International Boxing Hall of Fame Unveils Class of 2026 Inductees

The International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) has announced the Class of 2026, featuring a diverse group of notable figures within the sport. The inductees include celebrated boxers such as Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin, Antonio Tarver, and Nigel Benn in the Men’s Modern category, along with Naoko Fujioka and Jackie Nava in the Women’s Modern category. Additionally, trainer Russ Anber and journalist Kevin Iole will also be honored.

Notable Career Highlights of the Inductees

Gennadiy Golovkin, a Kazakhstani former professional boxer, competed from 2006 to 2022. He is recognized as a two-time former unified champion, holding the titles of the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, and International Boxing Federation at various points from 2014 to 2023. In 2022, he challenged for the undisputed super middleweight championship. Golovkin also held the International Boxing Organization middleweight title twice between 2011 and 2023.

Antonio Tarver, whose career spanned from 1997 to 2015, is known for his impressive achievements in the light heavyweight division. He claimed multiple world championships, including the WBA Unified, WBC, IBF, and Ring magazine titles. Tarver represented the United States at the 1996 Olympics, earning a bronze medal in the light heavyweight category. Notably, he is the only boxer to have won gold at the Pan American Games, World Championships, and U.S. Nationals in the same year. His role as Mason “The Line” Dixon in the 2006 film “Rocky Balboa” further cemented his legacy.

Nigel Benn, a British boxer who competed from 1987 to 1996, is celebrated as a two-weight world champion. He held the WBO middleweight title in 1990 and reigned as the WBC super-middleweight champion from 1992 to 1996. Benn recorded an impressive knockout ratio of 83.3% and successfully defended his WBC title nine consecutive times.

In the Women’s Modern category, Naoko Fujioka made history as Japan’s first five-division world champion. She held the WBA female flyweight title from 2017 to 2022 and previously captured several other titles, including the WBC female minimumweight and WBA female super-flyweight championships. Jackie Nava, another prominent figure, is a former world champion in two weight classes, holding the WBA female bantamweight title in 2005 and the WBC female super bantamweight title multiple times.

Posthumous Inductions and Recognition

The Class of 2026 also includes several posthumous inductees. Referee Frank Cappuccino, trainer Jimmy Glenn, and physician Dr. Edwin “Flip” Homansky will be honored in the Non-Participant category. Broadcaster Alex Wallau is recognized in the Observer category, while Jimmy Clabby will be inducted in the Old Timer category.

IBHOF Executive Director Edward Brophy expressed excitement about the latest class, stating, “We’re thrilled about the Class of 2026 and are very much looking forward to honoring the newest class of inductees to earn boxing’s highest honor.”

The inductees were selected through a voting process conducted by the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians.

For further details on the Class of 2026 and the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, scheduled for June 11-14, 2026, interested parties can contact the IBHOF at (315) 697-7095 or visit the official website at www.ibhof.com.