PA BOXING HALL OF FAME
CLASS OF 2013 ANNOUNCED
 

It is that time of year again. All the votes have been cast and counted and the final results are in. The Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame announced their 2013 class of inductees. These ten new members will be officially welcomed at the Hall's annual banquet dinner on Sunday, May 19 at 4:00 PM. The event will be held at Romano's Catering at Castor Avenue & Wingohocking Street in Philadelphia (1523-63 Wingohocking Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19124). Tickets for the event are priced at $60 each and can be purchased by contacting John Gallagher of the Veteran Boxers Association - Ring One at 1-215-920-8791. All the living inductees are expected to attend, as well as many other local boxing luminaries.

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Tyrell Biggs
Heavyweight

Born: December 22, 1960
Active: 1984-1998 (pro)
Pro Record: 30-10-0 / 20 KOs

Highlights:
-Won Olympic Gold Medal in 1984
-15 Bout Undefeated Streak to Start Career
-Fought Mike Tyson for World Title in 1987
-Fought For USBA Title Twice
-Beat Tillis, Snipes, Sims, Bey, & Ocasio

Tyrell Biggs won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1984 at the Los Angeles Games, along with that great Olympic team that included Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whittaker, Meldrick Taylor, Virgil Hill, and others. Biggs turned pro in 1984 and reeled off 15 straight victories to open his career. During that run, he beat the likes of James "Quick" Tillis (W8), Renaldo Snipes (W10), David Bey (TKO6), and Jeff Sims (W10) even after suffering a broken collarbone in round two. Biggs' first loss came in his challenge of undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in 1987. Tyson defended his crown in round seven. Biggs went 15-9 after his only world title try, beating Ossie Ocasio (W10) and Rodolfo Marin (W10), but lost to Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe, Larry Donald, Tony Tubbs, and Buster Mathis Jr., before hanging up his gloves for good. He finished his pro run at 30-10 with 20 KOs. These days Biggs trains young fighters at the Mitch Allen Gym at 57th & Haverford.

Charley Burley
Middleweight

Born: September 06, 1917
Died: October 16, 1992
Active: 1936-1950 (pro)
Pro Record: 83-12-2 / 50 KOs / 1 NC

Highlights:
-Won "Colored" Welterweight Title in 1938
-Won "Colored Middleweight Title in 1942
-Won CA State Middleweight Title in 1944
-Beat Archie Moore (W10) in 1944


Charley Burley is widely regarded as one of the finest fighters never to fight for a world title. Burley was world ranked in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions, and scored important wins over Fritzie Zivic (twice), Billy Soose (W10), and Archie Moore (W10) in his career-best victory. However losses to Ezzard Charles, Jimmy Bivins, Zivic, and Holman Williams kept him from vying for the world championship. Burley won the "Colored Welterweight Title" with a 15-round decision over Cocoa Kid, and later won the "colored" version of the middleweight crown with a win over arch rival Holman Williams (TKO9). Burley also won the California State middleweight title with a 9th round KO of Jack Chase in 1944. Burley's 14-year career ended with an impressive record of 83-12-2, with 50 KOs and 1 No Contest. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.

Chuck Hasson
Historian

Born: December 09, 1946
Active: 1984-Present


Highlights:
-Compiled the "Philly Boxing Chronicles"
-Co-Authored "Philadelphia's Boxing Heritage"
-Wrote "DE County Boxing Record & Capsule History"
-Assistant Editor of PhillyBoxingHistory.com
 

Chuck Hasson is often referred to as the most knowledgeable person around when it comes to Philadelphia boxing history. Hasson was mentored by the great boxing trainer and student of local ring history Willie O'Neill, who passed Chuck the torch as local boxing expert before his death in 1994. Hasson compiled the "Philadelphia Boxing Chronicles", a 12-volume set of newspaper and periodical clippings in scrapbook form, that covers local boxing history between 1850 and 2005. Hasson also compiled a similar 2-volume work, the "Delaware County Boxing Chronicles", which is on display at the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum in Chadds Ford, PA. Later, Chuck co-authored the book "Philadelphia's Boxing Heritage (1876-1976)", wrote the book "The Delaware County Boxing Record and Capsule History" and compiled other themed scrapbook volumes. Hasson is a voting member for both the International Boxing Hall of Fame & the PA Boxing Hall of Fame, and is the assistant editor of the web site PhillyBoxingHistory.com.

