The Canastota Area (Canastota, Lenox, Lincoln)

Some of the biggest names in the history of sport include Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, George Forman and Carmen Basilio. It is that last personality that gives Canastota the name "Title Town". Basilio was a two-time world champion boxer who calls Canastota his hometown. The people of Canastota wanted to honor Basilio and another native son, Billy Backus, who also was a champion boxer, so they built a shrine and started plans for the International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum.

Today the Hall of Fame has inducted over 20 classes of the best boxers the world has ever seen. Their annual induction weekend, the second weekend of June, draws fight fans from around the world to hear former champions tell stories, sign autographs, play golf and enshrine the new induction class. The village also hosts one of Central New York’s largest parades on Sunday of induction weekend with bands, floats, classic cars and movie stars. The museum is open year round and special events highlight their calendar several times each year.