Mike Tyson, Sylvester Stallone leads class in Boxing Hall of Fame

Mike Tyson, Sylvester Stallone leads class in Boxing Hall of Fame

Mike Tyson, the controversial boxer who was equally known for his powerful punch and troubles outside the ring, was named as one of the inductees in the 2011 class in the Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum in Canastota, New York. He will be joined by legendary Mexican champion Julio Cesar Chavez. The New York Times reports that Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone, who wrote and starred in the classic boxing film “Rocky”, will also be enshrined. Australian Kostya Tszyu, a boxer of Russian descent and former junior welterweight champion, was also named. Referee Joe Cortez, a veteran of many championship fights, and Mexican trainer Ignacio Beristain are the other inductees.

The latest class members were voted on by the members of the Boxing Writers Association of America together with boxing analysts from around the world. Among the posthumous inductees are light heavyweight Jack Root, bantamweight champion Memphis Pal Moore, broadcaster Harry Carpenter and promoter A.F. Bettinson.

Brooklyn native Mike Tyson took the boxing world by storm when he knocked out Trevor Berbick in 1986, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in history at 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old. Nicknamed “Iron Mike”, he went on to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world until he was defeated by Buster Douglas in 1990. Two years later he was convicted of sexual assault and served time in jail for three years. Tyson infamously bit Evander Holyfield’s ear in a bout in 1997. He retired in 2005 after a string of losses. Mike Tyson remains an enigmatic personality in boxing and media alike.

Posted by Andre Monohan on Wednesday December 08 2010, 2:14 AM EST. Ref: Inquirer. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0