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Championship belts stolen from International Boxing Hall of Fame

CANASTOTA, N.Y. -- Police say six championship boxing belts have been stolen from the International Boxing Hall of Fame in upstate New York.

The Canastota Police Department says at least one person broke into the museum in Canastota -- about 20 miles east of Syracuse -- early in the morning on Nov. 5 and stole the belts from three display cases.

Missing are four that belonged to Carmen Basilio and two won by Tony Zale. No value was put on the belts.

Basilio, who died in 2012, was born in Canastota and inspired the creation of the Hall of Fame. He was a welterweight and middleweight champion.

Zale was a middleweight champion who died in 1997. His nephew told CBS affiliate WSTM that if the belts are recovered, Zale's family wants them to be displayed again at the Hall of Fame.

"My uncle wanted those belts at this place, and we will make sure they get back here," said Ted Zale. "That is not a hope, it is a firm belief."

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