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A14 sports
Saturday 11 June 2022
Crowded dais as boxing hall of fame inducts three classes

By TIM DAHLBERG to fight Manny Pacquiao
AP Boxing Writer in the richest fight ever.
The International Boxing Mayweather also banked
Hall of Fame might have similar money to fight UFC's
to build a new wing to host Conor McGregor, and his
all the inductees after this record as a pay-per-view
weekend's ceremonies. king may stand for a long
Floyd Mayweather Jr. alone time. Is he the greatest
makes Sunday's event one fighter ever as he claims?
of the most anticipated in No, but that doesn't stop
years. Add in fighters like him from being in the con-
Roy Jones Jr., Andre Ward versation.
and Bernard Hopkins — as BERNARD HOPKINS — The
well as some pioneering Executioner was certainly
women — and the boxing one of the greatest middle-
hall in tiny Canastota, New weights of all time, with a
York, figures to fill up quick- record 20 straight defenses
ly. of the middleweight title
The last two ceremonies he won in 1995. Hopkins
were canceled because of would later move up to
the pandemic. So there's a 175 pounds, and set a re-
three-year class of 27 fight- cord as oldest champion
ers — and 36 honorees in when he beat Jean Pas-
total — that should appeal Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, hits Manny Pacquiao, from the Philippines, during their welterweight cal at the age of 46 to win
to even the most casual title fight on Saturday, May 2, 2015, in Las Vegas. the light heavyweight title.
boxing fan. Associated Press Two years later, he won
That includes a new wom- the title again at the age
en's category headed by er, Vitali, helping run the fighting each other, the in- best defensive fighters of 48. Hopkins made his
Laila Ali and Christy Martin, capital city of Kyiv during ductees will find themselves ever. His 50-0 record sug- biggest payday when he
who shot to fame when she the ongoing war against in- fighting for time for their ac- gests perfection but May- stopped Oscar De La Hoya
was featured on some of vading Russia. Vitali Klitsch- ceptance speeches in the weather will probably best with a body punch in their
Mike Tyson's fight cards in ko, mayor of Kyiv and also biggest induction ever for be known more for how 2004 showdown, then won
the 1990s. a former heavyweight the small hall that honors he capitalized on his ca- again when he joined De
Organizers say all the fight- champ, was inducted in boxing's greatest. reer better than any fighter La Hoya as a shareholder
ers are expected to be 2018. Here's a look at some of the before him. He invented in Golden Boy Promotions.
there except one. For- There are so many fighters inductees: the Money May persona, Not only a great fighter,
mer heavyweight cham- that the event will be held FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. — but the money was very but a great talker, espe-
pion Wladimir Klitschko is in at a nearby casino instead One of the all-time greats, real, including the estimat- cially when it comes to his
Ukraine alongside his broth- of in Canastota. Instead of and certainly one of the ed $200 million he made career.q

IndyCar to have two female racers in Road America field

short list for his seat. period the last couple of she was 13th — wedged
She finished the next two years that we hadn't had between Sebastien Bour-
races with KV Racing — her somebody in the top lev- dais, the driver who did
one and only season with el of single-seaters," said replace Kanaan at KV Rac-
the team — and then her Calderon, who will make ing, and Josef Newgarden,
four-year IndyCar run was her fifth start of the season who was in his second sea-
over. She made three starts for A.J. Foyt Racing. The son of IndyCar and on his
in 2015 driving for Michael Colombian's best finish was way to stardom.
Andretti, and was the only 15th on the road course "In racing, definitely money
woman in last year's India- at Indianapolis; she only makes a big difference,"
napolis 500, driving for the competes on the road and said tde Silvestro, who is
all-female Paretta Auto- street courses. "There are 33. "In '13, I finished in front
sport team. females that can compete of Josef in the champion-
The road back to a regu- against men in a very com- ship. He ended up going to
lar ride has been long and petitive championship," she Penske and then won the
IndyCar driver Tatiana Calderon, left, chats with her team while winding, and de Silvestro continued. "I hope that to- championship two times.
walking to her car before the start of the IndyCar practice ses-
sion at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg auto race on Feb. 26, will make her first IndyCar gether we can keep that You need to get the right
2022 in St. Petersburg, Fla. start of the season on Sun- momentum going and to shot. You need to get peo-
Associated Press day at Road America in see more females." ple behind you who really
Wisconsin. It's the first of De Silvestro can't help but want to support you.
By JENNA FRYER "Me! You need to hire me!" three races Paretta Au- reflect on what might have "I think as a female driver,
AP Auto Racing Writer the Swiss racer told her tosport plans to enter this been if funding and the we do get the opportuni-
Simona de Silvestro finished bosses. They were seek- season, and de Silvestro politics of racing had been ties, but I think also some-
second at the Houston ing a replacement for In- will join Tatiana Calderon a little different in 2013. Her times it's really quick when
Grand Prix, the third to last dianapolis 500 winner Tony in the field to give IndyCar lowest finish in the final nine we have a bit of a bad
race of the 2013 IndyCar Kanaan, who had formally two women entering mul- races of that season was season. The support then
season, and stormed into announced one day earlier tiple events for the first time 14th and she closed with isn't really right away. I think
the KV Racing truck to con- he was leaving the team. since 2013. five consecutive top-10s. with some guys, they get
front the owners. De Silvestro was not on the "It's a shame it was a long In the final point standings, more chances at it."q