Category Archives: USA Boxing

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USA Boxing declares June “Alumni Association Membership Drive Month”

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Miguel Cotto                                     Gerry Cooney  
                             Jesse Vargas
 
 Kevin McBride                                 Reggie Johnson
                         Junior Jones
  
    Michael Spinks                               Antonio Tarver    
                         James Toney

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 11, 2018) – USA Boxing’s “Alumni Association Membership Drive Month” got off to a knockout start this past weekend in Canastota, New York, at the annual International Boxing Hall of Fame Class induction ceremonies, as nine high-profile boxers, featuring an incredible accumulate pro record of 365-51-7 (239 KOs) and 24 major world titles, joined the growing USABAA ranks as proud, new members.

 

 

 

Chris Cugliari and John Scully represented USA Boxing Alumni Association, manning tables at the IBHOF golf tournament and Memorabilia Show, to increase USABAA awareness and recruit new members.

 

 

 

“The spirit of amateur boxing was alive and well throughout the International Boxing Hall of Fame weekend,” explained Cugliari, USA Boxing Alumni Association Executive Director. “Information about the new USA Boxing Alumni Association was well received by the weekend’s guests, and esteemed alumni such as Jesse Vargas and Reggie Johnson mentioned that they are excited to become more involved.  The Alumni Association thanks the support provided by many this weekend, particularly Micky Ward and Antonio Tarver, who continue to spread our mission.”

 

 

 

“The fact is that the vast majority of professional boxers who attend the Hall of Fame weekend at Canastota each year were at one time amateur boxers and knew each other well before they ever even turned professional,” added invaluable USABAA advisor Scully, who recruits boxers for group-sponsored events like this. “At some point in the conversations between boxers across the grounds, the topics frequently will eventually turn to their amateur days together.”

 

 

 

“The amateurs, for me, was about fighting for respect,” two-division world champion Junior Jones (50-6, 28 KOs); noted. “To go to different places and make it very far (as an amateur), you have to learn how to conduct yourself and transact with others.”

 

 

 

Other new USABAA members are six-time, two division world champion Miguel Cotto(41-6, 33 KOs); four-time, two division world champion, as well as 1976 Olympic gold medalist and Hall of Famer, Michael Spinks (31-1, 21 KOs); Irish heavyweight who retired Mike Tyson, Kevin McBride (35-10-1, 29 KOs); two-time, two division world championJesse Vargas (28-2-1, 10 KOs); five time world champion and 1996 Olympic bronze medalist Antonio Tarver (31-6-1, 22 KOs); two-time, two division world champion Reggie Johnson (44-7-1, 25 KOs), three-time, three division world champion James Toney (77-10-3, 47 KOs); and world heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney (38-3, 24 KOs).

 

 

USA Boxing Alumni Association

 

 

 

Created to champion a lifelong, mutually beneficial relations between USA Boxing and its alumni, –boxers, officials, coaches and boxing fans — The Alumni Association connects generations of champions, inspiring and giving back to USA Boxing’s future boxing champions, in and out of the ring.

 

 

 

The USA Boxing Alumni Association is open to anyone who has a love for boxing and would like to stay connected with amateur boxing. Members are granted access to a wide variety of special events hosted by the Alumni Association, including its annual USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception.

 

 

 

To join the Alumni Association, simply register at alumni@usaboxing,.org for a $40.00 per year membership fee. New members will receive a T-shirt, keychain and e-wallet.

 

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“I think this is great,” Jones talked about the formation of the USA Boxing Alumni Association. “Fighters who turned pro were great amateurs, but there are also a lot of amateurs who didn’t turn pro. Everybody doesn’t become champion, but they tried and gave their best, and that’s why this organization is good because all boxers are appreciated.”

 

 

 

“Although Hall of Fame weekend tends to focus on the professional careers of many fighters,” Cugliari concluded, “it was hard not to notice the effect that amateur boxing has had on the lives of many of these great champions. The USA Boxing Alumni Association wants to thank Ed Brophy for his generosity and support for boxing, and we look forward to a long partnership with the International Boxing Hall of Fame.”

 

 

 

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

 

amateur boxing, boxing, USA Boxing

Keyshawn Davis is Pushing His Way to the Top Norfolk, Va. native is 2020 Olympic hopeful for Team USA

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 8, 2018) Overcoming adversity is something many people deal with throughout their lives, and it makes that person who they are. For Keyshawn Davis, he has been overcoming adversity from the beginning, and he is now on his way to the top of the boxing world.

 

 

 

Davis began boxing when he was just nine-years-old, after his mother took him and two of his brothers to the gym. They were constantly fighting each other and fighting in school. After about an hour of watching two kids around his age spar his mother asked if they wanted to sign up. The next day Keyshawn and his two brothers were in the gym training.

 

 

 

Since then, Davis has won numerous titles and is now on his first elite high-performance squad following his win at the 2017 USA Boxing National Championships. Following that win, he has made Colorado Springs, Colo. a second home, as he spends a great deal of his time training at the United States Olympic Training Center.

