CANASTOTA, NY – FEBRUARY 19, 2015 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced today legendary 1976 Olympic gold medalist, two-division world champion and Hall of Famer Michael Spinks is confirmed to participate in festivities planned for the 2015 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend June 11-14th.
“The Spinks Jinx” Michael Spinks
“From the Olympic gold medal to historic reigns as light heavyweight and heavyweight champion, Michael Spinks did it all in boxing,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “We are absolutely thrilled that he will return to Canastota in June for the weekend celebration.”
Born in St. Louis, MO, Spinks captured middleweight gold at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. As a pro, he won the WBA and WBC light heavyweight titles before becoming the first light heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight title when he defeated Hall of Famer Larry Holmes (W 15) for the IBF belt in 1985. Spinks retired in 1988 with a pro record of 31-1 (21 KOs) that includes wins over Yaqui Lopez, Marvin Johnson, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Gerry Cooney and Dwight Qawi. In 1994 Spinks was elected into the Hall of Fame.
Events planned for the weekend include a banquet, parade, golf tournament, boxing autograph card show, cocktail party and the Official Induction Ceremony honoring the Class of 2015. Living inductees include heavyweight champion Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe, featherweight champion “Prince” Naseem Hamed, lightweight champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, light flyweight champion Yoko Gushiken, manager Rafael Mendoza, referee Steve Smoger, journalist Nigel Collins and broadcaster Jim Lampley. Posthumous inductees in the Old-Timer and Non-Participant categories will also be honored.
An impressive list of over 40 boxing stars from the United States and abroad, including “The Raging Bull” Jake LaMotta, Nino Benvenuti, “Irish” Micky Ward, William Joppy, Ray Mercer, George Chuvalo, Peter Manfredo Jr., Pipino Cuevas and Ruben Olivares, are scheduled to participate in the weekend.
For more information on the 2015 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, please call the Hall of Fame at (315) 697-7095, visit online at www.ibhof.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InternationalBoxingHallofFame and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BoxingHall.