Pennsylvania Hall of Fame annual dinner

The Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame held their 65^th annual awards banquet on 10/15, at the Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall in Phila. Hall of Fame Chairman John DiSanto did his usual outstanding job of putting the program together and keeping it on track. Cutman Joey Eye and ring announcer Nino Del Buono introduced the honorees in fitting fashion and kept the program light and running smoothly.

The program honors names still at the forefront of Philly boxing as well as long ago retired and deceased notables whose memories deserve to be kept alive. Boxers included featherweight Teon Kennedy, 19-2-2 (7), middleweight Willie Gibbs, 20-4 (16), middleweight Randy Griffin, 25-4-3 (13), super middle & light heavy Yusaf Mack, 31-8-2 (17), lightweight Freddy Reyes, 17-0-2 (8), and IBF Int’l 154 champ Harry Yorgey, 27-2-2 (12). Old time bantamweight Reddy Moore (21-4 with 43 No Decisions, adjusted by “newspaper decisions” to 49-9-10 with 20 KOs) joined two brothers from 1906 to ’26. Middleweight Fred McMunn, 16-6, (7), was given a special VBA Legacy Award for his unerring support.

Philadelphia has no shortage of first-rate trainers who’ve developed and are continuing to develop world title holders. Inducted into the Hall were Sam Hickman, who traveled the world developing amateur programs for the US State Dept, Al Fennell, who developed Jr Middleweight champ Robert “Bam” Hines, and the man who put Lancaster on the local boxing map, Barry Stumpf. Prolific trainer the “Rev”, Elvin Thompson, was inducted for his many years of mentoring successful local fighters, as exemplified by star pupil Frank “The Animal” Fletcher. Rounding out the trainers was another prolific figure on the local scene, where there is plenty of action to be had, Sloan Harrison. Sloan’s list of students is a Hall of Fame in itself but needs no more highlight than Bernard Hopkins. Honored, though not yet elected, was trainer Stan Williams, who founded ABC Rec in the heart of North Philly, which went on to become one of the most prolific gyms in all of boxing as well as the base for equally prolific trainer Fred Jenkins.

Golden Era journalist Tom Cushman was inducted posthumously. Tom covered boxing for the Daily News during one of Philly’s most productive periods, for both fights and fighters, including Bennie Briscoe, Joe Frazier, Jeff Chandler, Matthew Saad Muhammad, “Kitten” Hayward and many others.

Still-active Art Pelullo, CEO of Banner Promotions, was the lone promoter inducted. Art has promoted HOF fighters like Bernard Hopkins, Larry Holmes and Roy Jones, as well as the classic “Fight of the Decade”, Diego Corrales vs Jose Luis Castillo.

A surprise name from the past but thankfully alive and well was matchmaker Gary Hegyi. Although inactive in boxing in recent years, Hegyi was a pivotal factor in the Golden Years of Atlantic City, as well as countless shows all over SE PA. Along with partner Ted Larve, Hegyi created the modern style of management when he guided Earl Hargrove.

And while on the Golden Era of Atlantic City, one of the most active participants in that time was Jersey Commission judge John Stewart. Traveling the world after becoming an international official, John’s list of fighters scored is a HOF all its own. Just a few: Hopkins, Tyson, Hagler, Mayweather, de la Hoya, Pacquiao, Jones, Holyfield, Whitaker and Michael Spinks. Now infirm, Stewart delivered an impassioned account on the state of boxing and life in general.

Referee Vic de Wysocki, the Arthur Mercante of Delaware, was cited for immeasurable contribution in preserving fight films and videos. Amateur boxer Elijah Harvey received the 2023 Scholarship Award.

Among the 450 sellout crowd were another whole HOF. Just a few of the notables included The Great J. Russell Peltz, Nate “Mr” Miller, Frank Bartolini, Matt Stewart, Ken Hissner, Dave Ruff, Rudy Battle, Jimmy Kinney, Melvina Lathan, Fred Blumstein, Henry Hascup, Frank Kubach, John Gallagher and many, many more.