 

 

 

Training for his first year at the elite level began with one of the largest multi-nation training camps USA Boxing has ever hosted. Davis got the opportunity to spar with not only his American teammates, but boxers from Great Britain, New Zealand and Poland. The preparation led to one of his proudest moments of his young career, his first elite international tournament and title at the Strandja Tournament in Bulgaria.

 

 

 

“It was a very different experience, being that it was my first time out of the country,” stated Davis. “I really had to get used to the different environment, especially the time difference, as it threw off my sleep schedule at first.”

 

 

 

However, he did not let anything distract him from reaching the top of the podium.

 

 

 

“The feeling was just so unreal,” said Davis about his gold medal performance in Bulgaria. “I told myself that this is just one gold and I need to be standing here after every tournament. It was just a great feeling.”

 

 

 

Shortly after his winning performance in Bulgaria, Davis was back in the ring representing Team USA on the USA vs. IRL Northeast Boxing Tour. Only fighting in one of the three stops of the tour, Davis made every minute of it count, as he pulled off another impressive victory in front of a large number of American fans.

 

 

 

However, before the success came struggles.

 

 

 

“I am a kid from Norfolk, Va. that started with nothing; Just my mother and her five children,” stated Davis.

 

 

 

“As life went on, I kept getting better in the ring, but outside the ring was horrible, from anger problems to getting sent to a mental institution,” continued Davis. “I would’ve never thought I would be in the position I am today, so I thank God that he blessed me with all my supporters; from my sisters, Shanice and Shantel Davis, also my brothers, Keon and Kelvin Davis, and of course my mother, Wanda Davis. Without them I wouldn’t be here today. I am a walking miracle and I just want to show the world what Keyshawn Davis really can do.”

 

 

 

Helping Keyshawn get past his struggles has been his coach who has been there from the beginning, Kay Korma, as well as 2016 Olympic silver medalist Shakur Stevenson.

“Last year when I was put in the mental home, they were both right there pushing me to get back on track,” Davis stated. “They never gave up on me or doubted me. They always knew what I was capable of, even though I was in a bad place.”

 

 

 

Another source of motivation and help came from another teammate, Troy Isley, who has been there by his side getting to experience Keyshawn’s first year as an elite with him.

 

 

 

“Troy has been a huge help for me during my first year on the elite high-performance squad,” mentioned Davis. “He has been telling me what foods I might need on a trip to help me maintain weight.”

 

 

 

When Davis went to Bulgaria for his first international tournament, Troy was there representing Team USA with him. “He told me how he felt his first time fighting internationally, and I just took all his information and used it to my advantage.”

 

 

 

Now the goal is to continue training and being successful at the international level. He has hopes of becoming an Olympic Champion in 2020 and being able to give back to his family.

 

 

 

“My biggest motivation is just to give my family a better life.”

 

 

 

With one gold under his belt, Davis will look for his second international title at the 2018 Chemistry Cup later this month. You can continue to follow his journey to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics through social media via Instagram (@keyshawndavis1) or SnapChat (@key4999).

 

 

 

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

amateur boxing, boxing, USA Boxing

Finale of 2018 Youth Continental Championships is Golden for Team USA

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO (May 31, 2018) – The final night of the 2018 Youth Continental Championships saw the American delegation collect seven gold medals and three silvers, making their final medal count 11 golds, three silvers and one bronze at the week-long tournament that took place at the Hotel Elegante in Colorado Springs, Colo.

 

 

 

Two highlights of the championships included light heavyweight Alexis Espino (Las Vegas, Nev.) and heavyweight David Stevens (Reading, Pa.) winning their second international title of 2018 by first-round knockouts. Espino took the gold over Puerto Rico’s Jancarmelo Nieves, while Stevens collected the title with his knockout against Andrews Salgado of Chile.

 

 

 

 

The final two females to box, bantamweight Heaven Garcia (El Monte, Calif.) and lightweight Isamary Aquino (San Antonio, Texas), defeated Emilia Dermott of Canada and Jennifer Yazmin Carrillo of Mexico, respectfully, to add two gold medals to the four the women’s team won on Thursday.

 

 

 

 

The final three gold medals were picked up by lightweight Harley Mederos (New York, N.Y.), light welterweight Otha Jones III (Toledo, Ohio) and super heavyweight Drake Banks (Homosassa, Fla.). The trio defeated their opponents by unanimous decisions to give Team USA the top team of the tournament.

 

 

 

 

This week’s tournament brought 14 different countries to Olympic City USA looking to qualify to the Youth Olympic Games and Youth World Championships, both taking place later this year. Team USA was led by Junior and Youth National Team Head Coach Augie Sanchez (Las Vegas, Nev.), with Timothy Back (Cincinnati, Ohio), Nora Lopez (Richmond, Texas), Eliza Olson (Redwood City, Calif.) and Chadrick Wigle (Colorado Springs, Colo.) served as assistant coaches throughout the week.

 

 

 

 

Click here for complete results. https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Boxing/Youth-Continental-Championships

 

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

 

amateur boxing, boxing, USA Boxing

USA Boxing declares June “Alumni Association Membership Drive Month”

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PAST & PRESENT of USA Boxing: (L-R) 1972 Olympic bronze medalist Jesse Valdez, 2004 U.S. Nationals champion Austin Trout, future Olympic hopeful Sharaha-Taina Moreu, 2-time world (pro) champion Danny Romero, and 1984 Olympic silver medalist Virgil Hill.

 

 

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO (May 31, 2018) – USA Boxing has declared June as its “Alumni Association Membership Drive Month”.

 

 

 

“I have been involved in boxing my entire life,” USA Boxing president John Brown said. “I’m a strong believer in USA Boxing and The Grass Roots Program; that truly makes up everything that IS boxing in America. The USA Boxing Alumni Association was started to keep this FAMILY together. I’m hoping that each of our current members will reach out to ONE other potential new member. I look forward to a busy month of June. ”

 

 

 

Created to champion lifelong, mutually beneficial relations between USA Boxing and its alumni, –boxers, officials, coaches and boxing fans — The Alumni Association connects generations of champions, inspiring and giving back to USA Boxing’s future boxing champions, in and out of the ring.

 

 

 

Chris Cugliari and John Scully will oversee two USA Boxing Alumni Association tables at the International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, June 7- 10 Canastota, New York, during the its golf tournament and Memorabilia Show.

 

 

 

USA Boxing product Winky Wright (51-6-1, 25 KOs), a two-time junior middleweight world champion, is one of only three boxers being inducted into the IBHOF Class of 2018.

 

 

 

Multiple world champion as a pro and 1984 Olympic silver medalist, Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill, three-time Fight of the Year participant “Irish” Micky Ward, world champions Riddick Bowe, Junior Jones and other “Alumni Association” members are expected to make supportive appearances.

 

 

 

 

 

“USA Boxing Alumni Association has enabled countless alumni to congregate at various events throughout the country since its inception last November,” added Cugliari, USA Boxing Alumni Association Executive Director. “By expanding our membership through a strong June campaign, we will build on our successful infancy and strengthen our ability to support the Alumni Association’s mission statement.  We are very thankful for the support provided by our members and look forward to even better times to come.”

 

 

 

The Alumni Association drive will continue June 24-30 in Charleston, West Virginia during the 2018 Junior Olympics, Prep Nationals and Youth Open.

 

 

 

The USA Boxing Alumni Association is open to anyone who has a love for boxing and would like to stay connected with amateur boxing. Members are granted access to a wide variety of special events host by the Alumni Association.

 

 

 

To join the Alumni Association, simply register at alumni@usaboxing,.org for a $40.00 per year membership fee. New members will receive a T-shirt, keychain and e-wallet.

 

 

 

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

amateur boxing, boxing, USA Boxing

Antonio “The Magic Man” Tarver Credits USA Boxing for giving him Structure that carried him to top

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 21, 2018) – Future Hall of Famer Antonio “The Magic Man” Tarver (31-6-1, 1 NC, 22 KOs) has just about done it all as a boxer having been an Olympic medal winner and world champion as an amateur, along with capturing five major light heavyweight world titles as a professional, as well as a pair of The Ring magazine’s top honors, and four other world championships in two different divisions.
“I credit USA Boxing for giving me structure for the first time in my life,” Tarver explained. “Everything was scheduled; curfew, eating, training, sleep….everything! I then understood that I had to be accountable for everything I did. I had talent, but I wasn’t structured, and that was bigger than me. I had to adjust to authority. My determination took off, giving me support I never had before. I went on to make speaking engagements and get sponsors. I broke barriers. I’ve been the best at every level that I fought at in the world.”
Tarver was a highly decorated amateur who had an amazing 158-12 record. He is the only boxer to capture gold medals at World Amateur Championships, U.S. National Championships and Pan-American Games in the same year (1995). The Orlando, Florida-born southpaw won a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, losing in the quarterfinals to future world champion Vassiliy Jirov, who Tarver had defeated in the semifinals of the 1995 World Amateur Championships. Tarver also won top honors at the 1994 National Golden Gloves Tournament and 1995 World Championships Challenge.
“I went on a winning roll in 1995 and went into the Olympics in rare form,” Tarver said. “And that’s why I was favored to win a gold medal. I was hitting him (Jirov), the same guy I’d beaten in the World Championships, but no points were registering for me. I had a good second round, but I was down three points, so I threw my game plan away in the third round. I felt I had to do more and got away from my style: counter punching, not getting hit, and being patient. I thought I had won and so did a lot of people. I made up for that, though, with a gold-medal professional career.
“I had been faced with a decision about going pro after I was beaten in the ’92 Olympic Trials. I decided to stay in the amateurs, despite not having any guarantees about making the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team. I sacrificed four years of my pro career, which is why I turned pro at a relatively late age (27). I was determined when I found out the 1996 Olympics were in Atlanta. I think I made the right decision and I have no regrets.
“I had always dreamed of going to the Olympics. I saw Roy Jones, Jr – we first fought each other at 13 – get robbed of gold. I was watching that on television, jumped up, and knew where I was heading: The Olympics! We both suffered horrible decisions in the Olympics and I knew then that our careers would be parallel.
Tarver made his pro debut February 18, 1997 in Philadelphia, stopping Joaquin Garcia (4-0) in the second round.
“I was an Olympic bronze medal winner but when I first turned pro,” Tarver added, “I didn’t have a promoter or manager. Nobody was willing to take a chance on me until I was 4-0, when I signed by first contract with Russell Peltz. I felt nobody could beat me.”
Nobody was able to beat Tarver, at least until his 17th pro fight, when Eric Hardingdefeated Tarver by way of a 12-round unanimous decision.
Two years later, Tarver embarked on a 12-fight murderer’s row stretch during the next seven years, arguably establishing him as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. It all started with a successful rematch with Harding (21-1-1) in Indianapolis, when Tarver dropped Harding in the fourth round, plus twice more in the fifth, on his way to a fifth-round technical knockout to avenge his lone pro loss to that date.

