Florida Boxing Hall of Fame weekend is here

Posted Nov 11, 2009 by Eddie Daniels

Updated Nov 12, 2009 at 06:00 PM

Countdown to the inaugural inductions for the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame kicks off this Friday.

Fighters Luis Manuel Rodriguez, Ralph Dupas, Willie Pastrano, Florentino Fernandez, Pinklon Thomas and Wilfredo Vazquez Sr.; Trainers/managers Angelo Dundee, Steven J. Canton and Jimmy Williams; Promoters Chris Dundee and Felix “Tuto” Zabala; historians Hank Kaplan and Irv Abramson; officials Brian Garry and Max Parker Jr.; and nonparticipants Mark Biero, Marty Cohen, Johnny Bos, Bob Goodman, Rick Folstad, Dr. Allan Fields and Dr. Ferdie Pacheco make up the hall’s inaugural group.

Phil Alessi, Pete Fernandez and Terry Trekas will receive special awards.

The three-day event begins with a cocktail party at the Howard Johnson Plaza in downtown Tampa to meet the hall’s inductees from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. There will be a cash bar.

There will be plenty of activity Saturday at the downtown Howard Johnson Plaza. Here’s the rundown, which starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m.: memorabilia show, book signings, autographs, celebrity workout sessions, fist casting for the inductees and ringside lectures. Cost is $5.

That night at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center’s Carol Morsani Hall, a gala dinner and silent auction will be held. Cocktails and registration begin at 6:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the gala is $75. That price also includes the viewing of the Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao fight.

Sunday, between 9-11:30 a.m., breakfast with the inductees will be held at the Howard Johnson Plaza. Tickets are $20.

The weekend culminates with the Sunday afternoon’s inaugural induction. The ceremony, which is free and held at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center’s North Patio, begins at 12:30 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m.

For ticket information, visit http://www.floridaboxinghalloffame.com or call either Butch Flansburg (813) 810-5896, Brian Garry (813) 884-2012, Sam Cohen (561) 350-9080, Steve Canton (239) 633-2412 or Rick Folstad (813) 383-2246.