Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame

Last updated
Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame
Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame.jpg
Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame
Established2009
Location Belfast, New York
Coordinates 42°20′36″N78°06′46″W / 42.343392°N 78.112682°W / 42.343392; -78.112682
Type Hall of Fame
FounderScott Burt
OwnerScott Burt
Website bareknuckleboxinghalloffame.com

The Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame is a museum and hall of fame in Belfast, New York, dedicated to the sport of bare-knuckle boxing. It is housed in barns that were once owned by the Greco-Roman wrestling champion and physical culture pioneer William Muldoon. The heavyweight boxing champion John L. Sullivan, who fought in both bare-knuckled and gloved boxing contests, trained in these barns under Muldoon's guidance for his championship bout against Jake Kilrain in 1889. [1] The barns were originally across Main Street from their current location, on the grounds of the Belfast Catholic Church. They were bought, moved, and restored by Scott Burt when the church became no longer interested in maintaining them. Burt opened the Hall of Fame in 2009, when it had its first induction class. [2]

Contents

The Hall of Fame houses plaques and memorabilia associated with bare-knuckle boxers that have been inducted to the Hall of Fame, as well as exhibits devoted to the general history of bare-knuckle boxing. Each year's induction class includes bare-knuckle boxers from the classic era, modern bare-knuckle boxers, and honorary inductees. Trainers, promoters and other significant figures in the sport are also upon occasion inducted. [3] [4]

The Hall of Fame also serves as a memorial to Sullivan's training camp with Muldoon, a number of relics of which have survived the lengthy period when the barns sat unused. These include his original work-out rings, a ceiling mount for Sullivan's heavy bag, the slatted area of flooring on which Sullivan stood for gravity showers after training, his original swing clubs and weights, and the "room of repose" in which Sullivan and Muldoon relaxed and discussed strategy in the evenings, which includes some of Muldoon's original furniture. [1] Sullivan and Muldoon's use of this training camp was documented by the celebrated reporter Nellie Bly, in an article she wrote for the New York World . [5]

Inductees

The following are the inductees into the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame as of 6 April 2018: [2] [6] [7]

Original Inductees

Original inductees are required to have boxed completely bare-fisted (with no wraps) at some point in their career. These include living fighters and those that fought as early as the 18th century.

YearInducteesRoleNationality
2009 Jack Broughton BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2009 Bill Richmond BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Flag of England.svg  England
2009 Tom Cribb BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2009 Tom Hyer BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2009 Paddy Ryan BoxerFlag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2009 George Godfrey BoxerFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
2009 Jake Kilrain BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2009 John L. Sullivan BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2009 William Muldoon TrainerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2009 Richard K. Fox PromoterFlag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2010 James Figg BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2010 Tom Molineaux BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2010 Tom Spring BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2010 John C. Heenan BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2010 Tom Sayers BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2010 Jem Mace BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2010 Jem Smith BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2010 Jack "Nonpareil" Dempsey BoxerFlag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2010 Jack McAuliffe BoxerFlag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2010 Billy Madden ManagerFlag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
Flag of England.svg  England
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2010 Harry H. Hill PromoterFlag of England.svg  England
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2011 Jack Randall BoxerFlag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2011 Dan Donnelly BoxerFlag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
2011 William Thompson BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2012 Charley Mitchell BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2012 James Belcher BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2012 Hen Pearce BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2013 Mike Cleary BoxerFlag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2013 Bob Fitzsimmons BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2013 Peter Jackson BoxerFlag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg  United States Virgin Islands
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2014 Elizabeth Wilkinson BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2014 Hattie Stewart BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2014 Hattie Leslie BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2014 Anna Lewis BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2014 Alice Leary BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 John Gully BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2015 Professor Mike Donovan BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 Bobby Gunn BoxerFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
2016 Arthur Chambers BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2016 Larry Foley BoxerFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2016 Danny Batchelder BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2016 James Quinn McDonagh Boxer
Author
Knuckle (film)
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
2016 Kimbo Slice Boxer
Street fighter
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2016 Police Gazette PublicationFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2017 Uriah "Hughie" Burton BoxerFlag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
Flag of England.svg  England
2017 Ted Daley Boxer
2017 Billy Edwards BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2017 Bartley Gorman V BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
2017 Daniel Mendoza BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2018 Mike Conley BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2018 Tom Johnson BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2018 Nat Langham BoxerFlag of England.svg  England
2018 Joe Lannon BoxerFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada

Honorary Inductees

These must have brought positive spotlight to upstate New York or done a considerable service to the sport of Bare-knuckle boxing. Honorary inductees are those that have not bare knuckle boxed, that is, those listed as a 'boxer' have boxed with gloves or wraps, and inductees associated with ice hockey are inducted for their contributions to the fighting aspects of the game (to date, both hockey-related honorary inductees have been associated with the Buffalo Sabres, who play 66 miles (106 km) from Belfast). The honorary inductees were included as an acknowledgement that bare-knuckle boxing ended as a mainstream sport over a century ago, and that the honorary inductee system allows notable figures that promoted activity similar to bare knuckle boxing, who might be more recognizable to modern audiences, to be included in the Hall. [8]

