Postponement of International Boxing Hall of Fame induction gives Vuyani Bungu another chance at immortality
The COVID19 pandemic has now also derailed one of boxing’s major international events.
The annual induction weekend of the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in Canastota, New York, which was scheduled to take place in June this year, has been postponed and will now take place in June 2021.
The class of 2020 inductees comprise of Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez in the men’s Modern category, lightweight champion, Frank Erne, in the Old Timer category and Paddy Ryan in the Pioneer category. The ladies are also represented by Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker in the women’s Modern category and Barbara Buttrick in the Trailblazer category. Inductees in the Non-Participant and Observer categories include promoters Lou DiBella, Kathy Duva and Dan Goossen, as well as journalists Thomas Hauser and Bernard Fernandez.
These legends will now be inducted in next year’s ceremony, along with the new class of 2021 inductees, in what promises to be the IBHOF’s biggest induction weekend yet. The official plaques of the Class of 2020 will, however, be on display on the Hall of Fame Wall from June of this year.
South Africa’s former IBF junior featherweight world champion, Vuyani Bungu, who set a South African record for the most successful world title defenses, having turned back challengers no less than 13 times, as well as promoter Rodney Berman, were on the 2020 ballot but unfortunately didn’t make the cut in an exceptionally strong field. The fact that British greats, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank, are yet to make it into Canastota, bears testimony to just how tough the competition is.
The good news for South African fight fans is that Bungu, as well as Berman, will remain on the ballot and have another chance of induction among the class of 2021.
