2010 INDUCTEES

Bobby Dykes ClBobby Dykes was a welterweight contender out of Miami in the early and mid-1950s, losing majority decisions to world champion Kid Gavilan in 1951 and to Sugar Ray Robinson in a non-title fight in 1950. Some of the fighters he beat included Joey Giardello, Joey Giambra, Gavilan in a rematch, and Gil Turner. A tall, lanky southpaw, Dykes was Miami’s best fighter and biggest draw when boxing was king in Miami in the early 1950s. After finishing his career with a record of 117-24-9 with 55 Kos, he became a wealthy businessman, owning an insurance company in an affluent part of Miami called Coconut Grove, along with a restaurant-bar called the Tiger Tail Lounge. He died of Lou Gehrig’s disease in May 2006 at his home in Coral Gables.k here to add text.

Elmer Rayt.Elmer “Violent” Ray was a heavyweight contender known for his hard punching. Born in Federal Point, Florida, he fought from 1926 to 1949, but never got a title fight. He did, however, fight some of the top heavyweights of his era, including Ezzard Charles and Jersey Joe Walcott. In three fights with Walcott, he won one and lost two. He defeated Charles on a split decision in 1947, but was stopped by Charles in their rematch a year later. In 2003, Ray made Ring magazines list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time, coming in at No. 44. He finished his career with a record of 86-13-1 with 70 knockouts.

Muhammad Alick- What can you say about Muhammad Ali that hasn’t already been said? His boxing career is legendary and his personality and character have made him one of the most well-known figures in the world. From his two stunning wins against the “unbeatable” Sonny Liston that brought him into the national spotlight, to his three fights with Joe Frazier and his Rope-a-Dope against George Foreman, Ali has always surprised and amazed us. Training out of the Fifth Street Gym in Miami under the eyes of Florida Boxing Hall of Fame trainer Angelo Dundee, Ali has always followed his own path and is considered one of the top five heavyweights of all time by most boxing historians. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. here to add text.

Yama BahamackYama Bahama, whose real name was William H. Butler, Jr., was born in the Bahamas in 1933 and at the age of 6 began to fight in Battle Royals, which involved six blindfolded boys battling in the ring, the last boy standing declared the winner. Yama moved to Florida at the age of 20 to train at the Fifth Street Gym in Miami Beach. When he was ready to turn pro, his manager, George Lyon, wanted to give him a unique name. Lyon had a boat at the time called the “Bahama Mama” and with a little tweaking, Butler’s name became Yama Bahama. He made his pro debut on Nov. 17, 1953, scoring a first round technical knockout over Harry Irwin. Fighting as a middleweight, he made his national TV debut on Dec. 26, 1955, when he filled in as a last-minute substitute and beat veteran Paolo Melis, displaying fast hands and ring smarts. He went on to score victories against such greats as Kid Gavilan and Del Flanagan and finished his career with 94 total fights, winning 77, with 3 draws. He passed away in June 2009 of pancreatic cancer.re to add text.

Gomeo Brennanck Gomeo Brennan started his boxing career in January 1956 and didn’t step away from the ring until April 1972. Fighting out of the Fifth Street Gym in Miami Beach, he was trained by Angelo Dundee and managed by Chris Dundee. During his long career, he fought 110 fights, losing only 21. In his first year as a fighter, he fought 18 times. Born in the Bahamas in 1939, he fought as a welterweight all the way up through the light-heavyweight division, at one time winning the middleweight championship of the British Empire. Some of the fighters he defeated included Wallace “Bud” Smith, Art Hernandez, Charlie Cotton, Eddie Owens, Jerry Evans, Mickey Crawford and Carl Hubbard.here to add text.

Barbara Buttrick ClKnown as the “Mighty Atom,” Barbara Buttrick fought in the first televised women’s boxing match in 1954 and in 1957 became the world‘s first women‘s champion. Born in the United Kingdom and a resident of Miami Beach, she began her boxing career in 1948, touring Europe as a bantamweight in carnival boxing booths, fighting thousands of exhibitions, most of them against men. In 1957 she received the first female boxing license issued by the state of Texas and it’s believed it might have been the first female boxing license issued in the country. During a career that stretched for 12 years, she is said to have lost only one fight in 31 professional matches. She also served as president of the Women’s International Boxing Federation, which she founded in 1993.ick here to add text.

