Page 20 - AT

A20 SPORTS
Thursday 5 december 2019

Boxing HOF with everybody against me
back in the 1940s, it is nice
to be recognized."
Continued from Page 17 won the WBC super wel- Rijker, the first licensed fe-
terweight championship in male boxer in her home
Posthumous honorees in- 2009 and compiled a 49-7- country, was nicknamed
clude lightweight cham- 3 record with 31 KOs in her "The Dutch Destroyer" and
pion Frank Erne in the Old career. certainly lived up to the
Timer category, Paddy "I just wanted to be a fight- moniker. She made her
Ryan in the Pioneer cat- er and fit into the world of pro debut in 1996, signed a
egory and promoter Dan boxing and this is a dream promotional contract with
Goossen in the Non-Partici- come true," Martin said. "I'm Bob Arum's Top Rank and
pant category. always excited to come won all 17 of her profession-
Nicknamed "The Coal back to Canastota, but to al fights with 14 knockouts.
Miner's Daughter," Martin, come back this year will be For Rijker, selection was an
a native of West Virginia, very special." emotional moment.
began boxing on a dare Hopkins holds the record "This is very moving," she
in 1986 while still in college, for the most successful title In this May 21, 2011, file photo, Bernard Hopkins celebrates after said. "As I entered normal
entering and winning a defenses in middleweight defeating Jean Pascal with a unanimous decision to win a WBC life after boxing there is a
"tough woman" contest. boxing history at 20. He'll light heavyweight world title fight, in Montreal. memory of boxing that is
Although she graduated join former middleweight Associated Press in my heart and soul. There
with honors from Concord champions Carlos Monzon, is really a strong connec-
College, Martin elected to who successfully defended hand speed, beat Oscar greats and go into the Hall tion I have to that era and
pursue the sweet science 14 times, and Marvelous De La Hoya twice during a of Fame, so this is a great I am really honored to be
and turned pro in 1989 Marvin Hagler, who de- pro career that produced honor." reminded of that time be-
while working as a substi- fended 12 times, as a Hall a record of 49-10-1 with Buttrick, who began box- cause sometimes there is a
tute teacher in Tennessee. of Famer on induction Sun- 41 KOs. "I'm so happy and ing in her native England, time in your life where ev-
Martin brought women's day next June 14. honored," Mosley said. "I've came to United States in erything comes together
boxing to the mainstream "I'm glad I'm entering the worked my whole life for the 1950s to box legally and — mind, body and spirit —
in the mid-1990s, becom- house of greatness past this. Even when I started as won a world championship and definitely my boxing
ing the first woman to sign and present," Hopkins said. a kid at 8 years old I knew while breaking down barri- career aligned all three of
a promotional contract "Thanks to boxing, I be- this is what I wanted to ers. them to be the best I could
with promoter Don King came a greater inspiration do and what I wanted to "This is wonderful news. It be on all levels. I'm very
and landing on the cover to the world." be. I have accomplished means a lot to me," Buttrick grateful for that and grate-
of Sports Illustrated. She Mosley, known for his quick my goals to be one of the said. "After I started out ful to be recognized."q