BOXING: Holyfield to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame

Macon, Ga. - The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame has selected six new inductees for the Hall of Fame class of 2001 including former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield, two Olympic Gold Medalists and three former Georgia and Georgia Tech football stars.

Inducted in this class and scheduled to appear on Feb.3, 2001 at the JW Marriott in Atlanta are:

* Teresa Edwards * Kent Hill * Evander Holyfield

"The Real Deal" climbed the professional boxing ranks and defied the odds to become only the second boxer (along with Muhammed Ali) ever to capture the World Heavyweight title three times. Holyfield knocked-out Buster Douglas in 1991 for his first heavyweight crown and then retained it in 1994 against Riddick Bowe and again in 1996 when he knocked-out Mike Tyson. He did not lose a professional bout until 1992, eight years into his pro career. A resident of Georgia since 1965, Holyfield also garnered the Junior Heavyweight (1986) and Continental Americas Heavyweight (1989) titles. In 1984, the Atmore, Alabama native won the Golden Gloves championship and a bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games. Beginning his boxing career at eight-years old, Holyfield won the Southeastern Regionalb junior welterweight crown at age 16 and a silver medal at age 19 while representing the United States in the Pan Am Games.

* Angel Martino * Jim Wilson * Mike "Moon Pie" Wilson

Georgia residents can nominate individuals for possible induction into the Hall of Fame. Nominations come under four categories: Athlete, Coach/Manager, Contributor and Senior. Nominees must have long association and/or residency in Georgia, and have made an outstanding contribution to sports in Georgia, the nation or the world. No matter the category, inductees are expected to have attained and sustained a high level of achievement throughout their sports career.

Nominees go through a three-tier process and selection decisions are made by Hall of Fame representatives from across the state with experience in various sports fields.

The GSHF has been open since April of 1999. In its first full year of operation, the GSHF had 65,000 visitors pass through its doors. Currently,the GSHF is the largest state sports hall of fame in America focused on teaching how athletics can make a positive impact on children. Created in 1956 as the Prep Sports Hall of Fame, the GSHF expanded in 1963 to encompass prep, college, professional and amateur fields.

The Class of 2001 Induction Banquet will be held on Feb. 3 at the JW Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia. Tickets for the Gala are $125 per person and include a $50 tax-deductible contribution to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Foundation. The ticket includes the cocktail reception (cash bar), three-course dinner with win, and the induction ceremony. This year's class will bring the total number of inductees to 304. For more information on induction weekend, please call the GSHF at (912) 752-1585.