Eddie FlynnClicEddie Flynn was one of the top amateur fighters in the world in the early 1930s, winning the Gold Medal in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles as a welterweight. He was also the National AAU champion in 1931 and 1932, and finished his amateur career undefeated with 144 wins and no losses. In a short pro career, he was 14-1 before being drafted and serving in World War II. Born in New Orleans, he grew up in Tampa and became a dentist after attending school at Loyola in New Orleans. He died on October 14, 1982, less than two weeks before his 73 birthday.here to add text.

Tommy GomezCliTommy Gomez, whose nickname was “Tampa Tommy,” was born in Tampa, Florida in 1919 and turned pro in 1939. Though he never fought for a major title, he went up against some of the top fighters of his era, including Jersey Joe Walcott. Known for his hard punching, many of the top contenders did their best to duck him. He was named to the Ring Magazine‘s list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time. A World War II veteran and purple heart winner who sustained 16 shrapnel wounds from a bombing that put him in a hospital for six months, he returned to boxing in1945 after his wounds healed. He retired from the ring in 1950 with a record of 75-9-2 with 65 knockouts. He died on April 27, 2006 at the age of 86 following a brief illness. k here to add text.

Frankie Otero Frankie Otero, whose family fled Cuba to escape Fidel Castro’s revolution, was among the world‘s top lightweights from 1970 to 1973, pursuing a boxing career while a student at Miami-Dade Community College. Training at the Fifth Street Gym in Miami Beach, Otero was one of Chris Dundee’s main-event fighters. Following a short but successful amateur career, Otero turned pro at 18 and compiled an impressive record of 42-2-1 by 1973, when he lost a fight to former world lightweight champion Ken Buchanan. After retiring from the ring, he remained in the sport as a matchmaker, working in fights featuring such greats as Aaron Pryor, Davey Moore, Robero Duran and Thomas Hearns.Click here to add text.

Willie Pep Born Guglielmo Papaleo but known around the world as Willie Pep, the Italian-American featherweight fought for 26 years and had 242 fights, winning 229 of them. Nicknamed Will O’ The Wisp, Pep was 52-0 when he finally got a shot at the title, out pointing champ Chalky Wright over 15 rounds in 1942 to become featherweight champion of the world. He won two more fights that year and opened 1943 with six additional wins. The first loss of his career was a 10-round decision against world champion Sammy Angott. Ten days later, Pep was back in the ring winning another fight. In 1948, Pep won 15 fights before meeting the legendary Sandy Sadler in the first of their four fights, Pep being stopped in the fourth round. He won his title back from Sadler the next year, but lost it again to Sadler in 1950. Sadler won their fourth fight by knockout in the ninth round. In 2002, four years before his death, he was ranked sixth on Ring Magazine’s list of the best 80 fighters of the last 80 years. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.

Dan Birminghamlick Considered one of the top trainers in the fight game, Dan Birmingham was named “Trainer of the Year” in both 2004 and 2005 by the Boxing Writers Association of America. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, Birmingham started his amateur boxing career in 1968 under the eye of trainer Art Mayorga. After six years in the amateurs, he became a trainer, eventually opening his own gym in St. Petersburg. Along with his late brother Mike, Birmingham has worked with such fighters as Winky Wright, Jeff Lacy, Antwun Echols, Chad Dawson, Lenroy Thomas, Joey Gilbert, Keith Thurman and many others. Along with training pro fighters, he has worked with hundreds of amateur boxers and underprivileged kids, helping them become respected citizens. A painting contractor since 1978, he owns Birmingham Painting and Waterproofing, Inc

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Al BonannilicAl Bonanni does a little bit of everything for Don King Promotions. He trains fighters, works corners, serves as a cut man and watches for talented fighters who DKP might want to sign up. He began hanging around the boxing gyms of Miami in the 1960s when Al Ridgeway, who was working with Bonnani at the Fifth Street Gym in Miami Beach, asked the legendary Al Braverman to watch Bonnani spar. “He can’t box worth a lick“, Braverman told Ridgeway. “Make him a trainer“. Bonnani learned his trade from some of the best, including Braverman, Ridgeway and Almicar Brusa. Bonnani met Don King in 1977 when he was working on a fight card in Miami. In all his years with DKP, he’s never had a contract, working only with a handshake.k here to add text.

