Alabama Boxing Hall of Fame inducts ‘Tuscaloosa Kid’

By WVUA 23 Sports Reporters Grace Brister and Ronnell Foreman

Tuscaloosa native Mike Hutchinson has been inducted into the Alabama Boxing Hall of Fame.

Hutchinson, who’s known as the “Tuscaloosa Kid,” was inducted in the Pro Boxer category at the event in Gadsden.

Hutchinson’s father Charlie trained him at the 40th Street Gym off Greensboro Avenue, and he began his professional career in 1980 with a first-round knockout over Juan Gallardo in Meridian, Mississippi.

After that, he reeled off 18 consecutive victories. 

Hutchinson said getting the news that he has a spot in the Alabama Boxing Hall of Fame was surreal. 

“When they told me Jay was gonna call me, they didn’t tell me what it was about,” Hutchinson said. “When Jay did call me and tell me what it was about, it seemed like my whole life flashed in front of me.” 

Alabama Boxing Hall of Fame Director Jay Deas said making phone calls like this are one of his top delights. 

“When I call these guys, that’s the joy of my life,” Deas said. 

In boxing, there’s a lot of trial and error with success, he said, and Hutchinson is a great example of success.

“You’re gonna have knockouts sometimes, a part of the development process for young fighters coming up,” Deas said. “That’s kind of one of the things we’re trying to do, show people what Alabama has and what Alabama can do and how rich our past is.”

The Alabama Boxing Hall of Fame began in 2017 to honor the state’s boxing history.