Next up for Tarver was a showdown with 44-3 Montell Griffin for the WBC and IBF 175-pound division titles, which were vacated by Roy Jones Jr., April 26, 2003 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. In his first world title shot as a pro, Tarver pitched a complete shutout, decking Griffin in the first and last rounds to shut out his opponent by scores of 120-103 from all three judges.
Seven months later, however, Tarver lost a controversial 12-round majority decision and his WBC crown (he was stripped of his IBF belt) to WBA Super and IBO champion Jones in Las Vegas. The following May at the venue, Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, though, Tarver became the first to knockout Jones, putting him to sleep in the second round.
Tarver then became a mainstream celebrity, appearing on late-night shows and covers ofThe Ring magazine and KO Magazine, and co-hosting an ESPN Friday Night Fights telecast.
“I was robbed in my first fight with Roy,” Tarver insisted. “They called my knockout of Roy the greatest upset in light heavyweight history. Why didn’t they see me coming? I had beaten everybody ranked ahead of me. Roy was the pound-4-pound king, but he knew. I may not be the fastest, the quickest, or the strongest, but I doubt that there’s ever been a pro fighter to enter the ring with a higher IQ than me. Even at my age, I still feel that way today.”
The WBC stripped Tarver of his title in 2004 for fighting IBF champion Glen Johnson (41-9-2) instead of the WBC mandatory challenger. Johnson, ironically, was stripped of his IBF title for the same reason right before his fight in Los Angeles with Tarver. Tarver and Johnson fought for The Ring and IBO titles and Johnson won a 12-round split decision.
In their rematch six months later in Memphis, Tarver won a unanimous 12-round decision over Johnson to capture the IBO strap. Tarver completed his trilogy with Jones, retaining his IBO title with a unanimous 12-round decision (117-111, 116-112, 116-112).
Tarver lost a 12-round decision June 10, 2006 in Atlantic City to Bernard Hopkins for the IBO championship, which was soon vacated and recaptured by Tarver with a 12-round majority decision over Elvir Muriqi (34-3).
Tarver traveled to Australia in 2011 to challenge IBO cruiserweight champion and local hero Danny Green, who retired after nine rounds, as Tarver added another title belt to his display case.
In December of 2013 in Temecula, California, Tarver knocked out Jonathon Banks (29-2-1) in the seventh round, and Tarver’s last fight was a 12-round split decision draw with former world champion Steve Cunningham (28-7) in Newark, New Jersey.
In 2006, Tarver starred as Mason “The Line” Dixon, the heavyweight champion in the film,Rocky Balboa.
Tarver, as he marches towards his planned history-making performance by becoming the oldest heavyweight world champion of all-time, also has served as a color commentator in boxing for Spike TV and Showtime.
Today, at the age of 49, Tarver is still technically active, and he also trains his son and undefeated middleweight prospect, Antonio Tarver, Jr. (5-0 (4 KOs), where they live in Tampa, Florida.
“I was older than the rest of the boxers on the U.S. Olympic Team and the U.S. National Team,” Tarver remarked. “What a team! Guys like Diego Corrales and Zab Judah didn’t make that Olympic Team. I gave Floyd Mayweather, Jr. his first moniker, ‘Pretty Boy Floyd’, until he changed it years later to ‘Money’. We had a bond on that Olympic team with Floyd, Fernando Vargas, David Reid, Zarim Raheem and the others.”
Although at the age of 49 he is still an active fighter, Tarver occassionally does some color commentating and he trains pro and amateur boxers at a gym in Tampa, Florida. “I’m not retired as a fighter,” Tarver commented. “I started a program, ‘Train with The Champ’, and it includes room rent and training. I like to say it’s an AirB&B for boxing. I train my son (5-0 middleweight Antonio Tarver, Jr. there. I learned a lot from my early days, training in Orlando with my coach, Lou Harris, and I reunited with Jimmy Williams, who is 90 now, training my son together in Tampa.
Tarver also is an advocate of the relatively new “USA Boxing Alumni Association,” which was created to champion a lifelong, mutually beneficial relations between USA Boxing and its alumni, –boxers, officials, coaches and boxing fans — the Alumni Association connects generations of champions, inspiring and giving back to USA Boxing’s future boxing champions, in and out of the ring.
“I’m going online to join,” Tarver said. “I’m looking forward to attending an Alumni Association meeting, June 24-30 during the Junior Olympics in Charleston, West Virginia.
Everything that goes around, comes around, in USA Boxing. Just ask future Hall of Fame candidate Antonio Tarver.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
boxing, USA Boxing

Back to the future with Hall of Famer Virgil Hill

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (April 20, 2018) —

Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill has gone back to the future, parlaying what he learned as an amateur boxer into a Olympic silver medal, five world titles in two weight class, induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF), and now giving back as a Los Angeles-based boxing coach and invaluable member of the USA Boxing Alumni Association.

