BELFAST - Belfast will be an epicenter of boxing activity next weekend as the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame nears completion.

The Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend will take place Oct. 16, 17 and 18, with several notable people slated to attend, including former Heavyweight Champion of the World Leon Spinks, Buffalo boxing great “Baby” Joe Mesi and former Buffalo Sabre Rob Ray.

The activities kickoff Friday night with a gala for Leon Spinks, who knocked out Muhammad Ali to become the Heavyweight Champ in 1978. The gala, being held at the Angelica Inn Victorian Bed and Breakfast at 64 W. Main St., costs $100 per person or $175 per couple.

“We’re welcoming (Leon Spinks) to Allegany County,” Scott Burt, coordinator for the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame, said. “He’s the first heavyweight champion of the world to come here since the great John L. Sullivan in 1889. We’re all pretty excited about that.”

There’s no cost to attend Saturday’s events.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be a Boxing Card Show at St. Patrick’s Hall with guest appearances slated.

“That’s like a flea market. The only items on the tables has to relate to boxing,” Mr. Burt said. “There’s all kinds of stuff to see. There’s items that are very, very affordable. Other dealers are bringing very high-end pieces.”

Dealers from all around, including as far away as Washington, are coming to show their goods, Mr. Burt said.

A boxing talk radio show will be broadcasting from the hall, and several authors that have written about bare knuckle boxing will be in attendance to sell and sign their books.

At noon, the original commemorative artwork of Chris Guzman, the official 2009 Bare Knuckle Hall of Fame artist, will be unveiled at St. Patrick’s Hall.

At 1 p.m., the first-ever induction ceremony will be held. A dozen people are slated to be inducted, including several fighters, a trainer, a promoter and two honorary inductees, Rob Ray, an enforcer for the Buffalo Sabres for 13 years, and New York boxer Carmen Basilio.

“To be an honorary inductee, you have to have brought positive attention to Upstate New York with either your fists or your promoting skills, and have a love for the area,” Mr. Burt said. “Both Carmen Basilio and Rob Ray fit that spirit.”

Around 4 p.m. the life-sized statue of John L. Sullivan will be unveiled at the barns and a silent auction will be held.

A silent and live auction, informal reception and dinner, as well as autographs and photos will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. and is already sold out.

Sunday starts off with brunch with Leon Spinks at the American Hotel and Restaurant in Angelica at a cost of $45.

Then at 1 p.m., U.S.A.-sanctioned boxing matches will begin at Belfast Central School with seats selling for $10-$20.

“Some people say, ‘I’d come, but I’m not really a boxing fan,’” Mr. Burt said. “That’s a big mistake. People who are fans of history or Allegany County, they don’t know what they’re missing.

“You’ll miss the opportunity to walk through and see the actual equipment John L. Sullivan used. It’s just amazing,” he said.

The barns where John L. Sullivan once trained 120 years ago for the last-ever bare knuckle boxing match will house the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame.

“One-hundred percent of the money (from the Induction Weekend) is going to the restoration of the barns,” Mr. Burt said.

On Monday, the barns will finish their move down the street to 5 W. Hughes St. in Belfast.

Once completed, the Hall of Fame will be a great asset for both Belfast and Allegany County, Mr. Burt said.

“It’s the only Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame in the world,” he said. “We’ve heard promises of many different types of attractions coming to the area, but they never seem to materialize. This is really happening.

“I know what this means to the boxing world,” Mr. Burt said. “I know what it means to the town of Belfast. It’s a chance to expose Allegany County to people who haven’t been here before.”

After much deliberation and discussion with experts worldwide, the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame first class of inductees has been selected. The following honorees will be formally inducted during a star-studded Induction Weekend in Belfast, October 16-18.

List of Inductees

Bare Knuckle Boxers:

- Jack Broughton, Considered the Father of Boxing; Champion of England, 1736. Invented the boxing glove but used it only for sparring. Developed Broughton’s Boxing Rules of 1743.

