Spotlight on Class of 2020 Awardees
The National Boxing Hall of Fame (NBHOF) will present their award inductions THIS Sunday, April 24 at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello, Calif.
It’s been an anticipated gala since 2020 as the NBHOF’s Bill and Linda Young had to cancel/reschedule their ceremony due to the COVID-19 lockdown. With the Los Angeles restrictions lifted, everything’s a “go” for this weekend’s fiesta.
Since the gathering will combine the honorees from 2020, 2021 and 2022 it’s being tabbed as a special “Trilogy” event.
There will be a TON of prizefighters in attendance–a sea of familiar faces. And the guests will span the decades: Everyone from U.S. Olympic medalist and brand new pro Richard Torrez Jr. (Tulare’s 22-year-old heavyweight who just got his first professional victory in March) to New Zealand’s David Tua, a heavyweight champ who had 52 wins with 43 knockouts! “Kiki” Torrez will be receiving the “Rising Star” award and the “Tuaman” is a 2020 inductee. It will definitely be a KO crowd in the Crystal Ballroom with the seats filled with so much talent from bygone eras to the present day of pugilism.
At press time, there are only TEN tickets remaining and it’s on track to be a complete sellout. If you’d like to purchase tickets: www.nationalboxinghalloffame.com
There is a long and lengthy list with three years of fighters, champions, boxing personalities heading into this Hall of Fame. Last Friday night, I ran into two of the Class of 2020 inductees: Alberto Davila and Paul Banke. I saw the two at Thompson Boxing Promotions’ live “Path to Glory” fights held in Ontario and I chatted, separately, with the ex-boxers about their upcoming inductions.
I wish I had the time to write about each and every honoree; each one deserves all the respect in the world. But this time, I got the chance to focus on just two of the “Trilogy” inductees. I’ve known Paul for many, many years and I see Albert occasionally at Ken Thompson’s fights.
Paul Banke (21-9, 11 KOs) traded punches with the likes of Daniel Zaragoza, Kennedy McKinney, Robert Shannon and more during his career which culminated in winning a World Boxing Council (WBC) championship belt. He and his brother Steve Banke were amateur boxers in the Southland. Diagnosed with AIDS in 1995, Paul had already retired from the ring in 1993. But he continues to be a presence at fights around town and in other states as well. With his friendly persona and his BOXFAM company, the champ is always a popular sight in boxing circles. Currently, Paul enjoys training fighters and filming interviews for his BOXFAM outlet. With his outgoing personality, he always makes everyone feel welcome.
“I’m really honored to be inducted,” Banke told me, “and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone.”
The Pasadena former fighter is also the subject of the recent book “Staying Positive: The Story of ‘The Real’ Paul Banke” by noted author Paul Zanon.
I also had the honor of sitting next to Alberto Davila at the Thompson card. Nicknamed “Tweety,” the puncher became the “Pride of Pomona” as he racked up 56 victories with 26 KOs before hanging up the gloves in 1988. He was a WBC and NABF titleholder. Albert fought Lupe Pintor, Carlos Zarate, Wilfredo Gomez, Alberto Sandoval, Frankie Duarte and more at legendary venues such as the Olympic Auditorium, the Forum in Inglewood and Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
As we watched the action in the ring, we talked boxing past and present. Davila mentioned he started boxing at age 12 and turned pro at 18. His coaches back in the day were Memo Soto and John Montes Sr. His birth name is Albert but he went by “Alberto” as he became a Latino fan favorite in the L.A. landscape.
The boxing veteran also shared his thoughts about his induction.
“It was supposed to happen in 2020 but because of the pandemic it didn’t happen,” he comments. “And now it’s here and I’m happy. I’m looking forward to it!”
Albert is humble with a keen sense of humor that keeps one on their toes. He jokes around a lot with his self-deprecating style. When I told him that it will be a sold-out crowd with so many luminaries coming in from all over the world, he looked at me and said with a smile and a shrug, “Do I deserve to be there? I don’t know?”
Davila (56-10, 26 KOs) then chuckled as I told him, “Of course you deserve to be there!” And of course, he was only joking with me.
Albert, deservedly, will also be receiving the “Howie Steindler Main Street Gym” accolade.
I can’t wait to see both Banke and Davila get their time in the spotlight. They have earned it. While they said last Friday they don’t have their speeches finalized just yet, come Sunday I know both men will speak from the heart.
They spent decades in the sweet science and I know the discipline, hard work and sacrifices it really takes to reach the top. The punishing road work, the painful sparring sessions, the strict diets…and that’s only the physical side of the sport. There’s also the intense pressure to perform in front of friends, family, the promoter, the networks, etc. And mentally, the loneliness in the dressing room in the hours before a bout could make anyone go crazy. Anybody who climbs into the ring is truly a courageous warrior in my book, win or lose.
And with the wins, there can also be heartbreak and hell. For Banke, it was his past drug use and then later contracting AIDS. For Davila, it was the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in his battle versus Kiko Bejines. During their 1983 championship match, Bejines was dropped by a punch, hitting his head and then collapsing and losing consciousness towards the end of the fight. Tragically, the Guadalajara boxer died days later from fatal brain injuries (massive cerebral contusions). And the victory for Davila was a bittersweet one, to say the least. He brought it up (briefly) during our ringside conversation. I saw the look and pain in his eyes and honestly, I didn’t know what to say. I don’t think any words could make the nightmare any less. It’s a tragedy that could happen to ANY fighter that chooses boxing as their career. And it is something he’s had to live with for the rest of his life.
Triumph and heartbreak. That is what the fight game can be. It’s a vicious sport, both beautiful and brutal. And a sport we, inexplicably and undeniably, love. The passion for boxing never wanes.
And on Sunday, Paul Banke and Alberto Davila will look back on their careers as their very best highlights play on the screen. The mood will be joyous and celebratory. Time may have flown by in a blink of an eye, but there captured in film will be the gladiators in all their youthful glory. They will look out into the audience and see their fellow fighters, fans and boxing family beaming with pride. They will feel the love and respect and accept all the applause in the banquet hall. It will be their moment to shine. Through the blood, the sweat, and the tears, THEY MADE IT.
Thank you to Bill and Linda Young and the National Boxing Hall of Fame for honoring all of these “Trilogy” inductees. April 24 will be a very memorable day with a rapt audience of 600 spectators. And congratulations to Paul and Albert and congrats to ALL of the 2020, 2021 and 2022 awardees!
National Boxing Hall of Fame
Class of 2020, 2021 and 2022 Trilogy
Sunday, April 24 at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello, Calif.
www.nationalboxinghalloffame.com
Photos by Michele Chong