 

 

 

 

“Winning the WBA (World Boxing Association) and IBF (International Boxing Federation) world titles were all big.” Hill spoke about his greatest boxing achievement, “But the Olympics come around every four years with only one guy from each country, if that, in each weight class. It’s very difficult. I had competed against some of the best athletes in the world, right here in the United States, preparing to represent our country in the Olympics against the best in the world. We sparred each other at camp. US fighters all have a target on their backs.

 

 

 

 

“I fought in 10 different countries that year (1984), but the best Olympics ever was held here in Los Angeles. Half of our team went on to become world champions as pro fighters and three are in the Hall of Fame (Hill, Evander Holyfield and Pernell Whitaker). I wasn’t picked to win a medal in my class. I should have won a gold medal but lost in the final (middleweight division) to a Korean fighter (Shin Joon-Sup, 2-3). Losing was tough but the opportunity to be on the US Olympic Boxing Team was the highlight of my boxing career, even more so than winning my world titles.”

 

 

 

 

Hill grew up on a ranch in North Dakota. He watched the Golden Gloves on television and asked his father if he could learn to box. His response was, maybe if we move to a city. “Remember,” Hill noted, “a city for me back then was only 50,000 people. We did move to Grand Forks and my father asked me if I still wanted to box. He brought me to a local gym when I was eight and I started training right away.”

 

 

 

 

After capturing a gold medal at the 1984 National Golden Gloves Tournament, Hill went to the USA Boxing training facility, where he learned a lot being around so many different people and boxing styles. Although he’s part Puerto-Rican, Hill is a Native-American who grew up in a predominantly German and Norwegian state (North Dakota).

 

 

 

 

“There were not many blacks or Latinos,” Hill admitted. “We grew up poor, but not ghetto poor. I learned a lot. My roommate (at USA Boxing’s training facility) was a 106-pound Puerto-Rican from New Jersey, Jose Lazario. Jose took me for a haircut one day and, when I went back to North Dakota, I had a bounce in my step and people there were all looking at my haircut. Evander Holyfield taught me how to iron. He wouldn’t go with me to the mall unless I ironed my jeans. I sat and listened to know what to expect.”

 

 

 

 

Hill completed his amateur career with an incredible 288-11 record, married a woman who was on the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team, Denean Howard (two-time gold and two-time silver medalist), and turned professional November 15, 1984, stopping Arthur Wright in the second round at famed Madison Square Garden.

 

 

 

 

He had moved to Las Vegas to train with legendary trainer, Eddie Futch, and his assistant, Freddie Roach. “I was on my own for the first time,” Hill explained. “They were good role models who prepared me to be a pro boxer, as well as for life.

 

 

 

 

Hill fought professionally until 2015, winning 51 of 58 pro fights, 24 by knockout, with only seven losses. He won his first 30 pro fights, including a fourth-round win by technical knockout of Leslie Stewart in his 19th pro fight to capture the WBA world light heavyweight title. Hill made 10 successful WBA title defenses, including eight in Bismarck, North Dakota, before losing for the first time as a pro in 1991 to future Hal of Famer Tommy Hearns.

 

 

 

 

 

Hill later recaptured the WBA world light heavyweight crown and he eventually added the IBF world light heavyweight title, in addition to becoming three-time WBA cruiserweight world champion. He retired in 2007 and then make a one-fight comeback February 28, 2015, stopping Jimmy Campbell in the second round in Bismarck, marking Hill’s final fight.

 

 

 

 

During his remarkable pro career, Hill had a 24-5 (7 KOs) world title fight record, including victories over Stewart, Marvin Camel, Adolpho Washington, Lou Del Valle, Donny Lalond, Bobby Czyz, Fabrice Tiozzo (twice), Henry Maske and Hill’s 1984 US Olympic teammate, Frank Tate (twice).

 

 

 

 

Hill remains in boxing as a trainer and occasionally a co-promotes pro-am shows in North Dakota. In Los Angeles, Hill currently trains one pro and nine amateurs. “I love being a trainer,” Hill exclaimed. “There are some special kids, the real athletic ones, but it’s the others that often make it for me. Those who aren’t as athletic and really need to work hard. Once you get a few of the kids working hard, the rest follow in line. This isn’t a democracy; it’s a dictatorship and I push ’em hard. Our LBC has 180 fights a year. I do all the matching and, if they’re in too tough, I top the fight. It’s not about winning and losing. It’s striving to be better, discipline, accomplishments and competition.

