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Evander Holyfield, one of boxings greatest warriors during his legendary 27-year professional career, used dancing as a way to stay in shape and to get ready for fights.Holyfield has no more fights coming up but he probably spent some time dancing on Tuesday, celebrating that he was among those elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, which announced the class of 2017.Holyfield, a 1984 U.S. Olympic bronze medalist, the first undisputed cruiserweight champion, former undisputed heavyweight champion and the only boxer to win a heavyweight title four times, was elected in his first year of eligibility, along with all-time Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera and the late Johnny Tapia.They were the three newcomers to the modern category ballot, which was voted on by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and a panel of historians.They will be enshrined June 11 during the 28th annual induction ceremonies at the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. To be eligible, fighters must not have boxed for at least five years.In the non-participant category, Australian trainer Johnny Lewis, veteran Nevada judge Jerry Roth and the late ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Sr. were elected. In the observer category, longtime Showtime broadcast partners Steve Farhood and Barry Tompkins were elected. The late Eddie Booker, a welterweight and middleweight contender in the 1940s and 50s, was elected in the old timer category.Im honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and Id just like to thank Jesus for giving me the tenacity to not quit, Holyfield said.A hugely popular fighter, Holyfield (44-10-2, 29 KOs), known as The Real Deal, will undoubtedly be the star of induction weekend. He fought from 1984 to 2011 and was involved in many of the biggest fights of his time against other Hall of Famers, including a legendary trilogy with Riddick Bowe and two upset victories against Mike Tyson, the second of which famously cost him a chunk of his ear when Tyson bit it off in a disqualification loss.What can you say when youve done what Ive done? It do speak for itself. I had a good amateur career, became the first undisputed cruiserweight champ of the world and then undisputed heavyweight champ, Holyfield told ESPN upon learning that he was on the ballot. I fought them all. I fought everyone who was the best at my time of boxing and did real well. If youre the best youre going to be in the Hall of Fame.I fought everybody. I didnt make up excuses on why I shouldnt fight this guy or that guy. I fought everyone I was supposed to. Im glad I played by the rules and became the champ. I fought and did my very best.Holyfield also scored significant wins against Hall of Famer Dwight Muhammad Qawi to win his first cruiserweight world title in an epic 15-rounder in 1986; Buster Douglas to win the undisputed heavyweight championship in 1990; aging Hall of Famers George Foreman and Larry Holmes in title defenses and Michael Moorer to avenge a loss and unify two titles, not to mention wins against Ray Mercer, Michael Dokes, John Ruiz and Hasim Rahman.Barrera (67-7, 44 KOs), known as the Baby Faced Assassin, became one of the greatest fighters in Mexicos rich boxing history during his 1989 to 2011 career. Barrera won world titles at junior featherweight, featherweight and junior lightweight and engaged in many memorable fights.This is the best news for me, Barrera said. Im very happy to hear this news that I have been inducted into the Hall of Fame and I am excited to go to Canastota.Barrera won an all-time great trilogy 2-1 against bitter rival and countryman Erik Morales. Their first fight in 2000, a junior featherweight unification bout Barrera lost by split decision, is regarded as one of the greatest fights in history. The first and third bouts were widely considered the fight of the year in 2000 and 2004, respectively.Barreras biggest win, however, was clear decision in a major upset against Hall of Famer Prince Naseem Hamed in 2001. Barrera also beat well-known opponents such as Tapia, Paulie Ayala, Kevin Kelley, Rocky Juarez (twice) and Kennedy McKinney, in a raging 1996 junior featherweight title fight that was one of the best of the decade.Tapia (59-5-2, 30 KOs), who led a troubled life of addiction and depression before his death at age 45 in 2012, still managed to win five world titles at junior bantamweight, bantamweight and featherweight during his 1988 to 2011 career. He put on many entertaining fights despite his constant personal turmoil and many consider him the best junior bantamweight in the history of the weight class.Known as Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life), Tapia won his first junior bantamweight title in 1994 and made 13 defenses, including the biggest win of his career, a decision in a unification bout with bitter crosstown Albuquerque, New Mexico, rival Danny Romero that was so divisive in their community that it wound up being held in Las Vegas because of security concerns in their hometown.Teresa Tapia, Johnnys wife and manager, was appreciative of his election.Im going to use his words, she said. What he used to say is, it doesnt matter how many times you fall, its how many times you pick yourself up to be successful.Lewis has trained many of Australias top fighters for five decades. He trained Hall of Famers Jeff Fenech, a three-division champion, and former junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu as well as American Virgil Hill, who won titles at light heavyweight and cruiserweight.What an honor. Its something you never think is going to be bestowed upon someone and when it is, its just a wonderful feeling not only for yourself, but for your family and the guys that were responsible for that happening and they were the fighters, Lewis said.Roth was long one of boxings most respected judges, working for the Nevada State Athletic Commission from 1980 to 2015. He judged more than 200 world title bouts. Some of the more famous fights he was assigned included Larry Holmes-Gerry Cooney, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.-Meldrick Taylor I, Roy Jones Jr.