CLASSICAL NOTEBOOK OF BOXING HISTORY

 

HEARNS, ROACH, JOHNSON LEAD PARADE INTO HALL OF FAME

The International Hall Of Fame inductees have been announced.

Thomas Hearns, Mark Johnson and trainer Freddie Roach have led the way for class of 2012.

The "Hitman", also known as the "Motor City Cobra" was a star from 1980's, competing with the likes of Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, and Marvin Hagler. Hearns compiled a record of 61-3-1, with 48 victories by KO.

Flyweight Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson was also selected, compiling a record of 44-5 over a span of 16 years.

For some critics that it took Hearns a long time to get in must remember that it takes five years since the last bout of the fighter. - The last bout for Hearns took place in 2006.

Veteran broadcaster Al Bernstein and journalist Mike Katz are also being inducted.

Other inductees are Cocoa Kid, Leo Houck, Jake Kilrain and Newsboy Brown in the Old-timers category.  And pioneers Hugh D. McIntosh and Rip Valentin, and James Wharton.

JLM

Tommy Hearns Record/ Mark Johnson Record

 

 

 

 

 

RAMIRO ORTIZ VOTED INTO FLORIDA BOXING HALL OF FAME

-       Ron Ross

With all due respect to Leo (The Lip) Durocher, nice guys do not necessarily finish last.  Ramiro Ortiz, a guy whom they do not come nicer than, sent that one directly to the recycle bin with the just-released announcement of his being voted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame. The induction will take place this summer in Tampa, Florida.

A banker by profession, Ramiro served as President of Bank United for eight years, and served simultaneously from 2008 to the end of 2010 as Chairman of the Florida State Boxing Commission, appointed by then-Governor Charlie Crist.  But first loves always remain buried in the recesses of the heart and mind and Ramiro’s love affair with boxing never abated.

He will be inducted into the FBHOF as an Historian, but Ramiro Ortiz is a guy who wore a lot of hats, inside and outside the ring. For Ramiro, it all began as an amateur boxer but elevated to a burning passion when, as a youngster newly arrived from Cuba, he came under the wing of legendary Hall of Fame boxing historian-archivist-promoter Hank Kaplan. Together, they formed “Pugilistic Promotions” in 1981 and staged their shows at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale. Hank Kaplan and Ramiro Ortiz never fit the mold of the Hollywood fast-talking, money-grubbing boxing promoter. Their major concerns were always for the boxers and the fans.  So daytime banker, night-time promoter, Ramiro Ortiz, who always did his utmost to elevate the sport of boxing to a level of respectability and quality entertainment that met his own high standards has returned to his first love and comfort zone, reviving his Pugilistic Promotions and bringing back a tradition of the sport – The Friday Night Fights.