Shawn McFadden, right, battles Thomas Rosa during a boxing match April 17, 2021, at Genetti Manor in Dickson City. TIMES-TRIBUNE FILE
Shawn McFadden during his match at the Sham-Rock Bash and Brawl boxing event outside Genetti Manor in Dickson City on July 17, 2021. TIMES-TRIBUNE FILE
Don Eaton, left, and Shawn McFadden battle it out during Fall Brawl on Oct. 8, 2016 at Montage Mountain. TIMES-TRIBUNE FILE
Olivia Ford poses with Shawn McFadden, after winning her sixth national title at USA Boxing’s 2024 National Championships on Dec. 21. SUBMITTED PHOTO
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Shawn McFadden, right, battles Thomas Rosa during a boxing match April 17, 2021, at Genetti Manor in Dickson City. TIMES-TRIBUNE FILE
When Paul Iannuzzi created the Masters Boxing International Hall of Fame, he wanted inductees whose reach in the sport’s 35-and-older division stretched beyond wins and losses.
The owner of Rude Dog Boxing searched for fighters, coaches and mentors.
It just so happens Olivia Ford knows someone who is all three — Shawn McFadden.
So, she contacted Iannuzzi to nominate her coach and mentor who fights alongside her at national tournaments.
“I emailed them because they were looking for anybody in the masters division, coaches, fighters, and he’s all of the above,” said Ford, a Western Wayne graduate and Marywood University freshman who recently captured her ninth national title. “There was no way he wasn’t getting in.”
Iannuzzi agreed. So did the seven-person panel that voted unanimously to make McFadden part of the inaugural Hall of Fame class.
“This is so cool. I can’t believe this,” said McFadden, a Madison Twp. resident. “I think there’s 4,000 masters worldwide. To be chosen and to be one of the very first class of 12 people to be allowed in on inauguration day in May, it’s gonna be crazy.”
Iannuzzi announced McFadden’s addition to the Class of 2026 on Oct. 15 on social media along with Thomas Rosa. The two fighters have plenty of history, as they faced off against each other 13 times.
“They’re very unique individuals, and I’ve known them for about 10 years plus,” Iannuzzi said in a social media post. “I respect what they do in the ring, but what they have done for the masters division as the brotherhood that we want, these gentlemen make other people aspire to be more, to be nicer, to work harder, to not complain …
“It was a very easy decision when we brought up these names. I would have it no other way than to have both of them announced on the same night and be put in on the same day because they are the masters bookends.”
The duo joins Manny Fernandez, Gregory Leschishin, Rick Bobigian and Brad Ginn in the inaugural class, which will be inducted in Bradenton, Florida. Iannuzzi continues to roll out the inductees, with the next announcement slated for Nov. 1.
“The coolest thing is that me and my friend Tommy Rosa (are being inducted together). He’s like my brother, my comrade,” McFadden, 48, said. “I love what Paul did, the way he described it as us being the bookends of the masters division and that we had to go in together. I love that more than anything.”
McFadden had his first masters division fight in 2016, has a 22-20 record and is a four-time Rude Dog masters world champion. He still fights, but also mentored many fighters, including Ford. Over the past four years, McFadden coached Ford as she captured nine national titles. He also started a gym at his house, Cerberus Boxing, which is sanctioned by USA Boxing and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
Ford is thrilled to see him receive the recognition for once, as he always puts her boxing career ahead of his own.
“It’s so awesome for those guys to get something of their own, because we have nationals and the world team and all that. The rest of the amateurs are always getting recognition of some kind, and usually he’s always putting me out in the spotlight,” Ford said. “It’s just really, really cool to see him be a part of something so unique and new and special.”