Waterford, Connecticut native Elizabeth Mueller, who won the International Women’s Boxing Federation world lightweight title in 2001, heads the 2025 induction class for the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame. Matt Godfrey, Scott Pemberton, Peter Manfredo Sr., Joe Cusano and Steve Epstein will join Mueller as part of the class that will be honored at the CBHOF annual dinner on Oct. 18th at the Mohegan Sun Ballroom in Uncasville. Katie Taylor, the current world junior welterweight champion-- who is from Ireland but resides in Vernon, Connecticut and trains at the Manchester Ring of Champions Society, will receive the Pro Fighter of the Year honor. Taylor, along with her rival Amanda Serrano, are the only female fighters to headline a sell-out fight card at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Taylor is trained by Ross Enamait of Waterford and he was named the CBHOF Trainer of the Year.
"To have Katie Taylor, considered by many to be the best female fighter in the world at this junction, to be honored at our induction dinner adds to the prestige of our event,'' said Sherman Cain, secretary for the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame.''
After a storied career as a track athlete at Waterford High, Mueller tried her hand at boxing. She 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 nation champion. In 1998, she was a National Police Athletic League champion and also captured a Bud Belt title. Now age 50, Mueller compiled an 8-2 record as a pro, beating Jaime 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 later capture the same title. Mueller retired after the second victory over Clampitt.
A six-time New England Gloves champion, 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 won thwo regional titles and fought for the WBO cruiserweight title in 2010, losing to Marco Huck by TKO in Germany.
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. The Fairhaven, Mass., native 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.
Manfredo is a renowned boxing coach who guided his son Peter Jr. to an IBO middleweight title. Cusano has spent three decades officiating both amateur and professional bouts. He served for several years as the chief of officials for Connecticut USA Boxing. As a member of the IBF, Epstein judged 30 world title fights before his passing in 2014.
Daniel Hernandez is the CBHOF Amateur of the Year. Ricky Gonzalez has been named the Pro Official of the Year. Lee Deer has been selected as the Amateur Official of the Year. Kenny Reels will receive the Courage Award. Miguel Ayala will be the recipient of the Contribution to Boxing Award.
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