06/06/02 Gene's Mom named to Boxing Hall

The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced the Class of 2002 on January 10th. Living inductees include heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson from Sweden, welterweight king Pipino Cuevas from Mexico, 3-division world champion Jeff Fenech from Australia and British journalist Reg Gutteridge. All living inductees are anticipated to be in Canastota for the 13th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, scheduled for June 6-9th.

The Class of 2002 is unique as it includes the first female inductee into the Hall of Fame. Aileen Eaton, promoter at the legendary Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles (1942-1980) has been elected posthumously. Eaton was one of boxing's most consistent promoters, staging weekly boxing shows at the Olympic, and promoting more than 2500 fight cards, 100 title bouts and 10,000 matches during her career.

The Hall of Fame also released names of posthumous honorees: Victor Galindez in the Mod-ern category; Benny Bass, The Dixie Kid, Sixto Escobar, Harry Harris, Charley Mitchell and Owen Moran in the Old-Timer category; manager Irving Cohen and promoter Sam Silverman in the Non-Participant category; journalists Jimmy Cannon and Damon Runyon in the Observer category, and John C. Heenan and Young Dutch Sam in the Pioneer category. Family representatives of deceased inductees are expected to attend.

Each inductee will receive a permanent plaque featuring their photo and biography on the Hall of Fame Wall. Also, each living inductee will receive a custom-made gold Hall of Fame ring at the Official Enshrinement Ceremony set for Sunday, June 9th on the grounds of the Hall of Fame Museum.