(June 14th) The International Boxing Hall of Fame officially enshrined its Class of 2026 during the induction ceremony Sunday at Turning Stone Casino, honoring boxing legends Gennadiy "GGG" Golovkin, Antonio Tarver, Nigel Benn, Jackie Nava, and nine other inductees who shaped the sport across multiple eras and categories.

The ceremony marked the culmination of induction weekend, June 11–14, in "Boxing's Hometown," where fans and families gathered to celebrate the sport's rich heritage.

Gennadiy "GGG" Golovkin (Kazakhstan), the middleweight champion who went 42–2–1 with 37 knockouts and tied the record for 20 consecutive middleweight title defenses, emphasized his deep connection to the boxing community:

"I have a great time with these people, a great time with my boxing family because, like 35 years I stayed in boxing, and this is my life," Golovkin said during his induction speech.

Despite his reputation for calling his fights "Big Drama Show," the champion declined to use the phrase on Hall of Fame Day, instead showing humility toward his fellow inductees:

"Not today. Today is a different day. It's a special day for these guys, not for me," Golovkin said.

"This is the biggest honor in boxing and the last piece of the puzzle in my career. I'm proud to have a legacy in boxing," Golovkin said after induction.

Golovkin, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, was elected president of World Boxing in November 2025, aiming to run the Olympic tournaments at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Antonio Tarver (United States), the charismatic light heavyweight champion and TV analyst who defeated Roy Jones Jr. twice, delivered one of the ceremony's most emotional moments:

"To the sport of boxing, you saved my life. You give me an identity; you gave me direction and a platform to show the world who I really was. Boxing taught me resilience, courage and the power of belief in yourself when the odds are always stacked against you," Tarver said.

Tarver, who went 31–6–1 with 22 knockouts and won two of three matchups with Jones, admitted the emotional weight of the occasion:

"They always say I'm good on the mic but I don't know, this is going to be tough," Tarver said Sunday before his speech.

Tarver, the 1996 Olympic bronze medalist, also played heavyweight champion Mason Dixon in Rocky Balboa.

Jackie Nava (Mexico), "La Princesa Azteca" (The Aztec Princess), became the first woman from Mexico to win world titles in two weight classes, holding the WBA bantamweight title (2005) and WBC super-bantamweight title twice (2005–2015).

Nava's career featured 22 world title fights, a professional record of 40–4–4 with 16 knockouts, and retirement on October 2, 2022. She earned an architecture degree from the Tijuana Institute of Technology in 2003 and was elected to Mexico's Chamber of Deputies in 2015, representing Baja California's 8th district.

"I consider myself a champion of life," Nava said before her retirement.

"@Jackie Nava didn't just open the way, she fought it round by round. A champion who turned women's boxing into living history" — Cleto Reyes Boxing tribute.

Nava was inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame in 2025 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2026 (Women's Modern Category).

Nigel Benn (England), known as "The Dark Destroyer," rounds out the Men's Modern category with a 42–5–1 record and 35 knockouts.

Cut man and trainer Russ Anber, who worked 48 years in boxing corners with legends including Oleksandr Usyk, Vasily Lomachenko, and Deontay Wilder, vividly described his profession:

"I've spent 48 years sitting on a wooden stool with a steel bucket at my feet, a towel over my shoulder, a Q-tip in my mouth and a glob of Vaseline on the back of my hand, and it's been the best seat in the house," Anber said.

Complete Class of 2026

Men's Modern Category:

Gennadiy "GGG" Golovkin (Kazakhstan)

Antonio Tarver (United States)

Nigel Benn (England)

Women's Modern Category:

Naoko Fujioka (Japan) — first five-division champion in Japan

Jackie Nava (Mexico) — bantamweight and super bantamweight titles

Non-Participant Category:

Russ Anber (trainer/cut man)

Frank Cappuccino (referee, posthumous)

Jimmy Glenn (trainer/cut man, posthumous)

Dr. Edwin "Flip" Homansky (physician, second physician ever inducted)

Observer Category:

Kevin Iole (journalist)

Alex Wallau (broadcaster, posthumous)

Old Timer Category:

Jimmy Clabby (welterweight/middleweight, posthumous, 86–21–23, 46Ko's

The International Boxing Hall of Fame's mission is to honor and preserve boxing's rich heritage, chronicle the achievements of those who excelled, and provide an educational experience for fans worldwide.

The Class of 2026 was voted in by the Boxing Writers Association of America and a panel of international boxing historians, with all three headline inductees (Golovkin, Tarver, and Benn) elected in their first year on the ballot.

In total, the Class of 2026 includes 13 inductees across these categories, honored during induction weekend in Canastota, New York.

For more information about the International Boxing Hall of Fame:

Website: www.ibhof.com

Induction Weekend: June 11–14, 2026

Location: "Boxing's Hometown" - Canastota, New York