British boxing legends Jane Couch and Ricky Hatton have been officially inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The former world champions were honored in a ceremony held on Sunday in Canastota, New York.
Couch, 55, and Hatton, 45, join the ranks of boxing greats such as Muhammad Ali and Floyd Mayweather. Notably, Couch is the first British woman to be inducted and only the 10th woman on the ‘modern’ list.
“I’ve got a habit of being the first, haven’t I?” Couch remarked to BBC Sport.
Joining the Britons in the 2024 class were American Michael Moorer, Mexico’s Ana Maria Torres, Puerto Rican Ivan Calderon, and American two-weight world champion Diego Corrales, who tragically died in a motorcycle accident in 2007 at the age of 29.
Jane Couch: A Trailblazing Career
Fleetwood-born Couch retired with an impressive record of 28 wins and 11 losses, securing world titles at light-welterweight. She made history as the first woman to be licensed to box professionally in the UK. At age 27, Couch took the British Boxing Board of Control to court, successfully ending a ban on women fighting in the country.
Reflecting on her induction, Couch said, “It’s a bit surreal really – I mean there’s Ali, [Joe] Frazier in there. It takes a while to sink in. When you look at women’s boxing in the UK, well I suppose I did have a huge impact.”
“I just realized how hard I did work and had to travel abroad to do it as well. A lot of the decisions that could have gone my way if I was at home. I was a bit of a warrior, stubborn, I just wanted to make a difference and I certainly did that. But 39 pro fights, five world titles, the MBE and now the Hall of Fame – wow.”
Ricky Hatton: A Storied Career
Hatton, who attended the ceremony with his close friend Couch, had an illustrious career, winning world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight. He remained undefeated in 43 fights before facing Floyd Mayweather in 2007. Although he lost that bout, Hatton is celebrated as one of England’s best and most popular boxers. He retired with a record of 45 wins and just three defeats.
Selection Process
The 2024 inductees were chosen by the Boxing Writers Association of America and an international panel of boxing historians, solidifying their legacy in the annals of boxing history.
Credit: BBC Sport
