Naoko Fujioka
, the former five-division women’s world champion who has been elected as a new inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF), arrived in Canastota, New York, on 9 June local time to attend this weekend’s induction ceremonies. Having travelled from overseas, Fujioka was the first of the new inductees to arrive at the venue.
自身のプレートを指さして笑顔の藤岡さん photo/Yuriko Miyata
On the following morning of 10 June, Fujioka travelled from the host hotel at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona to visit the town of Canastota, as well as the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) Museum and Gift Shop, where preparations for the weekend ceremonies were underway.
Upon discovering her plaque inside the museum, Fujioka said, “It has finally sunk in. Seeing the name of my hometown, Osaki, included on the plaque makes me feel that the local community back home will be delighted.”
All new inductees and special guests arrived at the venue over the course of the day. In the exclusive lounge where refreshments were provided, Fujioka met former light-heavyweight world champion Antonio Tarver. Tarver approached Fujioka to shake hands, and the two fighters exchanged congratulations.
ターバーとお互いの殿堂入りを祝福。どちらも引退ボクサーとは思えない photo/Yuriko Miyata
The Hall of Fame Weekend induction festivities are scheduled to commence tomorrow, Thursday. Former world middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, who coincidentally made his United States debut at the Turning Stone Resort Casino, is slated to deliver a speech.
The schedule of events will continue with the traditional casting of the inductees’ fists in plaster on Friday, followed by the banquet dinner and a professional boxing card on Saturday, and concluding with the parade through the streets of Canastota on Sunday.
