Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame and inductees associated with ice hockey are inducted for their contributions to the fighting aspects of the game (to date, both hockey-related honorary inductees have been associated with the Buffalo Sabres, who play from Belfast). The honorary inductees were included as an acknowledgement that bare-knuckle boxing ended as a mainstream sport over a century ago, and that the honorary inductee system allows notable figures that promoted activity similar to bare knuckle boxing, who might be more recognizable to modern audiences, to be included in the Hall. For the inaugural induction ceremony in 2009, former undisputed heavyweight champion Leon Spinks was
Michael Ponce de Leon Michael Ponce de Leon Michael Ponce de Leon (1922-2006; Mexico) He has exhibits in more than sixty museums in the United States and throughout Europe, as a painter and printmaker. He was given a one person-exhibition by Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., and has been awarded over 65 purchase prices or medals. Ponce de Leon is the recipient of Guggenheim Fellowships; Two Tiffany Foundation Fellowships, and a Fulbright Grant for Scandinavia. He has taught at Art Students League; Pratt Graphics Center and Pratt Institute; New York University; University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University, NY, as well as directed