 

 

 

 

“The Elite boxers are moving on to the next level, establishing themselves to make a name and enter the pros. Ninety-five percent of the others aren’t. Boxing is still a poor man’s sport and sometimes the only option for some of these kids have is boxing. And boxing is still a very dangerous, unforgiving sport. The sky’s the limited, good and bad, for these kids. Boxing occupies their time. Some kids need more encouragement, others need to believe more in themselves. This is where they come from and who they become.”

 

 

 

 

Not only is Hill giving back as a coach, he’s key member of and spokesperson for the USA Boxing Alumni Association.

 

 

 

 

“I’m happy to be involved,” Hill talked about his back to the future journey in boxing. “It’s about time we had an alumni organization. Only the top three-percent of boxers make it big. It’s great watching everybody mix and mingle at alumni gatherings. This is about respect for each other; it’s a kinship.”

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

amateur boxing, boxing, USA Boxing

New York Metro’s “Road to the Garden” Finalists – Time to Buy Tickets!

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18 Exciting shows bring us to the end of our tournament. Since March 1, the athletes have been battling for a spot at Madison Square Garden on April 20, 2018. This is the list of competitions that have made it. Come see them battle for a title, in the Ring Master’s Championships.

 

 

MSG is offering a 25% discount to USA Boxing Metro members using the code MSGRING on checkout: https://bit.ly/2Io7MhG

 

 

The final lineup for the MSG Ring Masters Championships on Friday, April 20h at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater is set! Here is the lineup (Red corner/Blue corner):

 

 

123 Novice: Lawrence Bautista (Yonkers PAL) vs Justice Bland (PacPlex BC)

106 Female: Sabrina Slattery (SweatBox) vs Juliette Ladisa (Champs BC)

114 Open: Andy Dominguez (Mendez BC) vs Gerardo Vazquez (Atlas Cops & Kids)

132 Novice: Taqee McDaniel (Eastern Queens BC) vs Ronny Reyes (Morris Park BC)

112 Female: Lina Vezzani-Katano (Church Street BC) vs Kathreen Sterling (Gleason’s Athletic Club)

141 Novice: Adel Lakrouf (Underground BC) vs Saul De Los Santos (Brotherhood BC)

119 Female: Iman James (Gleason’s Athletic Club) vs Gabrielle Gulfin (Gleason’s Athletic Club)

123 Open: Dominique Crowder (NYAC) vs Daniil Platonovschi (Atlas Cops & Kids)

125 Female: Nyisha Goodluck (Gleason’s Athletic Club) vs Meagan Owen (SouthBox)

132 Open: Jonibek Khotamov (Atlas Cops & Kids) vs Brandon Browne (Atlas Cops & Kids)

152 Novice: Zachary Blumberg (Freeport PAL) vs David Moore (Freeport PAL)

141 Open: Steven Galeano (Bronxchester BC) vs Deyshawn Williams (Eastern Queens BC)

165 Novice: Marco Cruz (Atlas Cops & Kids) vs John McDonagh (Woodside BC)

132 Female: Gvantsa Pantsulaia (Gleason’s Athletic Club) vs Jennifer Lopez (Mendez BC)

201+ Master: Jonathan Troncoso (Main Street BC) vs Richard Adamson II (Champs BC)

152 Open: Alex Vargas (Finest Fitness) vs Reshat Mati (Atlas Cops & Kids)

178 Novice: Edwing Lachapelle (New-Bed Stuy BC) vs Fabio Guzman (Brotherhood BC)

141 Female: Sarah Thomas (Unattached) vs Macarena Soto (Freeport PAL)

165 Open: Nikita Ababiy (Atlas Cops & Kids) vs Brett Pastore (Animals MMA)

201 Novice: Calvin Belgrave (Starrett City BC) vs Orville Crooks (Mendez BC)

178 Open: Afunwa King (El Maestro BC) vs Kristiani Shytani (Morris Park BC)

201+ Novice: Jeremiah Gurley (Gleason’s Athletic Club) vs Pryce Taylor (Atlas Cops and Kids)

201 Open: Gergo Savoly (Underground BC) vs Matthew Tinker (NYAC)

201+ Open: Michael Cserenyi (Royals BC) vs Nkosi Solomon (Atlas Cops & Kids)

 

 

 

Support Metro and help send athletes to national competitions by sponsoring a bout! Go tohttps://usa-boxing-metro.myshopify.com/ to buy donate or sponsor a Finals bout!

 

 

Tickets are now available for the Finals bouts at Gleason’s Gym (ask for Bruce), and from Madison Square Garden at https://www.msg.com/calendar/the-theater-at-madison-square-garden-april-2018-msg-boxing-presents-ring-masters-championship.   Support Metro and BUY TICKETS NOW!!!

