Philippines, 01 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Missing boxing Hall of Famers


PhilBoxing.com



Ceferino Garcia on the Ring cover.

Only 11 Asians are in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, a revered institution that began induction rites in 1990 and is headquartered in Canastota, New York. So far, there have been more than 450 enshrined in the Hall, broken down into distinct categories----Modern (last fight no earlier than 1989 and retired for at least three years), Old-Timers (Early Era from 1893 to 1942 and Late Era from 1943 to 1986), Pioneers (last fight in or before 1982), Observers (journalists, historians, writers, artists, broadcasters) and Non-Participants (promoters, matchmakers, managers, referees, judges, officials and those who contributed to the elevation of the sport not as observers).

The Asian inductees with years of enshrinement are Flash Elorde (1993), Fighting Harada (1995), Khaosai Galaxy (1999), Chang Jung Koo (2010), Myung Woo Yuh (2013), Masao Ohba (2015) and Yoko Gushiken (2015) under Modern; Pancho Villa (1994) under Old-Timers; Joe Koizumi (2008) under Observers and Lope (Papa) Sarreal, Sr. (2005) and Akihiko Honda (2009) under Non-Participants. The Asian countries represented by the honorees are Japan (five), Philippines (three), Korea (two) and Thailand (one).

Expected to be inducted are Manny Pacquiao (eligible in 2024 or three years after his last fight against Yordenis Ugas in 2021) and Nonito Donaire, Jr. (eligible upon retirement, three years after his last bout). Aside from Pacquiao and Donaire, at least three Filipinos clearly qualify as Hall of Famers. They are former world middleweight champion Ceferino Garcia, referee Carlos (Sonny) Padilla and referee/judge Bruce McTavish.

Garcia, born in Biliran, was the first fighter to floor World War II hero Barney Ross and one of only six fighters to draw with Henry Armstrong. Ross, Armstrong and the man whom Garcia dethroned as world middleweight champion, Fred Apostoli, are in the Hall of Fame. Garcia floored Apostoli thrice to snatch the middleweight strap via a seventh round stoppage in New York City in 1939. Garcia, who introduced the “bolo punch” in boxing, retired in 1944 with a record of 102-27-12, including 67 KOs, and died in 1981. He was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1977, the California-based World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Philippine Sports Commission Hall of Fame in 2010.

Padilla, 88, was the referee in the 1975 “Thrilla In Manila” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier at the Araneta Coliseum. He was a fixture as the third man in the ring in epic battles involving Sugar Ray Leonard, Wilfred Benitez, Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, Julio Cesar Chavez, Salvador Sanchez, Wilfredo Gomez, Pacquiao and many other legends. The Hall of Fame has inducted several referees including Richard Steele, Mills Lane, Joe Cortez and Steve Smoger. Surely, Padilla deserves a place in the Hall and so does McTavish. A three-time WBC Referee of the Year, McTavish is a New Zealand native and a Filipino resident since 1967. McTavish, 81, was a referee in over 150 world title fights all over the globe and is often tapped to lecture on the fine points officiating in international boxing conventions. He is a philanthropist who became a naturalized Filipino citizen by law in 2019.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Dumadag holds chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Manny Pacquiao's Case for the Greatest of All Time
    By Ace Freeman, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • DavNor Adventure Race 2025 set July 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Gumila rules Antipolo rapid chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • FULL CIRCLE AT WILD CARD: Jhay Otamias’ Tribute to a Fighter and a Fanbase
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Wins by 4th Round KO Over Sarawut Thawornkham to Capture the IBF Pan Pacific Super Flyweight Title
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Team USA's Quest for Gold Set in Stone at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • SBA SEASON 2 DRAFT UNVEILS RISING STARS AND STRATEGIC MOVES AS TEAMS COMPLETE THEIR ROSTERS
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Filipino Elwin Retanal wins Saudi rapid chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Jake Paul Earns Boxing Legitimacy with Dominant Decision Over Julio Cesar Chávez Jr.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Zurdo Ramirez Defends Cruiserweight Crowns with Unanimous Decision Over Dorticos
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Faces Sarawut Thawornkham Today at Venue 88 in Gensan
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • USA Elite High Performance Team Sets Sights on Gold at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri bags silver in blitz
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chavez Jr: Can Julio Derail Jake Paul?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Dr. KO: Christian Mbilli Stops Maciej Sulecki in 1
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY SIGNS UNDEFEATED MIDDLEWEIGHT BLUE-CHIP PROSPECT AMARI JONES
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chávez Jr. is a Go: All Fighters Make Weight in Anaheim Ahead of High-Stakes Bout
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • IIEE Chessmasters Overall Champion in the International Bundesliga with GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Kittipong of Thailand Battles Bhavesh of India in Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Bangkok
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri and John Jerish Velarde struck gold and bronze
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Would OKC Still Win the West If Dallas Had Not Traded Doncic?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 27 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.