Seated just below the legends were four other fighters, who hope someday to find fame and stardom of their own in the ring.
There is a picture of another former boxer on the wall. His name doesn't ring a bell as do the four other all-time greats - but Steve Johnson has his hands over his head in triumph.
"I'm an ex-fighter - and once a fighter always a fighter," said Johnson, who started "I Have A Dream Productions" about a year and a half ago.
Johnson and his promotion company are planning to take a roundhouse swing at something that has been missing in Hawaii for quite some time. He wants to fill the Blaisdell Arena for his eight-fight card on Sept. 27.
This series of bouts has a new twist, though. It will match Hawaii's "Dream Team" boxers against fighters from Japan.
Johnson is so confident that he said his company already is working on matches against the Philippines and Korea.
"We'll start with Japan and work our way around the Pacific Rim," said Johnson, 40, who moved to Hawaii about 10 years ago.
The New Jersey native also is putting his money where his mouth is. He said he's currently selling his tree-trimming business to generate more revenue.
The fighters will wear flashy, red-white-and-blue trunks and warm-ups - and Johnson promises plenty of excitement compared to the more traditional cards that have had trouble drawing fans for several years.
More important, though, is the positive message that this project is sending to the Oahu community - especially the young people who are faced with so much danger and despair.
"Boxing has always been brought along as an individual sport," Johnson said. "I want to make it a team of role models. You can see the gangs and the lack of leadership in the streets.
"These guys are training hard and living clean. The fighters are working together."
ERIC Alexander, who will be in the opening bout of the evening at the 154-pound weight class, grew up in Liliha.
He said: "We want to be role models because a lot of the kids today are into gangs and drugs and bringing weapons to school. We can show them an alternative to that by being an example. Maybe they'll see us and say 'If I get into boxing or some other sport, maybe I can make it someday.' "
Tali Kulihaapai, a heavyweight from Makiki who will fight a scheduled six-rounder, added: "And it doesn't have to be boxing. I work with the Boy Scouts so I tell them to get into something that will benefit them down the line in their lives.
"The gangs, especially, are going wild. Boxing teaches discipline, to maintain your composure. You learn to control yourself. Even if you know you can beat someone up, you learn to walk away."
Teddy Limoz Jr., a 146-pound-class boxer on the card who grew up in Kalihi Valley, said the Japanese boxers will be tough.
"Before, we were training to fight each other, but now it's us versus them," he said. "They're just like Mexican fighters. When they get in there, they mean business."
Then Limoz spoke about an even tougher opponent - the one outside the ring and away from the spotlight.
"We never grew up the way you're supposed to," he said softly. "Now you look at the kids who say 'Why should I learn how to fight when I can just shoot the guy?'
"Before, boxing was a way for them to live in the neighborhoods. They never had that gang mentality that they have now."
Then he smiled and said, "The young kids are gonna see us and they'll want to be like us."
That's a noble dream that I sure hope comes true.