HispanicBusiness

El Paso Times boxing columnist Matthew Aguilar, professional standout Nico Perez, amateur champion Jose Garibay and amateur and professional standout Jerry Martinez make up the El Paso Boxing Hall of Fame's Class of 2013.

In addition to that foursome, Ladislao Vicencio will be honored with the Hall's first Lifetime Achievement Award, WBA junior middleweight world champion Austin Trout will be honored as the Professional Boxer of the Year and New Mexico state Golden Gloves champion Zachary Prieto will be honored as the Amateur Boxer of the Year.

Also, the late Jake Martinez, Alejandro Guerrero and Manny Ortega will receive the Boxing Legends Award. Rocky Burke was selected as the Official of the Year and Louie Burke was named

Trainer of the Year. In addition, Alberto Romo was elected in the boxer-wrestler category.

"We feel we have yet another outstanding class," said El Paso Boxing Hall of Fame executive director Tom McKay. "Each one of these men has left his mark in our boxing community."

Aguilar, a former Times sportswriter, still writes a weekly boxing column for the newspaper from his current home in Chicago. Aguilar is knowledgeable and insightful with his columns and has an amazing catalogue of boxing history in his memory.

Perez had an impressive professional career, winning the NABF super bantamweight championship in 1978, winning the USBA super bantamweight title in 1979 and fighting Wilfredo Gomez for the WBC world super bantamweight

championship in Madison Square Garden in 1979. He lost the fight due to a cut.

Garibay was a knockout artist who excelled on both sides of the border, winning amateur championships both in El Paso and in Mexico.

Jerry Martinez was a three-time New Mexico state Golden Gloves champion, a national Golden Gloves runner-up and had a 20-1 professional record. He is currently the director of the New Mexico Golden Gloves.

Bill Knight may be reached at bknight@elpasotimes.com; 546-6171. Follow him on Twitter @BillKnightept

Make plans -- What: 2013 Boxing Hall of Fame induction banquet. -- When: April 27. -- Where: Region 19 Education Service Center, 6611 Boeing. -- Tickets: $20. -- Information: 591-6089, 203-0493, 408-1175.