An Olympic bronze medalist and a former heavyweight contender are among the New Mexico Boxing Hall of Fame’s 10 inductees for 2012.
Jerry Martinez, the Hall of Fame’s owner and director, made the announcement this week. Induction ceremonies are scheduled for Saturday at the Roswell American Legion Hall, 1620 N. Montana.
The inductees are:
Las Cruces trainer and former boxer Louie Burke.
The late Sammy Burke, Louie’s father and a longtime boxing coach and official.
Jesse Valdez, a 1972 Olympic bronze medalist in the welterweight division. Valdez grew up in Houston and was in the Air Force when he won his medal. He now lives in Rio Rancho.
Henry Anaya Sr., an Albuquerque trainer for some five decades.
John Van Sickler, a longtime New Mexico and national Golden Gloves official.
Manuel Lerma, a former New Mexico Golden Gloves champion. Lerma now lives in San Diego.
Roswell’s Facundo “Cuney” Carrillo, a former state GG champion.
Johnny Brito, a former New Mexico Golden Gloves champion and a former New Mexico Athletic Commission board member.
James “Quick” Tillis, who as a heavyweight fought Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Earnie Shavers and many others. Tillis lives in La Luz, N.M.
Las Cruces’ Pete Esquibel, a six-time state Golden Gloves champion and a two-time GG national finalist.
Former Golden Gloves champion and longtime coach Willie Hall Sr., both of Roswell, will receive lifetime achievement awards.
TAPIA CARD: El Paso veteran Bernardo Guereca (16-14-1, three knockouts) is the listed opponent for Santa Fe’s Joaquin Zamora (18-4-1, 12 KOs) in the main event of the Team Tapia-promoted Nov. 17 boxing card at the Crowne Plaza.
Guereca has lost his last four bouts, albeit against fighters with a combined record of 46-10-5. Guereca has beaten Bloomfield’s Joe Gomez and Albuquerque’s Hector Muñoz.
Zamora has been idle since June 2011, when he lost by lopsided unanimous decision to Elco Garcia.
MMA: Frank Baca (15-2) of Albuquerque’s FIT-NHB gym is scheduled to face Denver’s Isaac Colon (2-2) in the main event of a King of the Cage card at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino in Pojoaque. Tickets are available at tickets.com and at Buffalo Thunder.
-- Email the reporter at rwright@abqjournal.com Call the reporter at 505-823-3902
