Mayweather describes the HOF

“I did a lot in my career, but this is by far the best,” said Mayweather, who credited his mom, dad and sister for much of his success. “I want to thank the International Boxing Hall of Fame for giving me this. This goes to my dad because he deserves it. Bernard Hopkins said it best, ‘You have to earn it,’ and my dad earned this ring.”

“I want to thank everyone for their support. I want to say to all the boxers: thank you, you guys are extraordinary. I wouldn’t be who I am without you guys.”

Mayweather, who retired undefeated in 50 fights, headlined the three classes that were set up Sunday. The pandemic forced the postponement of the two previous swearing-in ceremonies, making 2022 a packed event. The ceremony was moved from the Hall of Fame museum in Canastota, N.Y., to the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in nearby Verona to accommodate the 36 honorees.

Roy Jones Jr, Miguel Cotto, James Toney and champions Regina Halmich and Holly Holm were part of this year’s class. The class of 2020 included multi-division champions Hopkins, Juan Manuel Marquez and ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley. The class of 2021 included Mayweather, Wladimir Klitschko and Andre Ward.

The honorees also included the first female boxers, Christy Martin, Laila Ali, Lucia Rijker, Halmich and Holm, to be enshrined. Martin rose to fame when she appeared on some of Mike Tyson’s billboards in the 1990s; the induction came on her 54th birthday. For Ali, it was a return to where his career began: he won his first fight in October 1999 against April Fowler at Turning Stone.

All but one of the 27 fighters included were scheduled to be at the ceremony. The one missing was former heavyweight champion Klitschko. He is in Ukraine helping his brother, Vitali, a Hall of Famer and now mayor of the capital city of Kyiv, during the ongoing war against Russia’s invasion.

Instead, Wladimir Klitschko, who was heavyweight champion for 12 years and two days, longer than anyone in history, and finished with a professional record of 64-5 (53 KO), posted two short videos on social media to acknowledge the honor.

“Thank you fans,” he said. “I never dreamed I would make it this far in the sport. Unbelievable. Boxing made me a better person, period. It taught me a lot.”