Posthumous inductees in the current class for the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York are are three-time flyweight champion Pone Kingpetch (Thailand), light heavyweight contender Tiger Jack Fox (USA) and and JoAnn Hagen (USA) in the women’s trailblazer category. Here are their biographies:
PONE KINGPETCH was born with the name Mana Sridokbuab in February 1936 in Hua Hin, Thailand. He turned pro in 1954 as Pone Kingpetch and used his lanky 5-foot-6 ½ inch frame and slick jab to climb the flyweight rankings. He won the vacant Oriental title in 1957 and became Thailand's first world champion by defeating Pascual Perez (W15) for the world flyweight title in front of 34,000 fans in Bangkok. He successfully defended the title three times, including a rematch with Perez in Los Angeles in his only US appearance. He lost the title to Fighting Harada (by KO11) on October 10, 1962. He became the first boxer to regain the flyweight title when he defeated Harada (W15) in the January 1963 rematch. He made history as the first three-time flyweight champion when he lost and regained the belt in two fights with Hiroyuki Ebihara. He lost the championship for good to Salvator Burruni (by L15) in 1965 and following two fights in 1966, announced his retirement with a career record of 28-7 with 9 KOs. He died in Bangkok on March 31, 1982 at age 47 after a severe bout of pneumonia. Beloved in Thailand, a statue of the popular champion is on display at Pone Kingpetch Park in Hua Hin.
TIGER JACK FOX
John Linwood Fox was born in Indianapolis on April 2, 1907. He boxed as an amateur and semi-pro prior to turning professional in either 1928 or 1932 as early records are incomplete and sources vary. A three-fight series with light heavyweight champion Maxie Rosenbloom (1-1-1) and wins over Lou Scozza (W8), Bob Olin (KO2), Lou Brouillard (KO7) and Jersey Joe Walcott (KO8, W10) brought him to 175-pound title contention. In 1938 he defeated Al Gainer (W15) to set up a New York State Athletic Commission light heavyweight title bout against Melio Bettina at Madison Square Garden in February 1939. Despite being stabbed in an altercation three months prior to the bout, Fox did not postpone and, in the only title bout of his career, was stopped in nine rounds. Following a ten-round win over Yancey Henry, he temporarily retired but returned in 1944 and boxed until retiring for good in 1950. During his comeback Fox scored a win over Ted Lowry and boxed an exhibition against Joe Louis. Using a counter-punching style, the 5-foot-11 ½ inch Fox compiled a pro record of 160-23-10 with 109 KOs and 2 NC. He died at 47 after suffering a heart attack on April 6, 1954 in Spokane, WA.
JOANN HAGEN
Born as JoAnn Verhagen in South Bend, Indiana. While working at a brake manufacturing factory, she hit a co-worker who was harassing her with uninvited advances and the incident was witnessed by the brother of local boxing promoter Johnny Nate. Before long, Verhagen was a regular at Nate’s boxing gym. Boxing under the name JoAnn Hagen, she competed in matches throughout the Midwest. In 1949 she squared off with fellow South Bend native Pat Emerick in Council Bluffs, Iowa with Emerick winning by 4th round TKO. In 1954 Hagen made history as the only boxer to defeat Barbara Buttrick when she scored an eight-round decision in front of 1,200 fans in Calgary, Canada in the first women’s bout to be broadcast over the radio. Hagen helped raise female boxing’s profile by making major media appearances including the popular game show What’s My Line? and The Steve Allen Show. Following a loss to Phyllis Kugler in 1956, she hung up the gloves. After retiring from the ring, Hagen enlisted in the Marine Corps and lived in South Bend until she passed away in 2004 at age 73.
