To Be Enshrined Together On June 10-13, 2021. “Top Rank has the following Hall of Famers including Bob, Bruce, Irving, Teddy Brenner and now me, more than any other promoter. Samuels was known for his promptness, providing detailed and accurate information plus was the best at scheduling press conferences and publicity events for Top Rank fighters as well as being an all-around good guy.

I have fond memories from those days and developed a life long friendship with Hagler. Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians. And even now, leading up to one of the biggest weekends of his life, Samuels explained boxing and his role in his self-deprecating way that would make Rudd proud. Samuels was happy to get the call from his longtime Top Rank cohort and good friend HOF Bruce Trampler that he had been nominated for the hall of fame, but never really expected to be inducted. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails',

There is a certain element when the main event enters the ring.”. Leonard was coming off a 3-year retirement and had fought only once in five years. Samuels has also been around long enough to see how the sport has evolved in terms of entertainment value and he credits their president Todd duBoef. And for someone who did his best to stay out of the limelight and tried to help others do their job, he will be front and center at the 30th anniversary of the International Boxing Hall of Fame from June 6-9 in Canastota, New York, as he will be inducted along with Donald Curry, Julian Jackson, Buddy McGirt, Don Elbaum, Teddy Atlas, Tony Demarco, Guy Jutras and Mario Rivera Martino. Leonard versus Hagler was billed as the “SuperFight” and was years in the making. Leonard was awarded the split decision, although Samuels saw the fight differently. Samuels will become only the third publicist inducted to the hall of fame after his mentor Irving Rudd and Murray Goodman. He also described Roberto Duran as one of the greatest, toughest fighters Top Rank ever promoted. At that very instance, I was done as a player,” said Samuels. Inductees include champions Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manuel Marquez and “Sugar” Shane Mosley in the men’s Modern category; Barbara Buttrick in the women’s Trailblazer category and “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” Christy Martin and “The Dutch Destroyer” Lucia Rijker in the women’s Modern category. Before Samuels found his calling telling other people’s stories, Samuels loved sports, especially baseball. After all, Samuels has spent a career of spreading the news, not being it. By Dan Cuoco. }); "Slob" Nathan Gorman inspired by Andy Ruiz, Charlo KOs Rosario, unifies WBC/WBA/IBF belts, Charlo tops Derevyanchenko, retains WBC belt, Figueroa retains WBA belt in war with Vazquez, Casimero stops Micah to retain WBO bantam title, Taylor: I’ll whoop Ramirez’ ass all day long, Mario Cazares: It was a clean punch to the head, Chavez Jr: They stopped the fight too early, Cazares just came to hold and foul.

He always had a love of reading, especially guys like Larry Merchant and Stan Hochman, both writers for the Philadelphia Daily News. Rudd became Samuels mentor and taught him how to transition from newspaper reporter to publicist. IBHOF Announces Class of 2020 and Class of 2021. All rights reserved. Photo: Chris Farina

“It was my first time covering Ali and he was trying to get me relaxed. “Bob is a big arena promoter.