- Bill Richmond, First American to fight in organized bouts. Former slave, taken to England to fight in 1777.

- Tom Cribb, First British Champion of the World, 1811. King George III issued the first ever Championship “belt” to him. It was a lion-skin sash with sterling silver claws.

- Tom Hyer, First Champion of America, 1841.

- Paddy Ryan, Champion Heavyweight of America, 1880. First fighter in America to receive a Richard Fox Championship belt. Considered the first great prize fight in America, he lost his title to John L. Sullivan in 1882.

- George Godfrey, First World Colored-Heavyweight Champion, 1883.

- Jake Kilrain, Champion Heavyweight of the World as declared by Richard K. Fox, 1887.

- John L. Sullivan, Champion of the World, and Champion of Champions. Trained in Belfast, N.Y., for the last ever Heavyweight Bare Knuckle World Championship Fight that he won in 75 rounds against Jake Kilrain; July 8, 1889. Considered America’s first sports hero.

Trainers:

- William Muldoon, Prolific and Innovative Trainer of the 1800s, eventual Chairman of New York State Boxing Commission 1921-24.

Promoters of the Sport:

- Richard K. Fox, Publisher of The National Police Gazette, turning it from a scandalous paper into a sporting publication. Innovator of The Championship Belt in America, 1880.

Honorary Inductee:

- Rob Ray, Buffalo Sabres “Enforcer” for 13 years, 6th on All-Time NHL penalty list. A gracious man, fan favorite, Champion of Western New York causes, and an appropriate Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame Honoree.

Also Scheduled to Appear:

- Baby Joe Mesi, former #1 Undefeated WBC Heavyweight Contender of the World; Honorary Member of the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame, as Inducted at special event in May.

- Leon Spinks, 1976 Olympic Gold Medal Winner; defeated Muhammad Ali in 1978 to become the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World. First Heavyweight Champion of the World to visit Belfast, New York, in 120 years.

Schedule of Induction Weekend Events:

Friday, October 16

- 7 to 9 p.m. - Gala Fundraiser to help restore the barns. Welcome former Heavyweight Champion of the World Leon Spinks to Allegany County. Location: Angelica Inn Victorian Bed & Breakfast, 64 W. Main St., Angelica ($100 per person/$175 couple).

Saturday, October 17

- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Boxing Card Show at St. Patrick’s Hall with guest appearances; no cost to attend.

- Noon - Unveiling of the original commemorative artwork of Chris Guzman, official 2009 Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame Artist. Location: 31 E. Hughes St., St. Patrick’s Hall, Belfast; no cost to attend.

- 1 p.m. - Induction Ceremony, St. Patrick’s Hall; free.

- 2 to 4 p.m. - Tours of Bare Knuckle Boxing’s “Crown Jewel,” the preserved and untouched barns that John L. Sullivan trained in for his epic and victorious 1889 75-round fight against Jake Kilrain. Location: 5 W. Hughes St., Belfast; $5 per person.

- 4 p.m. - Unveiling of life-size marble statue of John L. Sullivan at the barns followed by a silent auction at St. Patrick’s Hall; no cost to attend.

- 6 to 8 p.m. - Informal reception and dinner, autographs/photos, silent and live auction; the cost is $45.

Sunday, October 18

- 10 a.m. - Brunch with the Champ, Leon Spinks. Location: American Hotel & Restaurant, Angelica, New York; the cost is $45.

- 1 p.m. - U.S.A. Sanctioned Boxing matches. Location: Belfast Central School, 1 King St., Belfast; the cost is $10 for bleachers/$20 for ringside chair.

All-access Weekend pass - covers all the above events - is $195 per person. For more information and to order tickets go to www.bareknuckleboxinghalloffame.com or call Bill Heaney at (585) 365-2998 or Scott Burt at (585) 610-3326.

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Jim wrote on Oct 9, 2009 12:51 PM:

" I think it's great that the induction ceremony is free. I'll definitely be there! "

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