NVBHOF to hold its 10th Annual Induction Weekend August 26 and 27
at Resorts World Las Vegas

A diverse and glittering array of boxing greats will be honored with induction into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame at the 10th Annual Induction Weekend spectacular August 26 and 27, 2022 at Resorts World Las Vegas.

The Inductees are being announced in a press conference by “The People’s Announcer” Rambling Ralph and “Showtime” Shawn Porter and the Porter Way Podcast.
Details of the 10th Annual Induction Weekend can be found at NVBHOF.com. Tickets are on sale now!

The exciting list of inductees includes:
Class of 2021

Floyd “Money” Mayweather – Needing no introduction the world over. Floyd “Money” Mayweather is a fighter whose career spanned over two decades with victories over the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to name a few. He fought half of his 50 fights, here in Las Vegas. Floyd finished his career undefeated and is a boxer who is arguably “The Best Ever”.

Roy Jones Jr. – A legendary boxer whose speed, reflexes and ring IQ was from another world. Those mentioned accolades helped Roy become the first fighter in over 100 years to capture world titles in the Middleweight, Super Middleweight, Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions.

Class of 2022

Nevada Residents Boxers

Kennedy “King” McKinney – US Army Veteran and 1988 USA Boxing Gold Medalist Kennedy McKinney was far too good to be so unnoticed. McKinney was a world champion in the Super Bantamweight division. A division in the 80’s and 90’s that was never glamorized. McKinney brought non-stop action packed fights to the true fans of the sweet science. Going to war with Marco Antonio Barrera and knocking out Junior Jones were only a few bright spots in McKinney’s career

“Cool” Vince Phillips – With wins over Kostya Tszyu, Micky Ward, Freddie Pendleton, and his memorable fights with Ricky Hatton and Ike “Bazooka” Quartey, the IBF Super Lightweight Champion, Phillips was one of the most under-rated and avoided fighters of his time. His victory over Kostya Tszyu in Las Vegas is still one of boxing’s biggest upset victories.
Non-Nevada Resident Boxers

Iran “The Blade” Barkley – An all action fighter and known for his two highly improbable world title victories over Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns as well his war and 1989 “Fight of the Year” with Roberto Duran. Iran “The Blade” Barkley made his name by terrorizing the Middleweight division in the 80’s. He was incredibly fun to watch and in his career won titles in three different weight divisions.

Ray “Merciless” Mercer – A 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist and former WBO Heavyweight Champion, Ray Mercer was considered one of the most violent heavyweights of his era. Taking on the likes of Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis and Larry Holmes throughout his illustrious career. Mercer had big wins over the likes of heavyweight contenders Bert Cooper, Jesse Ferguson and a vicious iconic KO of Tommy Morrison.

Michael “Second to” Nunn – After winning numerous “Golden Glove” titles in Iowa and being an elite amateur boxer. Michael Nunn would quickly turn pro under the tutelage of the Goosen brothers in Los Angeles, winning his first 30 fights in a row, multiple world titles and from the late 80’s to the early 90’s. Two of his biggest victories of his career were in Las Vegas, winning Middleweight title with a 9th round TKO of Frank Tate at Caesars Palace and a stunning 1st round KO of Sumbu Kalambay. Nunn was the best middleweight in boxing and arguable the #1 pound for pound fighter in the world.

Israel “El Magnifico” Vazquez – One of the most fan friendly boxers to ever enter the squared circle. Israel Vazquez will always have his name intertwined with Rafael Marquez. The two shared the ring on four occasions going a total of 28 brutal rounds and splitting the four fights winning two each. Vazquez amazing, still talked about, come from behind 10th round knockout victory over Jhonny Gonzalez happened here in Las Vegas. Vazquez finished his career in 2010 as one of the greatest Mexican fighters in the history of the sport.

Mia “The Knockout” St. John – After making her boxing debut on Valentines Day in 1997 and coming away with a stoppage in under a minute. Mia St. John quickly earned the nickname “Knockout.” Besides being a warrior in the ring she also had media savvy. She made television appearances as well as becoming a WBC “Goodwill Ambassador” and at the age of 45 became the WBC Super Welterweight World Champion.

Non-Boxer Participants
Gary Shaw – With over six decades in and around boxing. Gary Shaw is a household name having promoted fighters like Rafael Marquéz, Chad Dawson, Andre Dirrell, Timothy Bradley, Shane Mosley, “Winky” Wright and Diego Corrales. In 1999 Shaw became the Chief Operating Officer of Main Events where he helped stage Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson, one of the biggest grossing fights in history of boxing.

Jerry Izenberg – A resident of Henderson NV. For over 70 years Jerry Izenberg has been writing about sports. Including creating the legacy of two of the greatest heavyweights ever, Muhammad Ali and “Smoking” Joe Frazier. Jerry once told his wife Ali ranked among his five closest friends in the world. She asked him to list the other four; he couldn’t come up with another name. In addition to many magazine articles and newspaper columns, he has also written 13 books, his most recent one being “Once There Were Giants: The Golden Age of Heavyweight Boxing”.

Posthumous

Hector “Macho” Camacho – Fighting out of the tough streets of New York’s Spanish Harlem, Hector “Macho” Camacho became one of boxing’s most flamboyant and entertaining showmen in the 1980s and 1990s. In a legendary and often overlooked career, he accumulated an impressive record of 79-6-3 with 38 knockouts. He would win four world championships in three weight divisions and had wins over Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard and Cornelius Boza Edwards.

Bob “The Deputy Sheriff” Foster – Foster was one of the greatest light heavyweight champions in boxing history. He won the world light heavyweight title in 1968 after knocking out Dick Tiger. Foster would go on to defend his title fourteen times against thirteen different fighters in total from 1968 to 1974 including his famous one-punch knockout of Mike Quarry in Las Vegas. During his career he also moved up a few times to heavyweight and fought the likes of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

Class of 2020

Nevada Residents Boxers

Clarence “Bones” Adams – Las Vegas boxing trainer and world champion, Clarence “Bones” Adams. Known for his all-action style, Adams captured the WBA super bantamweight world title March 4, 2000, at the Mandalay Bay with his big win over Nestor Garza. Throughout his career, Adams also had memorable fights with the likes of Kevin Kelley and back to back wars with world champion Paulie Ayala.

Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas – Las Vegas resident Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas is a multiple-time champion who won his first title when he fought and defeated Yory Boy Campas. Vargas would go on to battle “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Oscar De La Hoya, Winky Wright, and Felix “Tito” Trinidad to name a few.

Non-Nevada Resident Boxers

Jose Luis Castillo – A true Mexican warrior Jose Luis Castillo climbed through the ropes of rings in his home country for the first ten years of his career. In September 2000, Castillo surprised Steve Johnston winning a majority decision to claim the WBC lightweight title. Castillo had memorable fights with Floyd Mayweather Jr., Juan Lazcano, and Joel Casamayor but will always be remembered with his wars with the great Diego “Chico” Corrales.

Miguel Cotto – Puerto Rico’s first four-division world champion, Miguel Cotto’s tremendous work history in the squared circle is second to none and joins this year’s star-studded NVBHOF class. Cotto known for being a true boxer-puncher fought everyone including Canelo, Floyd Mayweather, Sergio Martinez, Chop-Chop Corley, Manny Pacquiao, Zab Judah, Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley throughout his journey in the sport.

Julian “The Hawk” Jackson – Known as “The Hawk” Julian Jackson has held world titles in the jr. middleweight and middleweight divisions and has been considered one of the hardest punchers in the history of the sport. Fighting 18-times in Nevada, Jackson quickly became a local favorite but is most recognized for his knockout victories over “Terrible” Terry Norris and the UK “Bomber” Herol Graham.

Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson – The first African American fighter to capture a World Flyweight Title, Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson is a familiar name in boxing community as Johnson won titles at flyweight and super flyweights defeating the likes of Fernando and Alejandro Montiel. Johnson captured his first title after stopping Francisco Tejedor in the 1st round of their championship fight in Anaheim, May 4th, 1996.

Danny “Little Red” Lopez – A huge favorite in Southern California and regularly fighting at the Olympic Auditorium and, later, the Forum, “Little Red” Lopez packed dynamite in his gloves. Lopez won his first 21 fights in a row by knockout and during his career took on the likes of the great Bobby Chacon, Sean O’Grady and fought back to back matches with the legendary Salvador Sanchez. Lopez captured his first featherweight title in the fall of 1976 in front of over 100,000 screaming fans in Ghana, Africa, as he defeated WBC World Champion David Kotey.

Azumah “The Professor” Nelson – Arguably one of the greatest fighters to ever come out of Africa and undoubtedly Ghana’s top pound for pound fighter of all time, Azumah “The Professor” Nelson made his splash in the boxing world when he was called in as a late substitute, and gave the legendary world champion Salvador Sanchez all he could handle before being stopped in the 15th and final round of their 1982 world title fight. Nelson would go on to stun and stop Wilfredo Gomez, to take Gomez’s WBC featherweight title. Throughout his legendary career, Nelson would have wars with the likes of Jeff Fenech, Jesse James Leija, and Gabriel Ruelas.

James “Lights Out” Toney – Fighting nearly 100 professional bouts in his career while never being stopped, James “Lights Out” Toney will be inducted into the 2020 NVBHOF class. Toney who fought in Nevada fourteen times had numerous memorable wins beating big names such Evander Holyfield, Iran Barkley, Micheal Nunn, and Vissiliy Jirov and took on several others including Roy Jones Jr. and John Ruiz respectfully while being named Ring Magazine fighter of the year in 1991 and 2003.

Andre “SOG” Ward – The last male fighter to capture US Gold in Olympic Boxing and arguably one of the greatest American boxers in the history of the sport, Andre “SOG” Ward can now add the title of Hall of Famer to his resume. Ward held multiple titles in two separate weight classes including the unified WBA, WBC, and Ring Magazine Lineal Light Heavyweight Title. Ward ended his professional career undefeated beating the likes of Sergey Kovalev, Mikkel Kessler, Chad Dawson, and Carl Froch.

Non-Boxer Participants

Lorenzo Fertitta – Sports promoter, founder and principal shareholder in Station Casinos. Nevada State Athletic Commissioner 1996 to 2000. Former CEO of the UFC and philanthropist.

Sammy Macias – Former Chairman of and a Commissioner with the Nevada Athletic Commission, and in his career Macias was a member of the Board of Governors and Continental Americas Championship Chairman for the WBC, as well as President and a long time Executive Board member of the NABF.

Carlos Padilla Jr. – Long time referee Carlos Padilla who refereed the third fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier as well as several other high profile fights including Leonard Duran I.

Posthumous

Don Jose Sulaiman – Best known for his love of boxing as well as being the president of the most powerful boxing organization for over 40 years, Sulaiman worked his way up the ranks and took the reign of the president of the WBC December 5, 1975. Sulaiman was unanimously elected president of the WBC and served in that capacity until his passing. He is forever enshrined as the WBC Lifetime President.