While professional boxing champions have always been among the
most celebrated athletes in history, until recently, there has
never been an organization willing to take on the responsibility of preserving
the history of boxing & those who participated in the sport.
Several years ago, the residents of Canastota, N.Y., wanted to honor
two local men who had became world champions. Since they did not
have even a local Hall of Fame, the townspeople raised the money
themselves for a showcase to display the achievements of their local heroes.
The enthusiastic response of the townspeople and the huge success
of the project encouraged Canastota to establish a museum - which
is now recognized as the International
Boxing Hall Of Fame.
In the last few years, many boxing legends, have received long overdue
enshrinement. While Billy Speary has not yet received this honor
and I am sure that the list of "would be" inductees is quite
long & full of remarkable fighters, I am equally as certain
- having full knowledge of his ring achievements - that he
undoubtedly deserves to be & one day surely will be enshrined along
side the other all time greats of boxing history.
