Tuesday, December 7th, 2021
First German in Hall of Fame
Ex-boxer Halmich receives a unique honor
Regina Halmich has successfully defended her title as boxing world champion 44 times, and now the former world-class athlete is receiving a special award. As only the fifth woman and the first German, she receives a place in the international boxing hall of fame.
Former world champion Regina Halmich is inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) as the first German and fifth woman. “Your achievements will be recognized during Hall of Fame Induction Weekend 2022,” said Edward Brophy, executive director of the Canastota, New York Hall of Fame.
Before Halmich, only the Americans Christy Martin, Ann Wolfe and Laila Ali, daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, and the Dutchwoman Lucia Rijker were accepted. “To be immortalized in the Hall of Fame together with the world’s greatest boxers is an accolade. That is for eternity, more is not possible,” said 45-year-old Halmich, who once learned about boxing through judo, karate and kickboxing had found.
The Karlsruhe native, who was one of the first seven athletes to make it into the new International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, USA in July 2014, will receive a gold ring and a plaque with a biography and a photo. The inauguration ceremony will take place on June 12th. “I’m very proud that people in America remember me years after my career ended – and that I’m now in a club with Mike Tyson or Lennox Lewis,” said Halmich. This honor is also given to ex-world champion Wladimir Klitschko. The Ukrainian should be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. But that was postponed because of the corona pandemic.
“Admission to the International Women’s Boxing Hall was like winning an Oscar,” said Halmich. In the next step, “to experience such recognition as a German pugilist in America” is “indescribable”. Halmich began her professional career in 1994 and won the WIBF flyweight world title in 1995. Until her resignation in 2007 she successfully defended this 44 times, winning a total of 54 of her 56 professional fights.