Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame: Class of 2013 Officially Announced

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (July 29, 2013) – The Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame (CBHOF) has officially announced its Class of 2013. New members will be inducted at the 9TH annual CBHOF Gala Induction Dinner on Saturday night, November 9 in the Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun.

The new CBHOF inductees are former world title challengers Luigi “Kid Dynamite” Campurato and Israel “Pito” Cardona, broadcaster Al Bernstein, promoter Joe DeGuardia, referee Johnny Callas and USA Boxing administrator Roland Roy.

“This year’s class has a diverse group of outstanding people,” CBHOF president and Class of 2011 inductee Glenn Feldman said. “These inductees represent boxing across the board, featuring world-class fighters, an international award-winning announcer, one of the top promoters in the industry, and a top official and administrator.”

Former European flyweight champion Camputaro (29-10-1, 9 KOs) may have been born in Italy but he fought out of his home in Hartford (CT). He fought professionally, largely in Europe, between 1984 and 1998. In 1993, he unsuccessfully challenged Jacob Matlala in South Africa for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight championship.

Hartford native Cardona (36-10, 28 KOs) was one of the world’s top lightweights during his 16-year professional career (1993-2009). A former International Boxing Organization (IBO), North American Boxing Federation (NABF) and United States Boxing Association (USBA) champion, Cardona’s most significant victories were over Ivan Robinson and Jeff Mayweather. “Pito” lost a decision to Paul Spadafora in their 1999 International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight title fight in West Virginia.

Back in 1980, Bernstein joined Bristol (CT)-based ESPN as a boxing analyst and was ESPN’s face and voice of boxing for more than 20 years. Bernstein, living in Las Vegas, is a centerpiece of Showtime Championship Boxing, and he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame last year. One of boxing’s most recognizable broadcasters in the world, Al is one of the few who can switch easily and effectively from color commentator to blow-by-blow announcer.

DeGuardia has promoted numerous shows in Connecticut over the years under the banner of his Bronx (NY)-based company, Star Boxing. He has promoted world champions Antonio Tarver and Lou Del Valle, as well as contemporary world title challenger Delvin Rodriguez, of Danbury (CT).

Hartford’s Callas has refereed nearly 150 pro fights, highlighted by 12 title fights from around the world. He was USA Boxing Connecticut Junior Olympic chairman for 15 years. An NCBC national college champion and three-time All-America boxer at Central Connecticut State University in the mid-eighties, Callas also founded Charter Oak Boxing Academy, where he is executive director and head coach.

Roy, originally from Glastonbury (CT) and now living in Westford, has been president of USA Boxing, Region 1 (CT, MA, RI, NH, NJ, VT, ME and Metro NY) for the past six years. For nearly 20 years, he was president of USA Boxing Connecticut, a position in which was succeeded this year by his wife, Phyllis. Roland serves as the organization’s secretary.

Tickets for the CBHOF 9th annual Gala Induction Dinner, reasonably priced at $90.00, are on sale now by calling Kim Baker at Mohegan Sun (1.860.862.7377) or Sherman Cain at the Manchester Journal Inquirer (1.800.237.3606 X321). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET, cocktails at 6 p.m. ET, followed by dinner.

Go online to www.ctboxinghof.com for additional information about the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame, its 9th annual Gala Inductee Dinner, or past CBHOF inductees.

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CONTACT:
Bob Trieger, Full Court Press, bobtfcp@hotmail.com, 978.664.4482, @fightpublicist



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