The Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame (BKBHOF) in Belfast, New York, has announced it will inaugurate a new feature honoring wrestlers at its annual induction ceremony on July 7th. William Muldoon’s ALL-STAR Wrestlers Wall of Fame will include two inaugural classes: The Founder’s Class (1800s-1950s) will induct Martin “Farmer” Burns, Frank Gotch, George Hackenschmidt, Tom Jenkins, Ed “Strangler” Lewis, William Muldoon, and Clarence Whistler; while The Modern Class (1950s to present) will induct Andre the Giant, Nick Bockwinkel, Bobo Brazil, Hulk Hogan, Walter “Killer” Kowalski, Buddy Rogers, Bruno Sammartino, Gorilla Monsoon, and The Fabulous Moolah.
William Muldoon was a star wrestler of the late 19th century who, in 1884, built the barns in Belfast that currently house the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame. In 1889, Muldoon famously trained John L. Sullivan in the barns to prepare him for his successful world boxing championship title defense against Jake Kilrain for the Police Gazette belt in what would also turn out to be the last bare-knuckle boxing world championship. Stand-up grappling and throwing, as well, were allowed under the bare-knuckle rules of the time.
Scott Burt, president of the BKBHOF, said because of Muldoon’s history as a wrestler and the wrestling components of bare-knuckle boxing of the time, it was a natural move to begin honoring pure wrestlers. Muldoon taught Sullivan grappling moves upstairs in one of the barns. “Ten years ago,” said Burt, “when Shane Cline, president of American Grappler, and myself were cleaning out and restoring the upstairs of the barns we couldn’t believe our eyes when we discovered the nail outline and strands of canvas from Muldoon’s original wrestling mat! A great find for wresting enthusiasts. There is no better place to honor wrestlers than right there on the walls of Muldoon’s original wrestling room.”
This will be the 10th year for BKBHOF induction ceremonies. “We have drawn people from all over the world,” Burt said, “to see where the great John L. Sullivan trained for his epic 75-round bare knuckle fight against Jake Kilrain for the coveted Police Gazette belt. Now with a Wall of Fame for wrestlers too, Belfast should expect even more historians and fans to flock to our small, but historically significant, town.” The unveiling of the Wrestling Wall of Fame will happen during the BKBHOF’s 10th Induction on July 7th. Guests scheduled at press time include Rick Jeanneret and Rob Ray from the Buffalo Sabres, current Bare Knuckle Champion Bobby Gunn, legendary referee Bill Clancy, 1970 World Champ Billy Backus, Team USA Jujitsu, and Buffalo Boxer Dick Topinko. For more information text Scott Burt at 585-610-3326, and visit www.bareknuckleboxinghalloffame.com.
