Eddie "Speedy" VanKirk and "The American Dream" Mike Dietrich posthumously lead the list of 2010 inductees into the Maryland Boxing Hall of Fame.
VanKirk, a junior middleweight from Baltimore, is the only inductee in the pro category. VanKirk had a pro record of 27-9-2 and faced three world champions during his career, Vincent Pettway, Vinny Pazienza and Hector Camacho. VanKirk died on June 22, 2008.
Dietrich, a Baltimore heavyweight, is part of the amateur class of this year's group. Dietrich was a two-time Silver Gloves champion as an amateur before turning pro in 2004. Dietrich's pro record was 12-1, six KO's before he was killed on March 2 of this year.
Also a part of the amateur class of 2010 are Maxell Taylor, Sr., Harry Barnadea, Scott Page and Moe Rites.
In the Contributors category are Gene Wagstaff and Walter Allen. Jim Saufley is in the Unsung Hero category and Marvin McDowell will receive the Hall of Fame's Nick Basciano Award.
The honorees will be recognized on Saturday, November 13 at Martin's East located at 9000 Pulaski Highway in Baltimore beginning at 2 PM. For more information on tickets, call 410-661-8722.
That's Sad. They must be desperate for Inductees. A man beats his wife, does nothing for his children, goes to prison over drugs, gets out of prison, then is killed in a drug related incident at his house, and then you want us to honor him? His ex-wife and children are the ones who should be honored. Van Kirk may have been a good boxer, but his life was not one to honor.
ReplyDeleteThis is sugar vankirk his widow what I. Think is sad is people such as yourself. That speak ill of the dead. I happen to know his ex-wife and children were VERY proud of him! You on the other hand should be ashamed of yourself
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