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Two-day celebration in Las Vegas brings together Hall of Famers, world champions, boxing icons and fans while honoring the Classes of 2025 and 2026 LAS VEGAS, NV — The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s 14th Annual Induction Gala Weekend delivered another unforgettable celebration of boxing’s past, present and future, bringing together champions, Hall of Famers, industry leaders, celebrities and fans from across the sport for two days of celebration at The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The sold-out weekend, held August 14–15, culminated in Saturday night’s Induction Gala honoring the Classes of 2025 and 2026 and celebrating the careers and contributions of some of boxing’s most influential figures. But for the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, the weekend has always been about more than a ceremony. It is a reunion. It is a chance for fighters who spent decades competing against one another to sit at the same table, share stories, reconnect with old friends and celebrate the sport that gave them so much. Champions from different generations came together under one roof, creating the kind of atmosphere that has become synonymous with the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. Among those in attendance were Marco Antonio Barrera, Shawn Porter, Mikaela Mayer, James Toney, Fernando Vargas and the Vargas Dynasty, including Fernando Jr., Emiliano and Amado Vargas, Regis Prograis, Hasim Rahman, Chad Dawson, Michael Nunn, Lamon Brewster, Kenny Bayless, Robert Byrd, Floyd Mayweather Sr., Jacob “Stitch” Duran, Layla McCarter and Wayne McCullough, among many other champions, Hall of Famers and members of the boxing community. “This weekend is about the fighters, but it’s also about the family that boxing creates,” said Michelle Corrales-Lewis, CEO of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. “These are people who have shared dressing rooms, training camps, victories, defeats and some of the most important moments of their lives. To bring them together year after year and watch them reconnect, laugh, tell stories and celebrate one another is something truly special. They deserve this. They deserve to be celebrated.” The Class of 2025 includes Laura Serrano, Antonio Tarver, Jorge Páez, Mikey Garcia, Paulie Ayala and matchmaker Brad Goodman. The Class of 2026 includes Gennadiy Golovkin, Jessie Vargas, Raúl Márquez, Marcos Maidana, Gerry Cooney, Ricky Hatton and boxing artist Richard Slone. Together, the classes represent generations of championship boxing, international excellence and the many disciplines and contributions that make the sport what it is today. A Weekend Built Around Boxing The Induction Gala served as the centerpiece of a full weekend designed to bring fans closer to the sport and its legends. Friday’s Meet & Greet Fan Experience gave fans the opportunity to meet champions and Hall of Famers, take photographs, collect autographs and experience boxing history up close. The evening continued with the Legends of the Ring Celebrity Bowling Experience, where fighters and boxing personalities traded the ring for the lanes and spent the evening reconnecting and celebrating together. Saturday morning continued the Hall’s commitment to boxing’s future with an eight-bout amateur boxing showcase featuring fighters from Southern Nevada and Northern Nevada. The showcase gave emerging fighters the opportunity to compete in front of champions, Hall of Famers and members of the boxing community. “We have always believed that you can’t celebrate boxing’s history without supporting its future,” said Michelle Corrales-Lewis. “Our amateur showcase is one of the ways we make sure young fighters have a place in this weekend. They get to step into the ring in front of the very people whose careers inspired them.” New Awards Recognize Those Building the Sport The 14th Annual Induction Gala also marked the inaugural presentation of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s special awards program, recognizing individuals and organizations whose contributions to boxing extend beyond the ring. The inaugural honorees were: Trailblazer Award | Most Valuable Promotions For breaking barriers and transforming women’s boxing through historic events, marquee championship bouts and meaningful investment in female athletes. “Yo Adrian” Award | Martha Vargas For her quiet strength, unwavering loyalty and selfless devotion to her family, champions and the Nevada boxing community. President’s Pillar of Excellence Award | Larry Wade For his extraordinary contributions to athletics and his lasting impact on the preparation and development of elite competitors around the world. “Uncle Bill” Award | Bill Caplan In honor of a beloved boxing ambassador whose integrity, compassion, professionalism and dedication to the people of boxing left an enduring legacy. Marc of Distinction Award | Dave Moretti Celebrating 50 years of service to boxing, marked by unwavering integrity and an extraordinary career as one of Nevada’s most respected judges. “The Hall of Fame is about recognizing greatness, but greatness doesn’t always show up in a win-loss record,” said Michelle Corrales-Lewis. “There are people who spend their lives building this sport, supporting fighters, opening doors and bringing our community together. These awards allow us to celebrate those people, too.” A Boxing Family Reunion Over the years, the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s annual gala weekend has evolved from an induction ceremony into a gathering that brings together multiple generations of the sport. Former opponents reconnect as friends. Champions from different eras share stories. Families walk the red carpet alongside inductees. Fans get the opportunity to stand alongside the people whose careers helped define boxing. It is that unique combination of prestige, history and family that has led prominent members of the boxing community to affectionately describe the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame weekend as “the Grammys of Boxing.” “We don’t take that comparison lightly,” said Michelle Corrales-Lewis. “We want the Hall of Fame to be a place where the people who gave their lives to this sport know that their work mattered, their careers mattered and their legacy will never be forgotten.” Building a Permanent Home for Boxing History While the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame will continue its annual Induction Gala Weekend, the organization’s vision extends far beyond one weekend each year. The ultimate goal is to establish a permanent home for the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, a destination where fans, families, tourists and future generations can experience the history of boxing in Nevada year-round. A permanent Hall of Fame would provide a place for the stories, memorabilia and legacies of the fighters, trainers, officials, promoters, broadcasters and contributors who helped make Nevada the fight capital of the world to live beyond a single ceremony. “We want a home,” said Michelle Corrales-Lewis. “We want a place where a kid can walk through the doors, see the gloves, the photographs, the championship belts and the stories of these fighters and say, ‘I want to be one of them.’ We want families to be able to visit. We want boxing fans from around the world to come to Las Vegas and know they have a place they have to visit. The gala will always be part of what we do, but our dream is to build something that belongs to boxing forever.” The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame extends its appreciation to Team Lopez, the 2026 Title Sponsor, as well as the World Boxing Council (WBC), along with Zuffa Boxing, Golden Boy, Top Rank and Title Boxing for their continued support of the organization and its mission. The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s 14th Annual Induction Gala Weekend once again demonstrated why boxing remains one of the world’s most powerful sports communities, not simply because of what happens inside the ring, but because of the people and relationships that remain long after the final bell. The champions may change. The eras may change. But the legacy continues. About the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the fighters, trainers, officials, promoters, broadcasters and contributors who have played a significant role in shaping boxing in Nevada and preserving the sport’s rich history. Through its annual Induction Gala Weekend, fan experiences, amateur boxing initiatives and ongoing preservation efforts, the organization celebrates boxing’s past while supporting its future. For more information, visit NVBHOF.com.