Fred Jenkins
Trainer 

Born: March 16, 1956
Active: 1973-Present

Highlights:
-Runs the ABC Rec Center in North Philly
-Trained countless young fighters
-Trainer of IBF lightweight champ Charlie "Choo Choo" Brown
-Currently trains heavyweight contender Bryant Jennings

Fred Jenkins had his own boxing career before turning his attention to the training of other boxers. He competed in the US nationals as an amateur and went 2-1 as a pro. Jenkins He credits trainer Stan Williams as his mentor and as the man who got him started as a boxing trainer. Jenkins also learned a great deal from Milt Bailey, who served as his cut man for many years, and also watched the other legendary Philly trainers like Wesley Mouzon, Quenzell McCall, Duke Dugent, and George James. Eventually Jenkins took over running the ABC Rec Center in North Philly after Stan Williams was transferred to another location in 1976. Over the years, Jenkins worked with countless boxers, helping to launch many of their careers. In his career highlight thus far, he guided Charlie "Choo Choo" Brown all the way to the IBF world lightweight championship in 1984. He also worked with local stars like David Reid, Rockin' Rodney Moore, Zahir Raheem, Marvin Garris, Malik Scott, Bryan "Boogaloo" Jones, Andre "Sharp" Richardson, Jerome "Silky" Jackson, James Stanton, Anthony Thompson, Randy Griffin, Jesse Hart, Fred Jenkins Jr., Chicago's Vaugn Bean, and many others. Currently he trains heavyweight contender Bryant Jennings, who just may become Jenkins' prized pupil. They are expected to earn a shot at the world heavyweight title later this year. 

John Mulvenna
Trainer

Born: August 04, 1950
Active: 1976-Present


Highlights:
-Trained fighters at the Hennelly Boys Club, Front Street Gym, and PAL.
-Helped develop Harry Joe Yorgey, Monty Sherrick, Jimmy Deoria and others
-Opened the original Front Street Gym

John Mulvenna started out as an amateur boxer at the Hennelly Boys Club in Kensington. After serving in the US Army in Viet Nam, Mulvenna returned to the sport, but found his niche as a boxing trainer. In this role, he helped to shape the lives and careers of young men in and around Philadelphia for years. Mulvenna was a longtime trainer at the Hennelly Boys Club and the Front Street Gym, both in Kensington. Mulvenna helped to develop numerous boxers through the years, including pros like Andre "Sugarman" Cooper, Monty Sherrick, Harry Joe Yorgey, Jimmy Deoria, Chris Guest, Jules Blackwell, and amateurs Jerry Cullen, George Bonner, Richie Galdo,  Mike Rogers, and Bernie Winters. Mulvenna was also instrumental in starting the career of Stan "The Cut Man" Maliszewski, and  was also involved in the start up of the original Front Street Gym in Fishtown.

Ivan Robinson
Lightweight

Born: February 27, 1971
Active: 1992-2008 (pro)
Pro Record: 32-12-2 / 12 KOs


Highlights:
-Challenged Phillip Holiday for the IBF Title
-Won the USBA & NABF Titles
-Beat Arturo Gatti twice including the
1988 Fight of the Year / Upset of the Year

Ivan "Mighty" Robinson was a top amateur before his memorable professional career began in 1992. He won his first 23 bouts in a row. During the stretch he beat Jimmy Deoria, Emmanuel Augustus, Lionel Butler, Juan Negron, and Demetrio Ceballos for the USBA lightweight title. The impressive streak earned Ivan a shot at the IBF lightweight championship against Philip Holiday in 1996. In a hotly contested fight, Holiday retained his title on points, but Robinson looked like a future champ. A few fights later, Robinson was matched with Arturo Gatti on HBO, and their bout was good enough to be named the "Fight of the Year" by Ring Magazine. The fight was also named the "Upset of the Year" by Ring. Four months later, the pair fought again. It was another terrific fight, but Robinson won it easier this time. The following year (1999), Robinson won the NABF lightweight title with a unanimous decision over James Crayton. Losses to Antonio Diaz, Jesse James Leija, Chucky T, and Michael Stewart slowed the second half of Robinson's career, and a points loss to legend Julio Cesar Chavez was the final high-profile fight for Robinson. He retired in 2008 with a career record of 32-12-2 (12 KO). 

