Boxing Hall of Fame announces Class of 2020; female fighters elected for 1st time

Christy Martin, Lucia Rijker and Barbara Buttrick will make history in Canastota next June as the first female boxers inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Also going in as part of the 31st class of Hall of Famers on June 14 will be multi-division champions Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manuel Marquez and “Sugar” Shane Mosely, all elected in their first year of eligibility in the men’s Modern category.

Non-participants and observers to be inducted include promoters Lou DiBella, Kathy Duva and Dan Goossen and journalists Bernard Fernandez and Thomas Hauser. Lightweight Frank Erne will be inducted in the Old Timer category and Paddy Ryan in the Pioneer category.

This is the first year that female fighters have been on the IBHOF ballot. Martin and Rijker were elected in the women’s Modern category, while Buttrick was elected in the women’s Trailblazer category.

There already are two women enshrined in the Hall of Fame, but in the Non-Participant category: Promoters Aileen Eaton (enshrined in 2002) and Lorraine Chargin (2018). Duva will join that group in June.

Martin, known as the “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” was one of the early stars of women’s boxing and in 1996 became the first female boxer on the cover of Sports Illustrated. She held multiple titles and retired with a record of 49-7-3. The final victory of her career came in Syracuse, a decision win over Dakota Stone at the New York State Fairgrounds to win the WBC women’s junior middleweight title. She is a frequent visitor to Canastota on Induction Weekends.

“I just wanted to be a fighter and fit into the world of boxing and this is a dream come true," Martin said. "I’m always excited to come back to Canastota but to come back this year will be very special.”

Rijker was undefeated in a career that lasted from 1996 to 2004, retiring with a 17-0 record with 14 KOs. She held world titles in the junior welterweight and super lightweight divisions. She also was a dominant kickboxer, and had a role in the movie “Million Dollar Baby.”

“This is very moving. It makes me feel emotional,” Rijker said. "As I entered normal life after boxing there is a memory of boxing that is in my heart and soul. There is really a strong connection I have to that era and I am really honored to be reminded of that time because sometimes there is a time in your life where everything comes together - mind, body and spirit – and definitely my boxing career aligned all three of them to be the best I could be on all levels. I’m very grateful for that and grateful to be recognized.”

Martin and Rijker were scheduled to meet in the ring in 2005, but Rijker suffered a torn achilles tendon and the fight was called off.

Buttrick, born in England, fought in the 1940s until retiring in 1961. She had a 30-1-1 record, according to the IBHOF, and then remained in boxing as a manager and trainer. In 1993, she started the Women’s International Boxing Federation.

“This is wonderful news. It means a lot to me," Buttrick said. "After I started out with everybody against me back in the 1940s, it is nice to be recognized. I’m looking forward to being in Canastota in June.”

Hopkins, known as “The Executioner,” was an ageless wonder in the ring, becoming the oldest boxer to win a world title fight when he won a decision over Beibut Shumenov in 2014 at the age of 49 years and 47 days. He defended his IBF light heavyweight title and won Shumenov’s WBA title in that fight, which came almost 19 years after he won his first world championship, winning the IBF middleweight title with a seventh-round TKO over Segundo Mercado. He made a division-record 20 successful title defenses.

Hopkins retired with a record of 55-8-2 with two no-contests.

“I’m glad I’m entering the house of greatness past and present. Thanks to boxing I became a greater inspiration to the world,” Hopkins said.

Juan Manuel Marquez was a four-division champion, best known for his four-fight series against Manny Pacquaio. Pacquaio won two fights by close decision, one fight was a draw, and Marquez won the final fight in the series with a spectacular one-punch knockout.

Mosely held world titles at lightweight, welterweight and junior middleweight and twice beat Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya.