Class of 2023

One of the most accomplished boxing journalists in the world, Baker has devoted much of his life to chronicling many notable moments in the sport of boxing. His published works range from “Willie Pep, a Biography of the 20th Century’s Greatest Featherweight,’’ to “The World Colored Heavyweight Championship, 1876-1937.’’ His book “Connecticut Boxing, The Fights, The Fighters, and the Fight game,” was No. 1 on Amazon’s list of hot new releases in 2021. An author of over 25 books about American culture, history, and sports, Baker was honored last year with a Lifetime Award of Merit from the State University of New York.

A graduate of RHAM HIgh in Hebron, Grano exceeded expectations when he began his career as a professional heavyweight in 2005. He raced to a 15-1-1 record before he was matched against the highly-regarded Travis Kauffman, who was 18-0 and heavily favored to defeat Grano. In a bout televised worldwide on HBO, Grano scored a stunning knockout victory. It was named the 2009 Heavyweight Fight of the Year by Ringside Magazine. Victories over Brian Minto and DaVarryl Williamson gave Grano the NABF heavyweight title in 2012. Known as the “Hebron Hammer,” Grano, now 42, would finish his career with a 20-3-1 record with 16 knockouts.

Banner Promotions is one of the big hitters in the promotional game, and a lot of that has to do with its President and CEO, Arthur Pelullo. Pelullo began Banner Promotions in 1988, and unlike some promotional groups that put on one or two shows and are never heard from again, Banner Promotions has established a worldwide presence over 35 years. That includes several shows in Connecticut. A Philadelphia native and member of the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame, Pelullo has promoted more than 200 shows worldwide on a variety of networks including HBO, Showtime, and Fox. The list of world champions promoted by Pelullo include Ricky Hatton, Diego Corrales, and Acelino Freitas.

A two-time Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame Pro Fighter of the Year, Remillard took part in an event that has become rare in the boxing world. The Manchester featherweight, who was trained by another member of the CBHOF, Paul Cichon, was 23-0 when he put his NABF, WBO and NABO titles on the line in 2011 against 24-0 Mikey Garcia. It was one of the few times that undefeated fighters with 20 plus wins squared off in the ring with world titles on the line. The highly touted Garcia scored three knockdowns in a dominating triumph televised on HBO. It turned out to be the only loss in Remillard’s career. He finished with a 27-1 pro record with 15 knockouts. That came on the heels of a sparkling amateur career. Remillard was a two-time Everlast Under-19 National Amateur champion.

A Norwalk native who comes from a boxing family, Simms was a middleweight with the nickname “Marvelous,” which could also describe his career as a pro. Simms finished with a superlative 27-1-1 record after a sterling amateur career. He won the WBF All-American middleweight title by outpointing Delray Raines in Bridgeport in 2008. That put him in line for a WBO and NABO super middleweight title fight against the 28-1 Allan Green. Simms was game, but Green took the unanimous decision. One of Simms’ more notable victories came against former world champion Carl Daniels, who had amassed 50 wins before losing a unanimous decision to Simms in 2008. Simms’ brother Travis captured the WBA super welterweight title in 2003.

A native of New London, Vincent made Providence her boxing base for what turned out to be a spectacular career in the women’s featherweight division. She began her pro career in 2011, and it took her just three years to get a shot at a title. Vincent won a majority decision over Jackie Trivilino to capture the Universal Boxing Federation world super bantamweight championship. She made a successful title defense against Christina Ruiz while also winning the IBA super bantamweight crown. Known for her crowd-pleasing style, Vincent took on 17-0 Heather Hardy, but lost a majority decision in a WBC International featherweight title bout. Hardy was 21-0 when she took on Vincent in a rematch at Madison Square Garden in 2018. Hardy won a unanimous decision in a WBO featherweight title matchup. Those were the only losses in Vincent’s pro career which ended with a 27-2 record.