Mario Saurennann
Welterweight

Born: ?
Active: 1965-1978 (pro)
Pro Record: 20-21-7 / 6 KO

Highlights:
-Won 1961 Jr. National AAU Championship
-Won the PA State Welterweight Title in 1971
-Beat Bud Anderson, C. L. Lewis, and Alvin Anderson


Mario Saurennann was a top amateur, winning the Jr. National AAU Championship in 1961 as a 132-pounder. In the professional ranks, he fought a long list of quality foes and participated in a number of minor classics of the local prize ring. The highlight of his pro run came in one of those classics, when he halted C.L. Lewis in the 12th and final round at the Blue Horizon to win the PA State Welterweight Title in 1971. Saurennann also scored victories over Bud Anderson (W8) and Herbie Lee (W10). He split 10-rounders with William Watson (L10, W10) and Art Kettles (D10, L10). Over his 13-year career, Saurennann faced very good competition, including Harold Weston (L10), Johnny Gant (l10), Angel Espada (L10) and Miguel Barreto (L10), and compiled an overall record of 20-21-7, with 6 KOs.

Steve Smoger
Referee

Born: August 15, 1950
Active: 1992-Present



Highlights:
-21 years experience as a referee
-Referee for 178 World Title Fights
-One of the sport's premiere referees


With more than 20 years experience, Steve Smoger is one of the most highly regarded and prolific referees in the game today. Originally licensed in PA by then Commissioner Howard McCall in 1992, Smoger has served as the third man in the ring for countless bouts - from club fights to championship contests - both locally and worldwide. He has reportedly refereed in more US States and more countries than any other professional referee in boxing history. Well known as a ref who allows fighters to fight, Smoger is not often in the way during a good battle, nor is he too quick on the trigger to stop the fights he officiates. Smoger has refereed such high-profile matches as Hopkins-Trinidad, Pavlik-Taylor I, Holmes-Mercer, Toney-Jirov, Cotto-Margarito II, Ward-Froch, and many, many more. In all, Smoger has refereed more than 180 championship fights, and is still going strong. 

Norman "Reds" Torpey Sr.
Trainer

Born: January 03, 1937
Died: February 08, 1991
Active: 19xx-1991


Highlights:
-Trainer at Hennlley Boys Club & 24th PAL
-Trainer at the Harrowgate Boxing Club
-Trained Buddy Osborne, Tommy McGuire
& Mark Goodwin


Reds Torpey came from a boxing family. In  addition to his own boxing career, which was highlighted by his 1960 Mid-Atlantic amateur lightweight championship, and an 8-0 professional run, both his son, Norman Jr. and his uncle Larry Torpey had memorable boxing careers. Reds became a trainer even before his own boxing days were over. While still a fighter himself, he instructed younger boxers at  the 24th PAL in Port Richmond. After hanging up his gloves, he focused completely on training, first at the Hennlley Boys Club and later at the Harrowgate Boxing Club. Over the years, Torpey worked with countless young men, molding their careers as well as their lives. Torpey is credited with training Philly fighters like Buddy Osborne, Tommy McGuire, Kevin McGinn, Mark Goodwin and Norman Torpey Jr. Reds Torpey died on February 08, 1991 and will be inducted posthumously.

Roy "Tiger" Williams
Heavyweight

Born: April 09, 1945
Active: 1966-1979 (pro)
Pro Record: 30-6-0 / 22 KO


Highlights:
-Beat Jimmy Young & Roger Russell
-Fought Larry Holmes & Earnie Shavers
-Won Golden Gloves & Mid-Atlantic amateur titles


Roy "Tiger" Williams was a top-flight heavyweight during one of the division's very best eras. Williams was big and speedy with fast hands and dangerous punch. He went 17-3 in his first 20 bouts, beating Jimmy Young, Charley Polite, Roger Russell and Mike Boswell during the stretch. In 1976, Williams extended a rising Larry Holmes to 10 full rounds, giving the future champion one of the toughest fights of his career. Later the same year, Williams fought a classic slugfest with murderous puncher Earnie Shavers. Williams decked the dangerous Shavers before succumbing to Earnie's bombs in the 10th and final round. Williams' career ended in 1979 after a 7-bout winning streak that lifted his overall record to 30-6 with 22 KOs. These days, Tiger trains young boxers and is a busy Doo-Wop singer.

John DiSanto - March 12, 2013

Hall of Fame Ticket Info
Date: Sunday, May 19, 2013, 4:00 PM
Location: Romano's Catering
(Castor Ave. & Wingohocking St., Philadelphia, PA, 19124)
Price: $60 per ticket
To purchase tickets call: John Gallagher at (215) 920-8791
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