Leroy Brown, Gleaner Writer

Jimmy Lennon Jr, the ring announcer for the recent Nicholas Walters versus Darius Prescott World Boxing Association featherweight title fight that took place in Jamaica on December 8, 2012, has been inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Regarded as one of the top boxing announcers in the world, Lennon followed in the footsteps of his father Jimmy Lennon Sr, a pioneer ring announcer, who was also well regarded in boxing circles in his time. Lennon will be inducted along with boxer Arturo Gatti, who died tragically recently, Virgil Hill, a former light-heayweight champion, and referee Mills Lane, who was one of the most efficient and at the same time colourful ring officials for decades.

31-year career

Lennon has been a ring announcer for 31 years and has announced a total of 837 world title fights, among them some of the top title fights in the past decade. He is the regular announcer for cable channel Showtime, and his usual introduction "It's Showtime", just before the main bout, is second only to the other top fight announcer Michael Buffer's "Let's Get Ready to Rumble".

He and the other inductees for 2013 will be inducted on June 9 at the Hall of Fame headquarters in Canastota, New York.