Jakubowski, Wilson and Ivory Head to the Hall

Three skilled fighters will be inducted into the Illinois Boxing Hall of Fame on November 15 ...let’s hear it for Marty Jakubowski, Rodney Wilson, and Anthony Ivory.

The 3 fighters sport a staggering 283 bouts in total.  

Marty Jakubowski

Already a member of the Indiana Boxing Hall of Fame, former world title challenger Marty Jakubowski is heading to the Illinois Boxing Hall of Fame.

Marty, from Chicago’s close neighbor, Whiting, Indiana, is certainly no stranger to fight fans from the Windy City. Jakubowski lived and trained his whole career right beside Chicago and often sparred in “Windy City” gyms.

Marty turned pro in 1987 and fought until 2005. He racked up an incredible 126 fights over 18 years in the game. While he did mine the club-level, opponent-friendly Midwest circuit to stay busy between bigger assignments, when his number came up for the big bouts, he was all world-class.

Jakubowski (119-7-, 34 KOs) worked off a skill set heavy on fast hands and constant motion in the ring. His outstanding boxing skills allowed him to go up against some of boxing’s very best contenders and champions, including Julio Caesar Chavez, Khalid Rahilou (for the WBA junior welterweight title), Artur Gregorian (for the WBO world lightweight title), Denis Holbaek Pedersen, and Miguel Angel Gonzalez (for the WBC lightweight title), among many others.

Jakubowski, who came to the pro game after taking up amateur boxing at age 9 and racking up about 135 bouts, was inducted into the Indiana Hall of Fame a few years ago and made sure to mention 3 people who were instrumental in the success of his career.

His original trainer, Dennis Hardesty, was a man who taught him so much about the fight game and Marty had nothing but good memories of his late coach.

“I came into the gym at 9 years old and Dennis was the coach. It didn’t matter if he was working, or whatever, he found the time to get to the gym and help us. He did everything for free. He did so much and got so many kids off the street”, he said. “Dennis saved a lot of lives. He was one of the best boxing teachers I ever had in my life”. 

A couple of others he had to give a shout-out to were his friends Sean Gibbons and Pete Susens. 

“My matchmaker Pete Susens, and my long-time manager Sean Gibbons. Those guys were fantastic and are still great friends to this day. All the fights I had, the way they handled my career; I wouldn’t change a thing. They were great for me in the ring, and I cherish their friendship out of the ring”, he said. “It was just a great time to be in the sport. So many good memories”.

After retiring from boxing, Marty worked for the city of Whiting before leaving to pursue his current career as, boxing trainer at “Knuckleheads Boxing” in Chicago.

Congratulations, Marty, on a well-deserved honor!

Rodney Wilson

Also getting the call to the hall on November 15 is Chicago Lightweight – welterweight Rodney Wilson. He logged 25-13-3 record over 41 bouts and faced some very impressive competition.

His ‘have gloves, will travel’ attitude in taking on all comers saw him fighting all over the world. Among the fighters he squared off with were world champions Randall Bailey, Rafael Ruelas, undefeated Oktay Urkal in Berlin, Germany, undefeated Bruno Wartell in Paris, France, Khalid Rahilou, also in France, and power punching, 2-time world title challenger Billy Irwin in Edmonton, Canada.

Seeing the world on boxing’s dime - it doesn’t get better than that.

He also faced prospect Kelcie Banks, South African world title challenger Jan Piet Bergman, and Florida’s world title challenger Ricky Quilles, to name a few.

An excellent boxer who could go rounds with the very best in the sport!

Congratulations, Rodney, on a well-deserved honor!

 Anthony Ivory

An outstanding boxer and the consummate journeyman is the veteran of 116 professional fights. While Chicago’s Ivory did fight a lot in his home country, he also fought in France, Canada, Sweden, Mexico, Denmark, and England. Despite an opponent’s record, 32-78-6, 12 KOs, Ivory could indeed box against anyone in the world.

 To say this veteran opponent faced an elite level of contenders and champions would be an understatement of epic proportions. Ivory faced Brett Lally, Carl Daniels, Dave Hilton, Laurent Boudouani, Julio Caesar Vazquez, Simon Brown, Antwun Echols, Yori Boy Campos, Winky Wright, Syd Vanderpool, Diosbelys Hurtado, Arthur Allen, Maurice Brantley, Mikkel Kessler, Curtis Parker, Felix Sturm, Darrell Coley, Yuri Foreman, Kelly Pavlik, Marco Antonio Rubio, and many more!

Congratulations, Anthony, on a well-deserved honor!

Marty, Rodney, and Anthony, congratulations on outstanding careers and congratulations on your Hall of Fame inductions. Well-deserved champs.