Enrique EncinosaClBoxing historian Enrique (Rick) Encinosa is a former amateur light-heavyweight and Indiana State champ who has worked as a fight manager for more than 20 fighters and was a matchmaker from 1981 to 2006, working more than 100 pro boxing cards. From 1984 to 1989, he served as color commentator for 40 televised boxing shows in Florida. A voting member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, he is author of hundreds of boxing articles and columns for Ring magazine, Boxing Digest and Boxing Illustrated. He served as historical consultant - along with Mike Delisa and Hank Kaplan - for the movie Cinderella Man. He also served as Florida Editor for the Ring Record book during the 1980s and was publisher of the Florida Boxing Record Book from 1984-1986.ick here to add text.

Phil Alessi CPhil Alessi has played a big role in the fight game since 1967, promoting fights in such boxing meccas as Atlantic City, Philadelphia, Nashville, Chicago and New Orleans, along with his hometown of Tampa. In all, Alessi Promotions has promoted more than 300 fight cards, more than 150 national television broadcasts and more than two dozen championship fights. Some of the fighters he’s worked with include John “The Beast” Mugabi, Marlon Starling, Bobby Czyz, Cornelius Boza Edwards, Edwin Rosario, Clint Jackson and James Tillis. A third-generation resident of Tampa Bay and the operator of his family’s long-standing bakery, Alessi has a reputation for honesty and professionalism in the boxing world. “Alessi Promotions can hold its collective head high,” wrote Randy Gordon, former editor-in-chief of Ring magazine. “It is a finely-tuned team of professionals the likes of which I’ve yet to find an equal in this sport“. Ferdie Pacheco, the Fight Doctor and a fellow member of the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame once said of Alessi, “He’s one of the few promoters the networks can take at his word. They love to work with him“.lihere to add text.

Don Kingl One of the top promoters in the world, Don King has promoted some of the most famous fights in history, including the “Rumble in the Jungle,” between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, and the “Thrilla in Manilla“ between Ali and Joe Frazier. Other fighters King has worked with include Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Julio Cesar Chavez, Larry Holmes, Felix Trinidad and Roy Jones Jr. Elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997, King is said to have made more boxers millionaires than any other promoter in history. Outside of boxing, he managed the Jackson’s 1984 Victory Tour. He has also been named the greatest promoter in history by the WBC, WBA and the IBF. He presently promotes out of South Florida.ick here to add text.

Don Hazeltonli A past president of the Association of Boxing Commissions, Don Hazelton served as director of the Florida State Boxing Commission for almost nine years. Presently director of the Miccosukee Indian Tribe’s Athletic Commission, he is also a former vice-president of the North American Boxing Federation and served as the United States commissioner for the World Boxing Union. A four-term member of the Florida House of Representatives, he also served as Florida’s deputy secretary of state. Prior to accepting his present position, he served as president of the Association for the Betterment of Boxing, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the sport. He has appeared on 60 Minutes as well as USA Television in an effort to eliminate corruption in boxing. He is also a licensed private investigator in Florida.ck here to add text.

Bob Alexander Everyone in the fight game in Florida knows Bob Alexander, one of the top ring announcers in the entire country. Born in Detroit, he graduated from Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda in 1981 and began his radio career the next year. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Alexander entered the world of ring announcing in 1989 when he convinced a promoter to let him announce on a rainy night on Sanibel Island. The storm took out the sound system that night and Alexander had to shout the introductions through cupped hands for the rest of the night. The fourth fight he announced was broadcast nation-wide and included the 11th professional fight of Bernard Hopkins. He has appeared on several major networks, including Showtime, ESPN, Fox Sports Net, Sun Sports, MSG and pay-per-view. He served as master of ceremonies for the inaugural Florida Boxing Hall of Fame class of 2009.

Jay Edson One of boxing’s all-time good guys, Jay Edson refereed 49 world championship fights in his career, always hoping to get number 50. After retiring as a ref in 1979, he worked as site coordinator for Bob Arum and Top Rank, overseeing most of the daily operations leading up to a fight. His work as site coordinator brought him close to such fighters as Muhammad Ali, Marvin Hagler, Aaron Pryor, George Foreman and Oscar De La Hoya. Edson is a recipient of the James J. Walker Award for long and meritorious service to boxing. Following his death to pancreatic cancer at his home in Naples, Fla. in 2002 at the age of 77, the Jay Edson Award was founded, given to the person who “epitomizes the best in boxing.“ George Foreman was the first recipient in 2003.

