Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2011

SI Staff | Dec 8, 2010

Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2011

Julio César Chávez

John Iacono/SI

Considered the greatest fighter in Mexico's rich boxing history, Chavez captured world titles at super featherweight, lightweight and junior welterweight during a panoramic 25-year career. A relentless pressure fighter with devastating punching power and a granite chin, Chavez amassed a professional record of 89-0-1 before losing the 140-pound championship to Frankie Randall in 1994, subsequently reclaiming the title in a rematch. He retired in 2005 with a professional record of 107-6-2 with 88 knockouts.

Mike Tyson

Manny Millan/SI

Few athletes have captured the imagination quite like Tyson, the Brooklyn native who became history's youngest heavyweight champion at 20. After winning his first 19 pro fights by knockout (including 12 in the first round), Tyson unified the fractured heavyweight championship with an electrifying combination of strength, hand speed, accuracy and coordination. His nine heavyweight title defenses ranks sixth behind Joe Louis, Larry Holmes, Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko. He retired in 2005 with a 50-6-2 record and 44 knockouts.

Kostya Tszyu

AP

Following a decorated amateur career, the Russian-born Australian became the first boxer in more than 30 years to unify the junior welterweight title with victories over Sharmba Mitchell, Oktay Urkal and Zab Judah. He finished with a pro record of 31-2-1 with 25 knockouts.

Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain

AP

The legendary Mexican trainer, who guided the national boxing team at four Olympic Games, has trained 19 world champions -- including Hall of Famers like Ricardo "Finito" Lopez, Humberto "Chiquita" Gonzalez and Daniel Zaragoza. He currently trains lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, a shoo-in for induction one day.

Joe Cortez

The New York City native has officiated more than 160 world title bouts, succeeding Richard Steele and Mills Lane as one of the most visible referees in the sport. His most famous assignments have included George Foreman's knockout of Michael Moorer to regain the heavyweight title (pictured) and the first Oscar De La Hoya-Julio Cesar Chavez fight.

Sylvester Stallone

Stallone wrote and starred in Rocky , the 1976 film about an underdog boxer from Philadelphia that was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, winning for best picture, best director and best film editing. He wrote five other films based on the character and was awarded the Boxing Writers Association of America award for "Lifetime Cinematic Achievement in Boxing" in 2006. The Rocky films have grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, helping fortify boxing's place in the cultural mainstream. He also hosted and produced the boxing reality series The Contender .

Posthumous Honorees

In addition to the six living inductees, the Boxing Hall of Fame also released the names of six posthumous honorees: Broadcaster Harry Carpenter in the Observer Category (pictured, with Lennox Lewis and Muhammad Ali); bantamweight Memphis Pal Moore, light heavyweight champion Jack Root and welterweight and middleweight Dave Shade in the Old-Timer Category; promoter A.F. Bettinson in the Non Participant Category; and John Gully in the Pioneer Category.