Mayweather, Ward, Hopkins deliver Boxing Hall of Fame induction speeches in central NY

Boxing legends and fans from across the country returned to Central New York for the first time since 2019 to celebrate the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s Induction.

Each year since its founding in 1989, the IBHOF held its induction ceremony in early June. However, the gathering did not take place in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This resulted in a star-studded show Sunday at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, one which lasted nearly four hours.

Usually, the hall itself in Canastota hosts the function, but due to the large class (36 over three years), it was moved to the larger Turning Stone.

For the first time, women were also inducted starting with the Class of 2020. In total, women represented 11 of the 36 inductees, including Laila Ali, Holly Holm and Christy Martin.

Before each class received its moment in the sun, the hall showed a short video celebrating the group.

The Class of 2020 went first. Christy Martin spoke about her experience as the grand marshal of the IBHOF’s parade in 1996, and how the boxing community welcomed her as one of its own.

“I said, ‘there are all these boxing brothers up here, one day you are going to need a sister.’ Well guess what, here’s your sister,” Martin said.

She ended her speech by noting that in her two-minute speech, 40 people were domestically abused. Martin, herself, was stabbed and shot by her husband and trainer in 2010.

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The final speech for the class came from Bernard Hopkins. The iconic boxer used his time to honor Rudy Battle, a longtime Pennsylvania referee who Hopkins said helped him become a champion after Hopkins’ stint in prison.

Hopkins also brought his son on stage, and said since Sunday was his birthday, he could hold onto the ring for the day.

“I won’t let you keep it because things are earned, not given,” Hopkins said to his son.

The Class of 2021 entered as perhaps the most well-known collection. Former Ukrainian Gold Medalist Wladimir Klitschko said he could not attend the event due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but he sent over a video message and urged the crowd to support his country.

Laila Ali conveyed that her father, Muhammad Ali, did not want her to fight.

“All that confidence he had got passed down to me,” she said. “Even when he told me not to fight, I had the confidence to continue. I had to earn his respect.”

Andre Ward, who became a commentator after his career ended, said three of his fellow inductees – Roy Jones Jr., Hopkins and Floyd Mayweather – taught him something different about the sport.

Finally came what the hall billed as the main event, the induction of Mayweather. The undefeated boxer was given a special introduction before he trekked to the podium.

Mayweather commenced his speech by saying he wanted to talk about “me.”

During his nearly 15-minute speech, he thanked his “king” – his father – and his “queen” – his mother. He said his Father will receive his ring.

Mayweather acknowledged the 70 members of “The Money Team” who attended. He said they can’t be stopped, citing their vast real estate holdings.

At one point, the Michigan native took off his jacket and explained why he’s “TBE” (The Best Ever), which drew some groans from the crowd.

“We got the 10 biggest pay-per-views ever, and I got six,” he said. “I made $750 million in 10 minutes in the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. I am the highest-grossing fighter ever. I deserve it.”

He ended his remarks by adding that he’ll always be “TBE.”

Roy Jones Jr. and Holly Holm headlined the Class of 2022. Holm fought through tears, mentioning she’s always maintained a lot of support.

“There’s a lot of people in this sport who are in it for their own glory, but I’ve always been surrounded by people who only want the best for me.”

Jones, a Pensacola, Florida, native, was the one of the last orators of the ceremony and ended his speech with a rap, telling the spectators, “Y’all must’ve forgot. “Thirty years later, and I still ain’t changed. Roy Jones Jr. remember that name, y’all must have forgot.”

Class of 2020 Inductees

Bernard Hopkins

Juan Manuel Marquez

Shane Mosley

Christy Martin

Lucia Rijker

Barbara Buttrick

Frank Erne

Paddy Ryan

Lou Dibella

Kathy Duva

Dan Goosen

Bernard Fernandez

Thomas Hauser

Class of 2021

Wladimir Klitschko

Floyd Mayweather

Andre Ward

Laila Ali

Ann Wolfe

Marian Trimiar

Jackie Tonawanda

Davey Morre

Freddie Brown

Dr. Margaret Goodman

Jackie McCoy

George Kimball

Jay Larkin

Class of 2022

Miguel Cotto

Roy Jones Jr.

James Toney

Regina Halmich

Holly Holm

Todd Morgan

Bill Caplan

Chuck Hull

Ron Borges

Bob Yalen

Noah Ram is a sports reporter for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Noah Ram at nram@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Boxing Hall of Fame inductees give emotional speeches at 2022 ceremony