Tommy Hearns, Freddie Roach Lead 2012 IBHOF Class
by Gautham Nagesh
Kronk Gym legend Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns, Manny Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach and Washington, DC two-division champ Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson will headline the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s 2012 class. Other inductees include ring announcer Michael Buffer, broadcaster Al Bernstein and journalist Michael Katz.
For a Michigan native like yours truly there is no fighter more revered than Hearns save the great Joe Louis himself. The “Motor City Cobra” was one of the most exciting fighters of all-time and his name is featured in some of the sport’s most enduring contests, including his three-round maelstrom with Marvelous Marvin Hagler in 1985, his devastating KO of Roberto Duran and his two epic contests with Sugar Ray Leonard. All told Hearns won five “world” titles in four divisions and compiled a record of 61-5-1 with 48 KOs.
“To me this is an amazing accomplishment. It makes me so happy to know that I made it after all these years and so many fights. I’m thrilled!“ Hearns said upon receiving the news. "Muhammad Ali is my idol. He’s the man that got me into the boxing business. It’s great that I will be on the Hall of Fame Wall with him.”
“Of all my champions, he is my favorite fighter. As a fan I knew it was going to be pure excitement,” said Hearns’ trainer and fellow Hall of Famer Emmanuel Steward.
“Just walking down the aisle to the ring was exciting because you knew what you were going to see – skills, power and guts. He was that type of exciting fighter. He had the ability to box and to punch and slug. My all around favorite fighter was Thomas Hearns!”
Johnson became one of boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighters during the 90s while ruling the roost at 112 and 115 lbs. Johnson was one of the sport’s most avoided fighters but still boasts wins over the likes of Fernando Montiel in 2003 and Francisco Tejedor in 1996 to win a flyweight belt.
“I’m so excited that my homeboy Mark Johnson has been inducted. He was one of the most exciting fighters,” said Sugar Ray Leonard. “He was always among the top pound-for-pound fighters of his time and many times boxers wouldn’t fight him because of that. Mark never got his just due but being inducted into the Hall of Fame, he gets it.”
Roach is best known for training Pacquiao and being voted Trainer of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America five times, but he was a decent pro in his own right during the late 70s and early 80s fighting the likes of Darryl Tyson and Hector Camacho (both losses). After retiring he took a job with his trainer, the legendary Eddie Futch, as an unpaid assistant. A stint as actor-cum-boxer Mickey Rourke’s trainer eventually led him to start the Wild Card Gym, now the epicenter of the boxing world.
At the Wild Card Roach trains Pacquiao, Amir Khan, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Jose Benavidez, Lateef Kayode, Peter Quillin as well as a number notable MMA fighters and several celebs. His expertise has been sought by the U.S. Olympic team and HBO is planning a mini-series following him and his battle with Parkinson’s this January. Roach is known for emphasizing angles and movement with his fighters, allowing them to attack effectively while taking minimum risk. He tends to look for prospects with excellent speed, since he’s in a position to pick and choose who he wants to work with.
“A great trainer,” said fellow Hall of Fame trainer Angelo Dundee. “Freddie Roach was brought along by the greatest, Eddie Futch. That’s enough said right there because Eddie Futch was the greatest trainer I ever met. Freddie belongs with us in the Hall of Fame.”
Buffer is known for his iconic "Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!” ring call and booming voice, while Bernstein has plied his trade everywhere from ESPN to his current role as lead analyst on Showtime. Katz started covered boxing for the New York Times in 1960 and worked for the paper until 1985 until he left for the New York Daily News.
Several individuals were inducted posthumously: Cocoa Kid in the Modern Category; Newsboy Brown, Leo Houck and Jake Kilrain in the Old-Timer Category; promoters Hugh D. McIntosh and Rip Valenti in the Non Participant Category; and James Wharton (Young Molineaux) in the Pioneer Category.
Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and a panel of international boxing historians.