 

 

For information, go to usaboxingmetro.com, and be sure to watch the action live on YouTube and Facebook at Puglife Chronicles (@puglifechronicles).

amateur boxing, boxing, USA Boxing

USA Boxing announces   Duke Ragan & Virginia Fuchs 2017 Under Armour Elite Boxers of the Year

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 5, 2018 — USA Boxing has announced that Duke Ragan (Cincinnati, OH) and Virginia Fuchs (Kemah, TX) have been named 2017 Under Armour Elite Boxers of the Year. They are leading contenders to represent Team USA at the 2020 Olympics in Japan.
Last year, the 20-year-old Ragan used his stiff jab and ring intelligence to make a major statement in the ring for the first time in International competition. The slick bantamweight (123 lbs.) captured gold at his initial International tournament, the Chemistry Cup in Halle, Germany, before he clinched a ticket to his first World Championships, by way of his bronze-medal winning performance at the 2017 Continental Championships in Honduras.
Ragan’s third International medal of 2017 came at the 2017 Elite Men’s World Championships, where he won a silver medal, marking the highest placing for an American bantamweight at that prestigious tournament since 1999.
Fuchs, 30, had a perfect 18-0 record in 2017, including 15 unanimous decision victories and one by RSC (referee stopped contest). Highlighted by winning top honors in the flyweight division (112 lbs.) at the 2017 USA Elite National Championships at Salt Lake City, Utah, Virginia also won at the Balkan Tournament, Continental Championships, Feliks Stamm Tournament, and Strandja Tournament. She won gold at all four International tournaments she entered.
A winner at the 2016 Olympic Trials, Fuchs graduated from Louisiana State University in 2011 with a degree in Kinesiology.
Below is a complete list of USA Boxing’s 2017 Under Armour Boxer of the Year award winners:
 
2017 Under Armour Boxer of the Year Awards
Elite Male – Duke Ragan (Cincinnati, OH)
Elite Female – Virginia Fuchs (Kemah, TX)
Youth Male – Angel Martinez (Rockford, IL)
Youth Female – Citlalli Ortiz (Coachella, CA)
Junior Male – Dante Benjamin (Shaker Heights, OH)
Junior Female — Gabriela Fundora (Coachella, CA)
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
amateur boxing, boxing, USA Boxing

2001 Fight of the Year Reunion for final stop of 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Tour

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Emanuel Augustus joins special guests Micky Ward & Steve Smoger to complete memorable fight
March 21 in Manchester, NH
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 19, 2018) – Retired pro boxer Emanuel Augustus has confirmed his attendance this week at a USA Boxing-hosted reunion of the 2001 Fight of the Year, associated with the final stop on the 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour festivities in Manchester, New Hampshire.
The 2001 Fight of the Year was held July 13, 2001, at Hampton Beach Casino in Hampton, NH., and it is still considered one of the greatest matches ever broadcast on ESPN. “Irish” Micky Ward won an incredibly entertaining, back-and-forth junior welterweight match-up with “boxing cult” hero Emanuel Augustus, by way of a 10-round unanimous decision that was much closer than the judges’ scoring indicated (98-90, 96-91, 96-94).
“Ward versus Augustus was truly the event of the year in boxing and we’re so happy it was held right here in New Hampshire,” said Stephen, who has been in his position as chairman since 1974, “Micky was losing the fight until the later rounds. As the chairperson of he commission, I checked the judges’ scorecards after six or seven rounds and Micky was losing. Then, Micky caught Augustus, dropped and really hurt him. He went on to win a great fight.”
The high-profile win positioned Ward for what turned out to be his epic Gatti trilogy, while Augustus went on to become one of the most dangerous, upset-minded opponents in boxing. Ward, Augustus and the third man in the ring that night, Hall of Fame referee Steve Smoger, will host as USA Alumni Association event Tuesday, Mar. 20 at The Shaskeen Pub & Restaurant (909 Elm St. in Manchester), starting at 6 p.m. ET.
The trio will also be joined by two others closely associated with the 2001 Fight of the Year, Chairman of the New Hampshire Boxing and Wrestling Commission, Bobby Stephen, as well as International matchmaker, Eric Bottjer, who made the Ward-Augustus fight in 2001.
All five will also attend the USA Boxing Alumni Association event as well as the following night’s (Mar. 21) USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour finale at the Manchester Downtown Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire.
 
SPECIAL MANCHESTER AMATEUR BOXING MATCH ADDED
A special lightweight novice WILL open the competition, showcasing two Manchester amateur boxers, Abhisek Thapa (Title Boxing Club) and Michael Correa (Manchester PAL).
Presented by Corona Premium, the Manchester event will start at 7 p.m. EST, and it also serves as a fundraiser for another partner of the show, the Manchester PAL Boxing Club.
Tickets are reasonably priced at $20.00 for general admission, $30 for reserved ringside seats, and available to purchase on Seacoast Ticket Agency’s website, www.seacoastticket.com, the official ticket distributor for the event.
“We’re so happy to have the USA-Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour here in Manchester,” Stephen added. “The talent on both squads is extraordinary. We’re honored to have these two teams here for this big event. It’s a credit to USA Boxing and (special events director) Al Valenti, who has done so much over the years for boxing in New Hampshire. Boxing was very popular here many years ago. People turned out in droves to attend the Golden Gloves. There’s a boxing resurgence and that’s so important to teach young people discipline, respect and conditioning that’s so needed today. These amateurs do their best for the love of boxing; they aren’t in it for money like professionals.
“Micky is honorable, a real nice person. It means a lot for local fans and boxers to meet him. We were fortunate to have him fight in New Hampshire on serval occasions and nobody who watched his fight Augustus or his trilogy with Arturo Gatti will never forget.”.
To stay up to date on the USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour click here.
USA vs. Ireland Schedule
March 21: The Manchester Downtown Hotel, Manchester, N.H.
(All boxers and bouts are subject to change.)
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing

