Thomas Hearns (above), the first fighter to win titles in four different divisions, will be inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. (Manny Millan/SI)

The International Boxing Hall of Fame will welcome 13 new members to Canastota, N.Y., next June, with familiar names like Tommy Hearns, Cocoa Kid and Mark Johnson, trainer Freddie Roach, broadcaster Al Bernstein and longtime journalist Michael Katz leading the class. The inductees were announced on Tuesday.

As a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, I voted for fighters in the modern-era category. Here is what my ballot looked like:

Tommy Hearns: Easily the biggest no-brainer on the ballot, Hearns would have been inducted years ago had he not come out of retirement in 2005 to fight two more times. Hearns (61-5-1) was a big, powerful puncher who won titles in four weight classes. Along with Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler — the Four Kings of the 1980’s — Hearns waged some epic wars, most notably a 14th-round knockout loss to Leonard in 1981 and a third-round knockout defeat to Hagler.

Cocoa Kid: His record (176-56-10, according to boxrec.com) and background are hazy, but Cocoa Kid’s talent was undoubtable. Tall (5-foot-10) and rangy, Kid began his professional career fighting in the 130’s and moved all the way up to the mid 150’s before calling it quits. Though he never won a meaningful world title, Kid (born Louis Hardwick) fought some of the greats of his era, including Archie Moore and Charley Burley and once reportedly knocked Sugar Ray Robinson down in a sparring session.

Wilfredo Vazquez: A three-division champion — not to mention one of the greatest Puerto Rican fighters of all time — Vazquez shined when the spotlight was brightest: in 21 career title fights, Vazquez was 16-3-2. He was never afraid to fight in someone’s backyard and was dubbed El Viajero (“The Traveler”) for his willingness to fight outside Puerto Rico. In 1996. he scored a stunning victory over featherweight champion Eloy Rojas, when he rallied to drop Rojas twice in the 12th round to win by TKO.

Ken Overlin: Overlin was a warrior. According to boxrec.com, Overlin fought 163 fights as a professional, winning 135 of them. And that was with the two-year break Overlin took to serve his country in World War II. The names Overlin beat in his day aren’t household today, but his wars with Ezzard Charles and Al Hostak were big news in the ’40s. Overlin never shied away from a fight and his resume is littered with Hall of Fame-caliber fighters.

Pone Kingpetch: Great name, huh? Kingpetch was born Mana Seadoagbob but adopted Pone (which signifies the flight of an eagle) and Kingpetch (derived from a camp where he trained in his native Thailand). Kingpetch was a pioneer, the first great champion to come out of Thailand and one of the very first to emerge from Asia. Light handed, Kingpetch was a stylist whose best attributes were his jab, footwork and agility. Kingpetch was an inspiration to Thai fighters — there is a statue in his honor in his hometown — and a true legend in his time.

– Chris Mannix

Manny Pacquiao wouldn't talk much, but Freddie Roach had plenty to say about the potential fight with Floyd Mayweather. (Steve Marcus/Reuters)

LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao is not much of a talker.

Never has been, never will be.

It’s not his nature. Where Floyd Mayweather is outspoken, Manny Pacquiao is reserved. Where Mayweather is boastful, Pacquiao is modest.

Those around Pacquiao like it that way. They don’t want him to change. Not his promoter, Bob Arum. Not his trainer, Freddie Roach. Not his P.R. man, Fred Sternburg.

OK, maybe not Sternburg.

The point is, Pacquiao isn’t in the sound bite business. So while the dozen or so media gathered in a private room at the MGM Grand on Tuesday practically pleaded with Pacquiao to call Mayweather out, Pacquiao wouldn’t bite.

“I’m not interrupting Bob’s negotiations for the next opponent,” Pacquiao said. “After every fight I’m just waiting for the next fight, the next opponent that he can get me.”

Yawn.

Fortunately, Pacquiao has Roach, who after Mayweather’s (sort of) public declaration last week that he wants his next fight to be against Pacquiao, has decided he has had enough.

“Manny is who he is,” Roach said. “I’m not going to ask him to change his personality. I’ll talk sh–. Because I’m kind of tired of Floyd to be honest with you. Just take the fight or shut up. He wants to make the rules, he wants to dictate everything. Who the fu– is he to make the rules? We’ll fight him any day of the week. There will be a question mark after his undefeated record because he only fights guys he can beat. He only fights little guys. He sends Leonard Ellerbe, his go-fer, to make a speech. Who the hell is Leonard Ellerbe? Why doesn’t Floyd say it himself? I’m just kind of tired of it.”

Should Pacquiao dispose of Juan Manuel Marquez — who Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight title against on Saturday (9 p.m., HBO PPV) — there will undoubtedly be a strong push to make a fight with Mayweather. And despite his frustrations, Roach says he is all for it.

“There is no one else I’m really interested in,” Roach said. “I don’t see any other challenges. I think that fight needs to happen. It’s the only challenge out there.”

Read More…

No news outlet delivered more comprehensive coverage of Joe Frazier’s passing than Sky Sports, which tracked down a Who’s Who of fighters, trainers and promoters to pay tribute to the departed champion on Tuesday. Here are five of the most notable names to share their reflections:

Lennox Lewis, former heavyweight champion

Freddie Roach, trainer

Don King, promoter

Angelo Dundee, former trainer

Frank Warren, promoter