Memories Will Have Special Ring Tonight

They come from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Puerto Rico.

They come from the ranks of fighters, trainers, promoters and writers.

Some are in the peak of health. One is confined to a nursing home. Several are deceased.

All are members of the class of 2000, to be inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in ceremonies tonight at the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

The fighters are Wilfredo Gomez of Puerto Rico, World Boxing Council super bantamweight (1977-83), WBC featherweight (1984) and World Boxing Assn. junior lightweight (1985-86) champion; Ken Buchanan of Scotland, WBA lightweight champion (1970-71); Barry McGuigan of Northern Ireland, WBA featherweight champion (1985-86); and Ralph Dupas of New Orleans, WBA junior middleweight champion (1963), who will not be able to attend tonight’s event because of a deteriorating mental condition.

Posthumous inductees include Tommy Burns, heavyweight champion (1906-1908); Lou Bogash, middleweight champion (1923); Pete Sanstol, bantamweight champion (1931); and Eddie Booker, middleweight and light-heavyweight (1930s and 40s).

Notice the lack of alphabet nonsense in the latter group, who fought back in those confusion-free days when the world had only one world champion in each division.

Imagine that.

Also being honored tonight are former L.A. Times and Herald-Examiner columnist and character actor, the late Allan Malamud, trainer Emanuel Steward, referee Richard Steele and promoter Russell Peltz.

WARRIOR FOR PEACE

McGuigan showed his passion in the ring, but, as a Catholic married to a Protestant in the midst of the bloody religious and political struggle that raged through his country, his most passionate desire was for peace.

“As much as I loved the sport, I would have given it all up without a thought to see peace,” he said.

In a career that included 35 fights over nine years, his motto was, “Leave the fighting to McGuigan,” an appeal to his countrymen to lay down their arms, forget their hatred and stand shoulder to shoulder at his matches, exhausting their emotions on his fortunes in the ring.

McGuigan (32-3, 28 knockouts) once put together a 27-fight winning streak that included 23 knockouts. Although he fought such opponents as Eusebio Pedroza, Bernard Taylor and Danilo Cabrera, McGuigan said his most memorable battle was against Juan LaPorte in Belfast in 1985.

“I was struggling with him in the ninth round, when I saw something red in front of me,” McGuigan said. “I thought I had finally hurt him, but that red turned out to be his glove. It was a right hand coming at my head.

“I don’t want to say it caused me hallucinations, but when I looked down at the crowd, I thought I saw a familiar face. Then, I realized it was my own.”

McGuigan hung on, though, and won a 10-round decision.

Typically, however, his favorite story from the old days focuses not on the ring, but on his country’s “troubles.” And his hope that the next generation won’t place such a high value on religious differences.

When his son, Blain, was 3 1/2, McGuigan saw him going nose to nose with a 4-year-old he met in a restaurant near Belfast.

“We have a Volvo,” said the 4-year-old. “We have a Mercedes,” responded Blain.

“We have a fox terrier,” said the 4-year-old. “We have a German shepherd,” said Blain.

“We are Protestant,” yelled the 4-year-old.

At which point, Blain turned to his father and said, “Protestant? Do we have one of those?”

MORE MEMORIES

Gomez (44-3-1, 42) fought to a draw in his first fight, then went on to knock out 32 consecutive opponents, 17 of them in title bouts.

Buchanan (61-8, 27), who once won 33 straight bouts, first defended his WBA title in Los Angeles against Ruben Navarro, winning a 15-round decision in 1971.

Dupas (105-23-6, 18) turned professional at 14 and had nine fights before his next birthday.

After growing up in poverty, Dupas was paid $800 for his first fight, taking the money in $20 bills in a paper bag. He brought the bag home, opened it and threw the bills into the air, to the amazement of a family that found it hard to even conceive of so much cash.

Steele, a graduate of Manual Arts High, fought as a 175-pounder, but his career was forever being stalled by injuries.

When Steele broke a rib, his frustrated manager, Jackie McCoy, finally said, “Why don’t you get a job?”

Steele did, in the sport he loved. He has since been good enough to referee a record 163 championship bouts.

Malamud, a sports addict who had a particular love for boxing, was known for his quick wit, both in the newspaper and in person.

He was once introduced to a rabbi, who told him, “I read your column religiously.”

Replied Malamud, “How else would a rabbi read it?”

TWO DOSES OF SUGAR

Sugar Shane Mosley of Pomona, coming off his victory over Oscar De La Hoya in last June’s WBC welterweight title match at Staples Center, is being honored tonight as fighter of the year. Mosley also won the award in 1998, making him the first to win the honor twice.

Mosley will put his title on the line Nov. 4 at New York’s Madison Square Garden against Antonio Diaz of Coachella. If he is successful, Mosley is hoping to fight again in February, perhaps against Arturo Gatti, then stage the much-anticipated rematch against De La Hoya on Cinco de Mayo, 2001.

Assuming, of course, that De La Hoya has fought his way out of his legal entanglement with his former promoter, Bob Arum, by then.

At this point, they are locked in a clinch, refusing to budge, waiting for a judge to break them up.

QUICK JABS

Light heavyweight Antwon Leach (10-0-3, 7) takes on Vincent Moses (8-9-2, no knockouts) in the eight-round main event Thursday night at the Hollywood Park Casino. First bell is at 7:30. . . . Super bantamweight Israel Vazquez (27-2, 20) faces Eddie Saenz (17-9, 9) in the 10-round main event Friday night at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello. First fight is at 7.