Ali Helps Boxing Hall of Fame Induct First 53

The first 53 members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, including Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano and Sugar Ray Robinson, were inducted in Canastota, N.Y., Sunday.

Thirteen of the fifteen living members enshrined attended the weekend-long activities,

“It’s a great feeling,” said former champion Bob Foster, who dominated the light heavyweight division between 1968 and 1974.

“You go through all those battles for so many years. This is what it’s for. A lot of fighters will never feel what I’m feeling today.”

Said Archie Moore, who held the lightweight title for seven years until 1959: “I thought I’d be successful and dreamed I’d be a champion, but I never thought this would happen. This may seem trivial to a championship, but it’s a great honor.”

An old-timer category contained 21 fighters whose careers came between 1893 and 1942, including Jack Dempsey, James J. Corbett, Bob Fitzsimmons and Jack Johnson. When Johnson, who became the first black heavyweight champion in 1907 and held the title until 1915, was described as the greatest heavyweight of all time, Muhammad Ali perked up in his seat. He began staring up and down the row of boxing greats, then peered out at the crowd, which responded with a chant of “Ali! Ali!”

“I did things other fighters wouldn’t do,” Ali later told the crowd of about 600. “I got controversial.”