The International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in Canastota, New York, has announced the Class of 2026 inductees, recognizing an array of talented athletes and contributors to the sport. This year’s inductees include renowned boxers such as Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin, Antonio Tarver, and Nigel Benn in the Men’s Modern category, along with Naoko Fujioka and Jackie Nava in the Women’s Modern category. Additionally, the class honors trainer and cut man Russ Anber and journalist Kevin Iole for their contributions to boxing.
Gennadiy Golovkin, a former professional boxer from Kazakhstan, competed between 2006 and 2022. He is celebrated as a two-time unified champion, having held the titles from the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, and International Boxing Federation at various points from 2014 to 2023. In 2022, he challenged for the undisputed super middleweight championship and is also recognized as a former International Boxing Organization middleweight champion, holding that title twice from 2011 to 2023.
Competing from 1997 to 2015, Antonio Tarver earned multiple world championships in the light heavyweight class, including the WBA Unified, WBC, IBF, and Ring magazine titles. He represented the United States at the 1996 Olympics, securing a bronze medal in the light heavyweight division. Notably, Tarver remains the only boxer to achieve gold at the Pan American Games, World Championships, and U.S. Nationals all within the same year, a feat he accomplished in 1995. In addition to his boxing accolades, he is known for his role as Mason “The Line” Dixon in the 2006 film “Rocky Balboa.”
Nigel Benn, a British former professional boxer now residing in Australia, competed from 1987 until 1996. A two-weight world champion, he held the WBO middleweight title in 1990 and the WBC super middleweight title from 1992 to 1996. Benn retired with an impressive 83.3% knockout ratio, defeating several world champions throughout his career and defending his WBC title nine consecutive times. The iconic chimes of Big Ben often heralded his entrance to the ring.
In the Women’s Modern category, Naoko Fujioka stands out as Japan’s first-ever five-division world champion. She held the WBA female flyweight title from 2017 to 2022 and has also claimed various other titles, including the WBC female minimumweight and WBA female super-flyweight titles. Jackie Nava, also a former world champion in two weight classes, held the WBA female bantamweight title in 2005 and the WBC female super bantamweight title on two occasions between 2005 and 2015.
The Class of 2026 also includes several posthumous inductions. Referee Frank Cappuccino, trainer and cut man Jimmy Glenn, and physician Dr. Edwin “Flip” Homansky will be honored in the Non-Participant category. Broadcaster Alex Wallau and boxer Jimmy Clabby are recognized in the Observer and Old Timer categories, respectively.
“We’re thrilled about the Class of 2026 and are very much looking forward to honoring the newest class of inductees to earn boxing’s highest honor,” said Edward Brophy, Executive Director of the IBHOF. The inductees were selected through voting by the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians.
The Induction Weekend is scheduled for June 11-14, 2026, offering fans an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of these remarkable individuals. For further details about the Class of 2026 and the upcoming events, interested parties can contact the Hall of Fame at (315) 697-7095 or visit the official website at www.ibhof.com.
