Six world championship belts have been stolen from the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, in a burglary that occurred early Thursday morning. Police say at least one suspect broke into the museum at around 2:45 am and smashed three display cases to take the belts.
Four of the stolen belts belonged to Carmen Basilio, a local boxing legend who won world titles at welterweight and middleweight in the 1950s. Basilio's most famous victory came in 1957 when he defeated Sugar Ray Robinson, earning him Ring magazine Fighter of the Year honours. The other two belts were owned by Tony Zale, a two-time middleweight champion in the 1940s known for his epic rivalry with Rocky Graziano.
Canastota Police Chief James Zophy described the memorabilia as 'priceless' and appealed to the public for help in recovering the items. As of Tuesday, no arrests had been made and no further developments were reported.
The Boxing Hall of Fame has been located in the small village of Canastota, about 20 miles east of Syracuse, since 1990. The theft has shocked the local community and the wider boxing world.