YearInducteeRoleNationality
2009 Carmen Basilio BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2009 Rob Ray Hockey enforcer Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
2009 Baby Joe Mesi BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2009 Bill Heaney PromoterFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2010 Billy Backus BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2011 Livingstone Bramble BoxerFlag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg  Saint Kitts and Nevis
Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg  United States Virgin Islands
2011 Dick Wipperman BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2011 Jimmy Ralston BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2012 Ben Becker Coach
Trainer
(to Muhammad Ali before the 1960 Summer Olympics)
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2012 Tony Graziano Trainer
(of Billy Backus in the 1970s)
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2012 Juan de Leon Trainer
(Team Mesi)
2012 Carlos de Leon Trainer
(Team Mesi)
2012 Angel de Leon Trainer
(Team Mesi)
2012 Chuck Pelitera Trainer
(Team Mesi)
2012 Johnny Sudac Jr. Trainer
Gym Owner
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2012 Michael Tome Gym OwnerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2013 Carlos Ortiz BoxerFlag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico
2013 Tommy Hicks BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2013 George "Elbows" McFadden BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2013 Hite Peckham BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2014 Nellie Bly ReporterFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2014 Melvina Lathan NYSAC CommissionerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2014 Gloria Peek TrainerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2014 Leona Brown BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2014 Christy Martin BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 Jack Green Jr. Promoter of the sport
2015 Johnny Green BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 Howard Cosell CommentatorFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 Bert Sugar HistorianFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 Don Dunphy CommentatorFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 Al Bernstein CommentatorFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 Cus D'Amato TrainerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 Charles Murray BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 Purple Heart Homes CharityFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2016 James J. Corbett BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2016 Ring Magazine PublicationFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2016 Boxing News Magazine PublicationFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
2016The USA Boxing NewsPublicationFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2017 Ed Atherton WrestlerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2017 Barry Broughton Grandmaster
2017 Chris Guzman Artist
2017 Roy Harding BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2017 Jimmy Holmes BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2017 Tim Witherspoon BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2018 Rick Jeanneret Hockey announcer
(inducted for his blow-by-blow on in-game fights)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
2018 Tony Gee HistorianFlag of England.svg  England
2018 Dick Topinko BoxerFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Marie Backus Person of the Year

YearRecipient
2014Mercedes Vazquez-Simmons
2015Jack Emrick
2016Bob Collins
2017Gino Arilotta
2018Bill Clancy

Marie Backus Team of the Year

YearTeamMembers
2018 Team USA Jujitsu Bryana Baer
Mike Hanchett
Charlie Love
Desmond White
Barry Broughton (coach)

Induction Events

For the inaugural induction ceremony in 2009, former undisputed heavyweight champion Leon Spinks was a special guest.

From 2011-2013 there was a breakfast in honour of a particular person each year, in 2011 this was Jack Green, Buffalo Ring 44 President. In 2012 the breakfast was in honour of Jeff Mengel, who had trained the fighter Jimmy Holmes in the barns in Belfast, New York. The 2013 breakfast was in honour of Zeke Wilson, author of the book The Eighth Round, combatant of prejudice in boxing and a noted boxer himself. [2]

Current Recognized Champions

With the introduction of modern day sanctioned bare knuckle boxing events both inside and outside of the United States, the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame, in conjunction with the National Police Gazette, currently recognizes several individuals as World and American Bare Knuckle Boxing champions. The following individuals are recognized as the current champions. [9]

DivisionChampion
Heavyweight World Champion Flag of the United States.svg Joey Beltran
Heavyweight American Champion Flag of the United States.svg Chase Sherman
Lightweight American Champion Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Bedford
Women's Featherweight World Champion Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bec Rawlings
Women's Featherweight American Champion Flag of the United States.svg Helen Peralta

Modern Era Championship History

National Police Gazette Heavyweight World Championship

Weight limit: 200 lbs and above (91 kg)
Bobby Gunn was recognized as the Bare Knuckle Boxing lineal champion after his victory over Richie Steward in 2011. Sometime after this victory, Gunn was awarded the National Police Gazette Championship by the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame. He then cemented his lineal championship status as he defeated Irineu Beato Costa Jr at BKFC 1 in 2018 which did not appear to be a Police Gazette Championship title defense. [10]
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bobby Gunn
promoted to undisputed champion
N/AFebruary, 2016

National Police Gazette Heavyweight American Championship

Weight limit: 200 lbs and above (91 kg)
Arnold Adams claimed this championship by winning an 8-man tournament which was hosted by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of the United States.svg Arnold Adams
def. Sam Shewmaker
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 3
Biloxi, Mississippi
October 20, 2018
2 Flag of the United States.svg Chase Sherman Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 7
Biloxi, Mississippi
August 10, 2019

National Police Gazette Lightweight American Championship

Weight limit: 135 lbs (61 kg)
Johnny Bedford claimed this championship by winning an 8-man tournament which was hosted by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Bedford
def. Reggie Barnett Jr.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 6
Tampa, Florida
June 22, 2019

National Police Gazette Women's Featherweight World Championship

Weight limit: 126 lbs (57 kg)
The inaugural champion, Bec Rawlings, was awarded the National Police Gazette Championship by the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame 3 days after her historic win over Alma Garcia. [11]
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bec Rawlings
promoted to undisputed champion
N/AJune 5, 2018

1. def. Britain Hart at BKFC 2 on Aug 25, 2018
2. def. Cecilia Flores at BKFC 4 on Feb 2, 2019

National Police Gazette Women's Featherweight American Championship

Weight limit: 126 lbs (57 kg)
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of the United States.svg Christine Ferea
def. Britain Hart
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 5
Biloxi, Mississippi
April 6, 2019
2 Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Helen Peralta Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 7
Biloxi, Mississippi
August 10, 2019

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

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  7. "2018 Inductees Announced". Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
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  9. "Champions". bareknuckleboxinghalloffame.com. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  10. "The Most Prestigious Bare Knuckle Championship Belt of All Time". NATIONAL POLICE GAZETTE. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
  11. "BKB Hall of Fame". BKB Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2019-02-07.