-James Toney, Tapia-Romero, Jones-Ruiz, Holyfield-Foreman, Floyd Mayweather-Oscar De La Hoya, Barrera-Morales III, Lennox Lewis-Holyfield II and all three Bowe-Holyfield fights.It feels terrific, Roth said of his election. I cant describe it. Im absolutely thrilled. I did a lot of title fights over the years - over 200. Im thrilled.Farhood and Tompkins, elected in their first year on the observer ballot, are well-known to boxing fans as broadcast partners on Showtimes ShoBox: The New Generation series.Besides his award-winning broadcast work, Farhood is a noted boxing historian, founded the old KO magazine in 1980 and was editor-in-chief of The Ring magazine from 1989 to 1997.This is highest honor I could possibly receive, Farhood said. I have such respect for the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Ive been a visitor so many times but next year will be special for obvious reasons. It serves as validation for a career that has been boxing, and pretty much nothing but boxing, for almost 40 years. I am truly touched and honored and I cant wait until June.Tompkins also had a long run as the blow-by-blow announcer for HBO during the 1980s and called numerous big fights, including famed calls on Sugar Leonard-Thomas Hearns I, Leonard- Hagler, Hagler-Hearns and Aaron Pryor-Alexis Arguello I.To be recognized by the boxing community in general and by my peers in the media in particular is the highest compliment I could be given as a broadcaster, Tompkins said. You want the respect of your peers and thats what Ive always strived for. I couldnt be happier.Lennon was one of boxings most famous ring announcers for decades, mainly on the West Coast. He died in 1992 but appeared on the ballot for the first time this year, three years after his son, Jimmy Lennon Jr., who followed in his footsteps, was inducted into the Hall of Fame.I think it is so extremely meaningful for my family, Lennon Jr. said. My mom was brought to tears when she heard that he was nominated. She is 94 years old now and I guarantee you she is going to be at the ceremony with so much pride. Our whole family will. We are thrilled and honored.Black Dynamite Booker (66-5-8, 34 KOs), who boxed from 1935 to 1944, was one of the many black fighters denied opportunities because of his color. He never got to fight for a world title but he knocked out the great Hall of Famer Archie Moore in their third fight (after twice battling him to a draw) and also defeated Hall of Famers Holman Williams (going 1-1-1) and Lloyd Marshall.New England Patriots Pro Shop . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. New England Patriots Shirts . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/ . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. Patriots Jerseys 2019 . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Stitched Patriots Jerseys . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St.WINNIPEG -- Justin Goltz says his acting career in commercials is a nice little off-season perk but hes looking for a far more prominent role with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Goltz can be seen, briefly, in a Snickers TV commercial featuring comedian Robin Williams. "Throughout the audition process I had lines, I thought I was going to be a big guy," he said with a chuckle Wednesday of a role that would make spotting him hard for his family. But now hes auditioning for a much bigger part, looking to move from No. 4 on last seasons depth chart to No. 2 behind starting quarterback Buck Pierce. Thats where he sat as rookie camp started Wednesday, but he knows he has to prove himself to stay there with newcomers Max Hall and Chase Clement waiting in the wings. "I wouldnt expect anything else. I havent been given anything in my tenure as a professional football player and I wouldnt expect to be handed the position." Goltz, at six foot five and 210 pounds, has an easy athletic grace that has always impressed Bomber coaches. Hes also the youngest of the three at 25 -- Hall has almost two years on him and Clement one -- and is a new dad as well. He left a three-week-old son at home in San Diego to report to the Bombers and admits that was hard. This will be his fourth season with the Bombers (although he joined very late in 2010) and he has so far thrown just seven completed passes. He took a back seat to Alex Brink and Joey Elliott last season as Pierce went down with a series of injuries and missed 11 games. But Brink and Elliott didnt deliver what the Bombers wanted and both were cut in the off-season, leaving only Goltz. "I look at it as more of a compliment than being the next man in line or last man standing," he says. "I think when I have got an opportunity Ive donne some things that have maybe turned a few heads and given me an opportunity to stay here.dddddddddddd" Those seven completed passes, plus eight carries and 43 yards rushing, still add up to a lot more CFL experience than Hall or Clement can claim. Both have either NFL or United Football League credentials after college -- Hall played six games for the Arizona Cardinals in 2010. Clement also was signed by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2009 but decided Canada wasnt for him and left after one practice. The Bombers are making no bones about how important increasing depth at quarterback is for the team this season. Burke says much of training camp will be focused on sorting out the pecking order of the three pivots. Pierce says theres nothing much he can say to answer critics who worry about his durability, even though they praise what he does on the field when hes healthy. "Talk to me after this year." He stayed in Winnipeg in the off-season to train and has done what he can to prepare. "Last year was humbling in a lot of ways. I think mentally Im as sharp as ever, as hungry as ever, as excited as Ive ever been." He stopped short of saying he was ready to mentor Goltz and his other understudies, but he is going to work with them and other members of the team to get better. "Im going to help bring them along because I know its a situation, for us to be successful, we have to have depth, not just at that position but every position." He also suggests Bomber fans can expect to see some changes on offence, now that co-ordinator Gary Crowton has more CFL experience and Tim Burke is in his first full season as coach. "Its going to look quite a bit different I think from . . . how we call things, from how we execute things, our mindset overall." ' ' '