When it comes to boxing legends like Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather, greatness inside the ring comes to mind. But the achievements of those champions and many more come to life every day in Canastota.

Before 1985, there wasn’t a Boxing Hall of Fame anywhere in the world. Ed Brophy helped change that. 

“We felt in the village of Canastota that boxing should have a home. It should have a Hall of Fame and give the managers, trainers and fighters a place where they should always be remembered,” Brophy, the executive director, said. 

Ali’s exhibit is next to Joe Frazier’s. The two champions fought in what is known as the “Fight of the Century.” The space in the museum isn’t the only thing they share at the hall.

“Here is the most famous ring in the history of boxing from the beginning of time. This is the ring that was at the [Madison Square] Garden from the early 20s all the way until 2007. So for over 80 years, this is the ring that was always used,” Brophy explained.  

While the hall honors past legends, the tradition continues as new names join the ranks of boxing immortality. 

This year’s induction was one of the biggest ever, with superstar Manny Pacquiao as one of the inductees. Each induction weekend, there is a parade and there’s always a grand marshal. 

“This year was Sydney Sweeney,” Brophy said. “You see people on TV and Hollywood stars, and then they come down your village in a convertible car.”

The hall has evolved and grown over its 35 years. Female boxers started being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020. Sweeney will be playing one of those inductees, Christy Martin, in an upcoming movie. 

One of the newest plans for the hall involves a bit of yard work.

“Now we’re going to be able to open up some of the trees, do some landscaping, put a sign up, so people driving by on the Thruway, the millions of people that drive by, can see the sign “International Boxing Hall of Fame,” and they will know it’s right off the exit,” Brophy said. 

During the summer, the hall isn’t just a museum.

“Every Thursday night at 6 p.m. for two hours, there’s music,” said Brophy. “We have live bands playing for people bringing their chairs so they can hear nice, soft, enjoyable music.”

What you see as you walk around the museum is but a quarter of the exhibits they have.

“We have a lot of artifacts that are not on display and we rotate. So we’re looking at ways that we can expand,” Brophy said.