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Hall will induct its first class

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By EDDIE DANIELS

edaniels@tampatrib.com

Published: November 13, 2009

The dream of many in the boxing world - particularly those with ties to Florida - comes to fruition this weekend when the inaugural class of the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame is inducted Sunday afternoon.

The inaugural class of the hall, which will be located in Tampa, consists of fighters Luis Manuel Rodriguez, Ralph Dupas, Willie Pastrano, Florentino Fernandez, Pinklon Thomas and Wilfredo Vazquez; trainers Angelo Dundee and Jimmy Williams; Tampa native Ferdie Pacheco; referees Brian Garry and Max Parker Jr.; matchmaker Johnny Bos and boxing writer Rick Folstad. Promoters Pete Fernandez, Phil Alessi and Terry Trekas will receive special awards.

This has been a labor of love for Walter "Butch" Flansburg, his wife Kathy, Sam Cohen, Brian Garry and many others.

"We're all excited about it," said Flansburg, president of the National Boxing Association and the Florida Boxing HOF. "We think that this has been very successful so far. We have a lot of good players coming into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame wanting to help us, and I think next year it will be better."

Flansburg, who admitted he got a lot of ideas from the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y., said this will be a yearly event that he hopes will draw some of the biggest names in boxing.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 259-7066.

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