Lewis Heads 2009 IBHOF Inductees

The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum has announced its newest class of inductees and the clear headliner is former heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis.

The IBHOF never fails to enshrine lots of new inductees and this year is no exception. Joining Lewis in this year's class are bantamweight Orlando Canizales, junior lightweight Brian Mitchell, middleweight William "Gorilla" Jones, welterweight "Mysterious" Billy Smith, middleweight Billy Soose, nineteenth-century heavyweight Tom Hyer, matchmaker/publicist/promoter Bob Goodman, promoter Akihiko Honda, journalists Hugh McIlvaney and Paul Gallico, manager Billy Gibson, boxing commissioner Abe Greene and - last but not least - broadcaster Larry Merchant.

Voting is done by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of boxing historians. Enshrinement ceremonies will take place on June 14 in Canastota, New York. If you've never been to Canastota for induction weekend, it's well worth the trip.