Class of 2025

After honing his skills as a barber, Joe Cusano proved he could cut it in the world of boxing. A lifelong New Haven resident, Cusano enjoyed a distinguished career spanning three decades officiating amateur and professional bouts. In the 1990s, he served as the chief of officials for Connecticut USA Boxing, presiding over countless national and Olympic qualifying events. As a professional judge, Cusano was highly regarded and much sought after. He was a part of numerous high-profile fights broadcast on HBO, Showtime, and ESPN. Cusano even showed his skills on the silver screen. He officiated a boxing match in “The Featherweight,” a film celebrating his childhood hero, Willie Pep. Cusano’s memoir, “Uppercuts,” weaves a fictional tapestry of his remarkable life within the exhilarating and often brutal world of boxing.

When presented with the idea in 2004 of creating a boxing hall of fame in Connecticut, the late Steve Epstein, a well-respected judge in the sport, was one of the first to be on board with the idea. He helped the dream become a reality by being one of the original board of directors for the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame. The CBHOF was glad to add his knowledge. Originally from Brooklyn. N.Y., Epstein was already an accomplished judge. A member of the International Boxing Federation, Epstein judged 30 world title fights, including three in Las Vegas. Epstein was 58 when he passed away in 2014.

A six-time New England Gloves champion, Matt Godfrey was a National Golden Gloves heavyweight champion in 2002 and a U.S. National Amateur heavyweight champion in 2004. The Providence native was a second alternate for the 2004 U.S. Olympic team. Godfrey compiled a 21-3 record as a pro. He gained notice quickly by compiling an 11-0 record. It was then he fought Shaun George, who was also 11-0. Godfrey knocked George out in the first round. He would go on to win the WBC-NABF and WBA-NABA titles. He fought for the WBO cruiserweight title in 2010, losing to Marco Huck by TKO in Germany.

Having been involved in boxing and martial arts for over 30 years, Peter Manfredo Sr. had developed an eye for talent. He didn’t have to look far for it. Just across the dinner table at his home in Pawtucket, R.I. The elder Manfredo saw early on that his son Peter Jr. could someday hold his own as a professional boxer. He was proven correct. Manfredo guided his son to a 34-6 record and an IBO middleweight title as a professional. The elder Manfredo was also a presence outside the ring, often going to schools in Rhode Island and speaking about the benefits of learning how to box.

In 1991, a New York Times article called Liz Mueller “the brightest young female middle-distance runner in the United States.” She was a national high school cross country champion at 5,000 meters. She crafted a storied career as a track athlete at Waterford High. But eventually, she craved new challenges. Mueller tried her hand at boxing. Turned out she was a natural at that, too. Mueller became a decorated amateur. In 1999, Mueller was a National Golden Gloves champion, a silver medalist at the World Cup in Finland, and a USA Boxing national champion. In 1998, she was a National Police Athletic League champion and also captured a Bud Belt title. Mueller, now 50, compiled an 8-2 record as a pro, beating Jamie Clampitt twice. The second win was by unanimous decision, giving Mueller the IWBF title. After the second loss to Mueller, Clampitt would go on to win eight straight fights and capture the IWBF world lightweight title. Mueller retired after the second victory over Clampitt.

Known for his bruising intensity in the ring, Scott Pemberton compiled a professional record of 29-6-1 while earning a reputation as someone who would take on all comers. Among his most notable foes were Charles Brewer, Omar Sheika, Jeff Lacy, James Crawford and Peter Manfredo Jr. Pemberton beat Sheika twice, both times with the IBU and NABF super middleweight titles on the line. The Fairhaven, Mass., native lost to Brewer and Lacy, both world champions. Lacy was 20-0 when he scored a KO over Pemberton in an IBF world super middleweight title bout in November of 2005. Pemberton retired after losing to Manfredo in February of 2006.