting Fletcher family, 


Referee Rudy Battle is inducted.


The Family of boxer Otis Graham. 


Trainer Derek "BOZY" Ennis.


Former USBA & PA State champion Derek "Pooh" Ennis.


The brother and son (left) of Julian Letterlough accept for him.


Family & friends of Jim Deoria Sr. accept his plaque.


Willie Moore's great-great grandson and his great-great grandson.


The family of Willie Moore.


The family of Bee Bee Wright


The family of Bill Bossio accept his plaque.

   
 

 

 
 


John DiSanto - Northeast Philly - October 03, 2021
 

 
     
 

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