James SmithCliJames “Smitty” Smith is a former professional boxer turned boxing commentator who is host of “In This Corner“, America’s only syndicated half-hour boxing interview show. Born in Miami, Smith used to train at the famous Fifth Street Gym in Miami Beach, where he met boxing legend Muhammad Ali as a young boy. He was also a ball boy for the Miami Dolphins in the early 1970s. A regular commentator on Secondsout.com, Smith gave the play-by-play commentary of the first ever live internet boxing broadcast. He was also host of a long-running syndicated national radio talk show called “Ringside Seat“, broadcast out of Las Vegas where he lives with family.ck here to add text.

Lou ViscusiCliLou Viscusi, also known as Mr. Lou, was born in Schenectady, NY in 1909, but grew up in Tampa, Florida. Both a manager and a promoter, he made his mark in the New England area promoting boxing, wrestling and anything else people wanted to see. As a manager, he worked with welterweight Del Flanagan, middleweight Tony Licata and heavyweight Cleveland Williams. But he’s best known for taking featherweight Willie Pep, lightweight Joe “Old Bones” Brown and light-heavyweight Bob Foster to world championships. Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004, he died in August 1997.ck here to add text.

Mike BirminghamClBoxing trainer Mike Birmingham died unexpectedly at his Sunset Beach apartment on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009 at the young age of 49. Along with his brother Dan Birmingham, Mike helped train hundreds of fighters over the 25 years he was involved in the fight game in St. Petersburg, Florida. The youngest of six children, Mike grew up in Youngstown, Ohio and took his first boxing lesson at the age of 6. A tough, talented amateur fighter, he put the gloves away when he was in his mid-20s to work as a trainer. Among the fighters he helped train were former junior-middleweight champ Winky Wright, and former super-middleweight champ Jeff Lacy. Known as one of the better cut men in the game, he learned his trade in Ohio under the eye of Eddie “The Clot” Aliano.k here to add text.

Ramiro OrtizCBoxing has always been a passion for Ramiro Ortiz. A banker by profession, his banking career included a 22-year stay at SunTrust Bank, Miami, where he was president of the bank. He spent the next eight years as President of BankUnited. A former amateur boxer, in August 1981, he turned his boxing passion into action, when he and the late Hank Kaplan formed "Pugilistic Promotions." They ran monthly shows for the next 3½ years at the War Memorial Auditorium, in Fort Lauderdale. They ended up promoting more shows in Fort Lauderdale than all other promoters combined. Among the stars they helped develop were future cruiserweight champions Robert Daniels and Sloboden Kacar, and contenders Jose Ribalta, Juan Arroyo, and Adolfo Medel. "Ours was small-club boxing at its best. It was "interesting" to be a banker by day and a boxing promoter by night," Ramiro Ortiz said. In 2006 he was asked by then Governor Jeb Bush to serve on the Florida State Boxing Commission. Two years later he was elevated by Governor Charlie Crist to Chairman of the Commission, a post he currently holds. He is also a highly esteemed boxing historian.ick here to add text.

Steve YerridCAttorney Steve Yerrid of Tampa has been one of the strongest supporters of the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame since its inception, and has played a major role in getting the FLABHOF off and running. Along with his generous donations, Yerrid was been involved in both amateur and professional boxing in the Tampa Bay Area for several years, he helped bring Roy Jones, Jr vs Mike McCallum, WBC Title fight to the Ice Palace as well as Roy Jones, Jr. vs Derrick Harmon. He was involved in bringing the 2000 Olympic Boxing Trials. He is the founder of the Yerrid Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on child-oriented causes. Following his nomination by Governor Charlie Crist in 2007, he was recipient of the Perry Nichols Award, the Florida Justice Association’s highest honor, given to an FJA member who has fought for justice throughout his or her career. He is also a past winner of the Ted Williams Award and was personally recognized by Williams as a champion of children’s causes. He is an honorary lifetime member of the board for the Children’s Cancer Center and is a lifetime member of the Pediatric Cancer Foundation Board of Directors.ick here to add text.