The Neutral Corner

Inbox item: From Canastota

CANASTOTA, NY – APRIL 23, 2009 - Former world heavyweight champions Ken Norton and Leon Spinks will attend festivities planned for the 20th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend scheduled for June 11-14th in Canastota, NY.

“Ken Norton and Leon Spinks were two key players in the heavyweight division of the 1970s,” said Hall of Fame Executive Director Edward Brophy. “They took part in some truly memorable heavyweight fights.”

Norton was the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion in 1978. A 1976 Olympic Gold Medalist, Spinks defeated Muhammad Ali in 1978 to win the world heavyweight title in only his 8th pro bout.

New inductees to be honored are bantamweight champion Orlando Canizales, heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, junior lightweight champion Brian Mitchell, matchmaker / publicist / promoter Bob Goodman, promoter Akihiko Honda, journalist Hugh McIlvaney and broadcaster Larry Merchant. Posthumous inductees will also be honored.