There were celebrations all-round at Colin Nathan’s gym in Johannesburg yesterday when it was announced that former WBA and IBF world junior lightweight champion Brian Mitchell had become the first South African boxer to be elected to the elite International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Three-time heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis and American bantamweight champion Orlando Canizales are to be inducted along with Mitchell at aceremony in June 2009.

The only other South African to receive the rare honour and join boxing’s legends is acclaimed referee Stan Christodoulou, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the organisation’s headquarters in Canastota, New York, in 2004.

Mitchell, touted by many as South Africa’s greatest-ever fighter, boasted an imposing professional record of 49 fights, 45 wins, three draws and only a single defeat.

He captured the WBA junior welterweight title in 1986 with a tko victory over Alfredo Layne and defended the title a record 11 times.

Mitchell also captured the IBF junior-lightweight crown and retired in 1995 without defending it.

“To have been retired from boxing for 13 years and then to be honoured in such a manner at the age of 47 is not only a huge surprise,” said Mitchell, “but undoubtedly one of the highlights of my career.”

Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians. The induction ceremony will be held on June 14 in Canastota.

Source: Sapa