Rocky DiFazio – Top Middleweight contender who went 19-2-2 and fought all comers

Mike Glienna – One of the top judges in the world, Glienna judged more than 70 WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO World Championship fights and scores of International, Regional, and US State title fights

Andrew Golota – Olympic Bronze Medalist and a 41-9-1 top contender who fought for the World Heavyweight title four times

Clarence Griffin – Legendary Chicago trainer, owner of the famed Windy City Gym in Chicago and father and trainer of World Light Heavyweight Champion Montel Griffin

Johnny Heard – Chicago-based Light heavyweight who fought many of the world’s best in his 64 fight pro career

Fred Houpe – Heavy handed heavyweight who fought many of the best of his era on some of the world’s biggest stages

James Kaulentis – Manager of top boxing talent including James “Quick” Tillis, who fought relentlessly for his fighters

Primo La Cassa – a 17-5-2 pro, La Cassa went on to become one of the country’s top trainers, training Rocky DiFazio, Lenny LaPaglia, Luke Capuano, Luis Mateo, Joey Adelfio, and many, many others

Jeff Lanas – Slick 17-4 Middleweight who fought many of the world’s best, including a split decision loss to Roberto Duran

Tony LaRosa – accomplished pro fighter who fought all comers, including many champions and former champions

Vinny Letisia – Hugely popular, hard punching 16-0-1 Super Lightweight with 15 KO’s who tragically died at 21 years old in a motorcycle accident, just as his career was about to take off

The Fighting O’Shea Brothers – Brian, Mike, Rory, and Tom O’Shea – top amateur and pro competitors and trainers

Alfonso Ratliff – Former WBO World Cruiserweight Champion with a 25-9 pro career, whose only losses were to the best of the best

Genaro Rodriguez – International referee who has worked scores of world championship fights

Barney Ross – Legendary multi division champion ranked as one of the greatest Lightweights and greatest Junior Welterweights of all time as well as a decorated war hero

Henry Sims – Solid Chicago-based Cruiserweight who fought most of the best in the division and was ducked by many of the rest

Jim Strickland – Top trainer (World Champion David Diaz and many others) and sought after cutman (Evander Holyfield, Cory Spinks, and many, many more)

James “Quick” Tillis – The Fighting Cowboy was a four time AAU national champion. Based in Chicago for his pro career, Tillis fought for numerous titles and fought nearly all of the top fighters of his era.

The inductees will be read into the Hall Friday, November 4 at the Hall’s Second Annual Banquet and Ceremony at Abbington Banquets, 3S002 IL-53, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 near Butterfield Road and Route 53, in suburban Chicago.

The Illinois Boxing Hall of Fame is an outgrowth of the successful 13-year-old Illinois Martial Arts Hall of Fame. McNamara, an accomplished kickboxer, tournament fighter, and trainer of former ISKA World Cruiserweight Kickboxing Champion Rob Salazar, is also Director of the Martial Arts Hall.

This year marks the second year of the Hall’s existence, following its first hugely successful event last year.

According to the Hall’s Co-Director, Mike McNamara “there was obviously a lot of pent up demand for a Boxing Hall of Fame in Illinois to honor accomplished individuals who have contributed so much to the state’s vibrant, 150-year-old boxing scene.”

“Last year we sold out the event at 400 seats and could have easily sold 200 more if we’d had the space. As it was we had to change venues three times to accommodate the demand for tickets,” said McNamara. “We expect a similar crowd this year. It will be a great evening!”

The genesis of the idea for the Hall came when the Illinois Martial Arts Hall of Fame began to induct boxers, as that Hall’s Directors considered boxing a fighting art. Those boxing inductees were extremely appreciative, but they also pointed out that despite the rich history of boxing in Illinois, there was no Illinois Boxing Hall of Fame and “they suggested to us that we start it and run it,” says McNamara.

Pro trainer Sam Colonna, international championship referee Pete Podgorski, pro trainer Pete George, International Boxing Organization founder John Daddono, top amateur knockout artist Robert Beal, and former World Heavyweight Champion, the late Ernie Terrell were all Illinois Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductees who were also inducted into the Illinois Boxing Hall of Fame last year. They were joined by Stanley Berg, Craig “Gator” Bodzianowski, Luke Capuano, John Collins, David Diaz, Rita Figueroa, Mike Garcia, Frank Glienna, Montel Griffin, Bobby Hitz, Mike Joyce, Edmund Kelly, Nate Jones, Pat La Cassa, Mike Landini, Lenny LaPaglia, Johnny Lira, Louie Lomeli, Louis Mateo, Martin McGarry, Lee Roy Murphy, Danell Nicholson, Eddie Perkins, Marc Randazzo, Jim Ryan, and Tony Zale.

The Illinois Boxing Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring people from Illinois and/or who participated in or contributed to Boxing in Illinois. Its Second Annual banquet and induction Ceremony will be held on Friday, November 4, 2015 at Abbington Banquets, 3S002 IL-53, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 near Butterfield RoadandRoute53. The event starts at 6PM with a social hour, followed by dinner at 7PM, and the ceremony at 8PM.

For tickets and more information about the event, contact Illinois Boxing Hall of Fame Director Mike McNamara at 708-473-0682 or at macveg3@aol.com

For information about sponsoring the event, including advertising in the printed program, contact Co-Director Pete Hoffman at 708-267-8154 or petehoffman@hotmail.com.
Visit our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/IllinoisBoxingHallOfFame

Follow on Twitter @illinoisbohof #illinoisboxinghalloffame