Nigel Benn and Gennadiy Golovkin are among the newest inductees into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The class, announced ahead of the June 14, 2026 enshrinement in Canastota, New York, recognises a mix of fighters and contributors to the sport.
Benn, the ferocious British puncher famed for his bitter rivalry with Chris Eubank, is being honoured for world titles at middleweight and super-middleweight. He held the WBC super‑middleweight crown for four years and retired with a 42-5-1 record, including 35 knockouts. Still a fan favourite for his aggressive style, Benn’s legacy also connects to the present through his son Conor, who split two high-profile fights with Chris Eubank Jr.
Golovkin, nicknamed “Triple G,” was elected in his first year on the ballot by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and an international panel of historians. The Kazakh star compiled a 42-2-1 ledger with 37 KOs and matched the record for 20 consecutive middleweight title defences after first claiming a world title in 2010. His rivalry with Canelo Álvarez included a split draw in their initial meeting and a later defeat; his final bout came at super‑middleweight in 2022. A 2004 Olympic silver medallist, Golovkin called the Hall of Fame induction the greatest honour of his career and “the last piece of the puzzle.” He was also recently named president of World Boxing, the organisation pursuing Olympic boxing at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Also elected is former light‑heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver, remembered for multiple title runs and for knocking out Roy Jones Jr. in the second round of their 2004 fight (Tarver won two of their three meetings). Other fighter inductees include early 20th‑century heavyweight Jimmy Clabby (86-21-23, 46 KOs, retired 1923); Japan’s Naoko Fujioka, the nation’s first five‑division champion (19-3-1, 7 KOs); and Mexico’s Jackie Nava, a two‑division titlist who finished 40-4-4.
Non-fighters honoured in the class include trainers and cut men Russ Anber and Jimmy Glenn, referee Frank Cappuccino, and Dr. Edwin “Flip” Homansky — who becomes only the second physician to be inducted, following his wife, Dr. Margaret Goodman.
The official enshrinement ceremony will be held at the International Boxing Hall of Fame museum in Canastota on June 14, 2026.