Press Release: Former IBF cruiserweight champion Al "Ice" Cole (35-16-3, 16 KOs) will be inducted, along with 21 others, into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF) on Sunday afternoon (12:30-5:30 p.m. ET), April 29th at Russo's On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.  

Cole  who is from Rockland County, fought professionally between 1989 and 2011. He won his first 15 and 27 of his initial 28 pro fights. He captured the IBF cruiserweight championship in 1992, when he won a 12-round unanimous decision over James Warring (14-1). Cole made four successful world title defenses before moving up to heavyweight.

 

"I knew I'd get in one day and I'm honored to be inducted into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame, especially with this class because I know a few other fighters going in like Lou Del Valle and Terrance Alli." Cole said. "I was known as a crowd-pleasing, exciting fighter, and people who watched me always knew I'd be in a good fight with good exchanges. I did fight in the shadows of (Mike) Tyson and Roy (Jones. Jr.).

 

"I fought in the Army with Ray Mercer, stung Evander Holyfield in sparring. My best fight, though, hurt me the most. I was so sharp against a fighter from Kronk Gym, Vincent Boulware, in my third world title defense that year (1993). Cole stopped Boulware, who was never the same afterwards.

Boulware had won six of his last seven fights with four knockouts and I was just becoming a decent name. If I beat him, I was supposed to fight Tommy Hearns or Iran Barkley. who were both moving up to cruiserweight. I had the best fight of my career, but I couldn't get any of the other world cruiserweight champs to fight me. I only had four fights in the next three years. I moved up to heavyweight because the same guys who I beat when they were my mandatory challenger (Uriah Grant & Nate Miller) worked their way back into the mandatory position."

 

Cole grew up in Atlantic City, where he fought 18 times, and he got to know a casino owner named Donald Trump. "We hung out," Cole remembered. "Trump invited me to some of his private parties. I never thought he'd be president!"