CANASTOTA, N.Y. -- Terry Norris thanked his late father for helping him turn from the diamond to the ring.

Norris, a junior middleweight champion, headlined the International Boxing Hall of Fame's 16th annual induction class Sunday. Also inducted were two-time featherweight champion Bobby "Schoolboy" Chacon, two-time junior welterweight champion Duilio Loi of Italy, and Ireland's popular featherweight champion Barry McGuigan.

Matchmaker Don Fraser and writer Bert Sugar also were enshrined.

"This is something my dad wanted. He wanted me to be a world champ," Norris said. "He wanted me to be the best fighter in the world. Now, I'm a Hall of Famer. This is for you, dad. I love you."

Norris (47-9 with 31 KOs) was a star baseball player growing up in Texas, but chose boxing because "it was part of my dad's plan."

"I could run fast and I could hit but baseball wasn't paying the bills. I started fighting and I kept winning, and I was making money. Pretty soon, real good money," Norris said.

His father, Olin, died 3½ years ago.

Norris won the WBC junior middleweight belt in 1989 with a sensational one-round knockout of John Mugabi, then put together a string of 10 successful title defenses, including a victory over Sugar Ray Leonard.

The effervescent McGuigan became a national hero in the early 1980s by winning both the British and European featherweight titles. He choked back tears Sunday as he thanked the crowd for "being able to be counted among some of my boyhood heroes."

Loi, too, was one of his country's most popular fighters as he compiled a 115-3-8 record during a 15-year career during which was twice world junior welterweight champion between 1960-1962.

The 76-year-old Loi suffers from Alzheimer's disease and did not make the trip. His ring was accepted by his daughter, Bonaria Loi, who gave her thanks in Italian.

"My father is not here, but his heart is here," she said, ending in English.

The soft-spoken Chacon was the most animated recipient. When his name was called, he jumped out of his chair and began sparring as he made his way to the podium.

Chacon held WBC crowns as a featherweight from 1974-75 and as a super featherweight from 1982-83.

The four boxers were chosen by a panel of boxing writers and historians as representatives of the modern era, which runs from 1943 on. Five other fighters were selected from the old-timer and pioneer categories, while six people were chosen in the non-participant and observer classes, including Fraser and Sugar, who both attended Sunday's ceremony.

Copyright 2004-2005, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved