Despite the sudden cloud burst midway through the acceptance speech of 2004 IBHOF inductee Daniel Zaragoza, the spirits of the fans and inductees alike could not be dampened. While the skies began to darken, the moods were brightened by the words of honorees, Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Azumah Nelson, J. Russell Peltz, Daniel Zaragoza, Stanley Christodoulou and Carlos Palomino…

J. Russell Peltz: You look at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and maybe one day the baseball players will say, “this is like Canastota!” That’s my dream. I look at that plaques in the hall, guys like Joe Louis, Ike Williams. Now mine is up there with them. There have been twenty promoters inducted before today, now I make twenty-one. I guess that makes me legal! I wan to thank my wife Linda, a boxing widow, raising my kids while I was out on the road all those years. This is for my sons who have made me proud of them and I hope they can be as proud of me. 

Daniel Zaragoza: This is a huge honor and pleasure to be here. On January third, I had a dream that I was walking down the road and I fell down. With an enormous effort, I could stand up again. This happened several times in the night, which was pretty tough. The day after, I received the news that I was going to be in Canastota. That’s how this dream began for me and for my family. During my career in the Olympics and as a professional, I had a lot of great victories and great defeats. But this victory, (holds up his IBHOF ring), is an amazing victory. For certain, being in that museum, even in death, there is no defeat at all! 

Dwight Muhammad Qawi: Being here this weekend has been great. I’ve been on a high. If somebody had been reading the paper, I had a relapse! I’ve been on a natural high. It’s closure for me. I’ve been in transition for a while. I really need this in my life. I need this physical presentation to tell me that it’s over. I did my best, and now it’s time to move on. My son said, “Dad, teach me how to fight.” I said, “I can’t teach you how to fight, I can teach you how to box. Fighting comes from in here” (Qawi touches his heart). We’re born fighters.  

Stanley Christodoulou: I am especially proud to be the first South African to be inducted, and it is fitting that it occurs on the tenth anniversary of South Africa being a free, non-racial democracy. Officiating a boxing match is no popularity contest. Boxing’s success has been its ability to transcend every race and culture. A ring official must exercise his best judgment without fear or favor. The award that has been bestowed upon has been one truly by a jury of my peers. I can tell you that you’ll be seeing me, and my wife here for years to come.  

Carlos Palomino: (Palomino’s speech was the most emotional of the day, as he fought back tears throughout). I want to thank the two heroes in my life, my parents Pablo and Maria. They’re not here with me anymore, but I know they’re here in spirit. My father was my strength and my mother was my heart. I also want to thank my children. I’m so proud of you guys. Thank you for understanding that your father is a dreamer. When you’re willing to sacrifice for a dream, sometimes your family suffers. But I want you to know that every moment I’ve had with you since you were babies, I’ve cherished in my heart and in my mind. I want to thank John Stracy for the chance at the title and Mickey Duff who put the fight together (Both men were in attendance). This was not expected in my career and I’ll cherish this for the rest of my life.  

Azumah Nelson: (After three anxious days of waiting, Nelson finally arrived from his native Ghana in time for the parade in induction ceremonies on Sunday after several delays and flight cancellations). To my fans out there, I want to say a big thank you for the times you stood up and watched and prayed for me. God Bless. I want to thank my trainers who started with me when I was about eight years. To all my promoters, managers in Ghana, at the beginning of my career, I want to thank them. There are too many to list. At the appropriate time, I will publish them in the history of my life. With this honor given me, I wish to serve the world. On a personal note, I share this with my lovely and supportive wife who is here with me. I thank you. 

As Azumah Nelson finished his speech, all the inductees posed with their rings- their fists thrust forward for the fans and photographers alike. Afterward, the fans surged forward toward the dais, hoping to get an autograph or photo with the most sought after inductee of the weekend: Azumah Nelson. Nelson obliged for a few moments, as the other inductees and guest boxers strolled off, almost unnoticed. The rains subsided, temporarily anyway, and the fans went home, satisfied for the fifteenth year running, of hopefully many to come.