A KO Day at the “Banquet of Champions”!

The 15th Annual California Boxing Hall of Fame (CBHOF) Induction Ceremony and Awards Luncheon was a knockout day–and one for the ages.

The gathering was held at the legendary Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City, Calif. This year’s honorees included Ruben Olivares, Eder Jofre, Greg Haugen, Henry Tillman, Mike Anchondo, Pat Goossen, Alex Garcia, Max DeLuca, Ray Corona, Thell Torrence, Armando Cotero, Jose Becerra, Hedgemon Robertson, Jeff Bumpus, Phil Garcia, Hector Lizarraga, Ernie Chavez, Richard Steele, George Parnassus, Jimmy Bivins, Lou Nova, Dr. Al Stolper, Alphonse Halimi and Babe McCoy. During the event, a new award was also presented to the 2015 “Fighter of the Year” Danny “The Baby-Faced Assassin” Roman.

This special day is always a yearly highlight for those of us in the boxing world. It’s a chance to reconnect with friends and associates, pay tribute to heroes past and present and celebrate all things connected to the sweet science. And this year’s gala did not disappoint.

CBHOF Don Fraser has worked in nearly every aspect in the sport. He knows the business of boxing inside and out. And each and every year, Don hosts this awards show in which the chosen inductees receive recognition for their dedication, hard work, and success in the fight game. Some of the awardees are household names while others are known more in the local scene. Whether you are an Olympic medalist, scrappy tough guy, unheralded veteran, humble referee or regional champ, each individual received well-deserved praise and accolades from their associates, families, friends and fans in the audience.

Onstage, emcee Jim FizGerald introduced the Class of 2015 for their time in the spotlight. The speeches were heartfelt, humorous, bittersweet and entertaining.

Anyone who has worked in boxing knows the sacrifices made; many of the speeches caught the spectators off guard as normally stoic men showed a more emotional side to them. That is one of the aspects that makes this luncheon stand apart from others–it is an intimate, warm, cozy affair that allows those in attendance a chance to get to know their boxing heroes on a different level. Many the inductees had their families with them and proudly introduced their children and grandchildren to the crowd.

Boxing spans the generations and brings everyone together as witnessed at last month’s gathering. The years (and decades) fly by in a flash but the bond, this “brotherhood” in boxing remains. And whether your are male or female, this strong bond and respect is there. Shared memories of years ago spring to life at events like this October 24 luncheon.

It was great to see everyone all together in one ballroom and to see their joy and pride in receiving recognition from their peers.

Also seated in the venue were James Toney, Layla McCarter, Paul Banke, Carlos Palomino, Frankie Baltazar Jr., Paul Gonzales, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Bobby Chacon, Art Frias, Isaac Zarate, Erick Ituarte, Danny “Little Red” Lopez, Ricky Romero, officials Pat Russell, Mike Bell, Pat Connolly, boxing promoter Ken Thompson, boxing historian/author Gene Aguilera, Golden State Boxers Association’s (GSBA) Larry and Elsa Montalvo, National Boxing Hall of Fame and GSBA’s Bill Young, singer/entertainer Larry Covin, family members of artist Cao Yong, and many others. There was also live music by The Denise Fraser Band, who played the theme from “Rocky” and more as the inductees strolled to the stage.

In the lobby of the banquet hall, I caught up with champ Layla McCarter. The Las Vegas fighter was there to cheer on inductees Thell Torrence and Jeff Bumpus. She also told me she was looking forward to seeing fellow fighter Greg Haugen, whom she fought on a card with back in the day. In 1999, McCarter and Haugen fought on the same show in Portland, Oregon. It’s vivid memories like this that are brought forth at the California Boxing Hall of Fame.

There was also a mini reunion with sluggers Paul Gonzales, Henry Tillman, Ricky Romero and Paul Banke banding together for a classic photo op of the former Olympic Trial teammates. They joked around with each other, not missing a beat. Time may have passed but the memories, the camaraderie, the mutual respect remains.

The awardees thanked President Don Fraser and his California Boxing Hall of Fame (Vice President Rick Resnick, Awards Chairman Linda Young, Legal Advisor Ken Green and Associate Editor Rene Ramirez) for the honor and privilege of being the newest inductees in the Hall of Fame history books. The CBHOF Selection Committee of Chairman Frank Baltazar, Eddie Lozano, Rick Resnick, Don Fraser and Larry Montalvo were the group who voted for this Class of 2015.

Check out my exclusive snapshots from the day and congratulations to all the 2015 inductees!

More about “Fighter of the Year” Danny Roman, click here.

More about 2015 Inductee Max DeLuca.

Photos by Michele Chong