CANASTOTA (New York), Dec 11 Three-time heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis says he`s proud that enshrinement in the International Boxing Hall of Fame will secure his place in the sport`s history.

“Everybody, when they start something ... always wants to leave some kind of legacy behind,” said Lewis. “I`ve been able to accomplish that. To be put in the Hall of Fame is an accomplishment that seals my legacy. It will always be there in history. People can read about it. It gives me great pride.”

Posthumous honourees included middleweight champion William “Gorilla” Jones (1931-32), welterweight champion “Mysterious” Billy Smith (1890s) and middleweight champion Billy Soose (1941) in the old-timer category. Nineteenth-century American heavyweight champion Tom Hyer was recognised in the pioneer category.

Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians. The induction ceremony will be held on June 14 at Canastota.

The 43-year-old Lewis retired in 2003 with a record of 41-2-1, including 32 KOs, and enters the hall in his first year of eligibility.

“He definitely belongs in the top six heavyweights of all-time and would have been a threat to any heavyweight champion in history because of his size, his balance and his all-around skill,” said Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward, a 1996 inductee.

Lewis was born in England and lived there until age 12 when his family moved to Kitchener, Ontario. He first put on gloves at age 15 and quickly found success as an amateur, culminating in the junior world super heavyweight championship in 1983.

Lewis represented Canada in the 1984 Olympics, but lost to Tyrell Biggs and finished fifth. In 1988, Lewis won his Olympic gold, defeating Riddick Bowe in the final. After turning pro in 1989, Lewis won the European, British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles to set up a match with Donovan “Razor” Ruddock for the vacant WBC title in 1992. He stopped Ruddock with a second-round TKO.—AP