Mick

amateur boxing, boxing, USA Boxing, women's boxing

Team USA knocks off Team Ireland, 7-3 on USA Boxing’s 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour stop #2; SPRINGFIELD RESULTS

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Team USA middleweight Troy Isley was named Most Outstanding Boxer of the night

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 16, 2018) – Team USA defeated Team Ireland, 7-3, last night (Thursday) on the second stop of the three-city 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour, at MassMutual Center MGM Springfield in Massachusetts.

Team USA defeated Team Ireland in team scoring, 8-4, last Monday in the first dual and it also clinched the team title last night, holding a 2-0 advantage with one more match-up to go in the series.
Thursday night’s final score was somewhat misleading, though, much more competitive than the final team score may indicate, as the first five matches ended in 2-1 split decisions, all in favor of Team USA.
Gifted California bantamweight Marc Castro won his second straight bout on this tour,defeating George Bates, 2-1, in the Fight of the Night.
Most Outstanding Boxer of the night, Virginia middleweight Troy Isley, the 2017 Elite World Championship bronze medalist, locked up the team victory and series clincher in the seventh match of the night with an up-close-and-personal unanimous decision over game Irish middleweight Gerard French.
The USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour concludes Wednesday, Mar. 21 at The Manchester Downtown Hotel in New Hampshire. The action will commence at 7:00 p.m. ET for up to 12 world-class amateur bouts, which will all be live streamed, free of charge, on USA Boxing’s website (www.usaboxing.org). Presented by Corona Premium and serving as a fundraiser for another partner of the show, the Manchester PAL Boxing Club, tickets are $20 for general admission, $30 for reserved ringside seats, and available to purchase on Seacoast Ticket Agency’s website, www.seacoastticket.com, the official ticket distributor for the event.
Irish heavyweight Kiril Afganasev edged 2017 US National bronze medalist Adrian Tillman, 3-0, for the second consecutive time on this tour. The taller Afranasov was too strong inside, once again, for Tillman.
American light heavyweight Khalil Coe decisioned six-time Irish National champion Caoimhin Hynes for the second time in a row by the identical scoring, 3-0, by effectively using his superior height and reach advantage.
Eight-time Irish National Champion Brett McGinty avenged his opening night loss, winning a 2-1 decision against National AAU champion Nikita Ababiy.
Southpaw Paddy Donovan gave Ireland its first win of the night, upsetting Cleveland welterweight Quinton Randall, a 2017 Elite World Championship team member, in the sixth match, by way of the first 3-0 unanimous decision of the evening.
 
2016 Youth World Champion Delante “Tiger” Johnson took a split decision from Irish light welterweight Caoimhin Ferguson, 2-1.
California light welterweight Charlie Sheehy kept the American freight train rolling, taking a split decision from eight-time Irish National champion Wayne Kelly.
In a rematch of last Monday’s match, heavy-handed American welterweight Oshae Jones, a 2017 Elite Women’s Continental Championships silver medalist, won a hard-fought split decision over Grainne Walsh for the second time in a row. Jones dropped Walsh in the opening round, but the Irish boxer battled back in another second spirited confrontation.
In the opening match of the evening, Virginia light welterweight Amelia Moore, in her first international bout, upset World Championships silver medalist lightweight Kellie Harrington, 2-1.
Complete individual & team results:
 
SPRINGFIELD RESULTS
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Kiril Afanasev, Dublin, Ireland
WDEC (3-0)
Adrian Tillman, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Khalil Coe, Jersey, City, New Jersey, USA
WDEC (3-0)
Caoimhin Hynes, Belfast, Ireland
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Brett McGinty, Derry, Ireland
WDEC (2-1)
Nikita Ababiy, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Troy Isley, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
WDEC (3-0)
Gerard French, Anrtim
WELTERWEIGHTS
Paddy Donovan, Limerick
WDEC (3-0)
Quinton Randall, Katy, Texas, USA
LIGHT WELTERWEIGHTS
Tiger Johnson, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
WDEC (2-1)
Caoimhin Ferguson, Atrium
Charlie Sheey, Brisbane, California
WDEC (2-1)
Wayne Kelly, Laois, Ireland
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Marc Castro, Fresno, California, USA
WDEC3 (2-1)
George Bates, Dublin
WOMEN WELTERWEIGHTS
Oshae Jones, Toledo, Ohio, USA
WDEC (2-1)
Grainne Walsh, Offaly, Ireland
WOMEN LIGHTWEIGHTS
Amelia Moore, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
WDEC (2-1)
Kellie Harrington, Dublin, Ireland
USA: 7            IRELAND: 3
 
 
To stay up to date on the USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour click here.
USA vs. Ireland Schedule
March 21: The Manchester Downtown Hotel, Manchester, N.H.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing