The 17th annual International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend is set for June 8th through 11th in Canastota, New York.  The four-day event, which draws boxing legends and fans from around the world, is filled with activities sure to please any aficionado of the “sweet science”.  Festivities begin Thursday June 8th with ringside lectures, celebrity workout sessions, and a cookout on the museum grounds.  Friday continues with more ringside lectures and celebrity workouts, fist casting of the new inductees, and a special 30th anniversary celebration of the 1976 U.S. Olympic boxing team.  This special Friday night event will take place at the Rusty Rail Party House and replaces the traditional Friday night fights at the Turning Stone Casino.  Tickets must be purchased in advance from the Hall of Fame.  Many of the members of that fabled 1976 “dream team” are expected to attend, including medal winners Sugar Ray Leonard, Leon Spinks, Howard Davis, Leo Randolph, and Charles Mooney.

Saturday’s schedule includes a golf tournament, 5K race, boxing memorabilia show, lectures, workout sessions, VIP cocktail reception, and the “Banquet of Champions” held at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino.  The weekend concludes on Sunday with the “Parade of Champions” through the village of Canastota and the induction ceremony itself on the museum grounds.  Opportunities exist all weekend for fans to talk with their favorite fighters, obtain autographs, catch up with old friends, and soak up everything boxing.

All the living members of the 2006 class are expected to attend including junior flyweight champions Michael “Little Hands of Stone” Carbajal and Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzales (who faced each other three times), historian/publisher Hank Kaplan, and promoter/manager Jarvis Astaire.  Other boxing greats expected to attend include Carmen Basilio, Aaron Pryor, Alexis Arguello, Angelo Dundee, Erik Morales, Ken Norton, Marlon Starling, Bob Foster, John Conteh, Emile Griffith, Alfonso Gomez, and others.  Stay tuned, as Boxingtalk will be covering the weekend’s events.

For further information, schedule of events, and/or ticket info visit the Hall of Fame’s website at  www.ibhof.com

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