|
||||||
|
Колорадо Спрингс, Скут. (Декември 3, 2018) – Two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Шийлдс not only is spearheading a new wave in women’s boxing, she has developed into a true role model for countless youths.
Shields will be inducted into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame this Friday night in Salt Lake City, along with Class of 2018 членове Roy Jones Jr. и, Андре Уорд, as well as the late Emanuel Stewartи Том Клиъри.
Вторият ежегоден прием в Залата на славата на Асоциацията на възпитаниците на бокса в САЩ, проведено във връзка с 2018 Национални първенства за елитен и младежки бокс на САЩ и първенство за младежи и подготовка, Декември 2-8, ще се проведе декември 7, в хотел Радисън (215 S. Храм Св.) в Солт Лейк Сити, Юта.
“I feel honored,” Shields spoke about being inducted into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame,” I am only 23 years old and to be inducted into the USA Boxing Hall of Fame is a great honor, but also a shock to me. I believe I am worthy of any honor, but I know things take time, and I always thought I would put in the Hall of Fame at the age 40 или 50. This is a big deal to me and I feel so honored. Just to have my name mentioned alongside names of greats like Andre Ward and Roy Jones just really motivates me. I feel privileged!”
The pride of Flint, Мичиган, Shields has already successfully parlayed her amateur success to the professional ranks, in which she is 7-0 (2), and the reigning unified (IBF, WBA & WBC) световен шампион в средна.
Shields finished her amateur career with an incredible 77-1 (18 Нокаута) рекорд, highlighted by her Olympic gold-medal-performances in 2012 и 2016. She hasn’t lost in the ring since 2012, когато Savannah Marshall (Англия) won on points, 14-8, at the World Championships in China.
“USA Boxing came into my life as a two-time Junior Olympic champion,” Claressa explained her USA Boxing relationship. “The help from USA Boxing was so important: just noticing me as a young athlete and knowing I would be a strong young woman to represent the USA in the future; среща Julie Goldsticker, who was a blessing for me as she helped me with a lot as a teenager, and just having Coach Abdullah, треньор Al Mitchell, and coach Gloria Peek teach me different styles and how to use all my attributes. USA Boxing blessed me with a lot of knowledge and life-long friendships with all my Olympic teammates and Olympic coaches. My favorite coach, Koroma, literally was with me the whole way through 2015-2016, helping me outside the ring with advice and inside the ring.”
Shields is one of the driving forces in women’s boxing today, carrying the torch handed off by American female boxing pioneers such as Кристи Мартин, Лайла Али and a few others.
“There is great change going on right now — ми, Микаела Майер, Franchon Crews, Кейти Тейлър, Аманда Serrano and a few other women are carrying the torch for women’s boxing right now,” Shields explained. “Progress has been fast, every network has had a women’s fight on television this year, especially Showtime, on which I have boxed the main event four times. Women’s boxing can go far. I believe the day will come when we can be paid millions just like men.”
By opening doors and breaking down obstacles, Claressa has become a true role model for youngsters all over, в и извън бокса.
“It feels good to be a role model for them (females), and also for so many male boxers,” Shields noted. “Boxing is in a different era and I just want to make it easier for girls coming up, so when they turn pro, boxing will be closer to equality.”
“Claressa has one of the greatest stories in the history of amateur boxing,” каза Крис tofflemire, Изпълнителен директор на Асоциацията на възпитаниците на бокса в САЩ. “Her drive, commitment, талант, and character made her a USA Boxing and Olympic champion, leaving a legacy that will last for a very long time. She is a trailblazer for women’s boxing and has established her place as one of the most influential USA Boxing Alumni members of all time. The USA Boxing Alumni Association wants to thank her for inspiring the amateur boxing community and serving as a great role model for the next generation of champions.”
САЩ Асоциация на завършилите Бокс
Създаден за шампион през целия живот, взаимноизгодни отношения между САЩ Boxing и неговите възпитаници, –боксьори, служители, треньори и феновете на бокса — Асоциацията на завършилите свързва поколения шампиони, вдъхновяваща и предаваме на бъдещите шампиони по бокс САЩ бокса, в и извън ринга.
Асоциацията на завършилите боксови САЩ е отворена за всеки, който има любов към бокса и биха искали да останете във връзка с аматьорски бокс. На членовете се предоставя достъп до голямо разнообразие от специални събития, организирани от Асоциацията на възпитаниците, включително прием на Залата на славата на Асоциацията на възпитаниците на бокса в САЩ.
За да се присъедините Асоциацията на завършилите, просто да се регистрират в alumni@usaboxing.org за $40.00 годишно членски внос. Нови членове ще получат фланелка, ключодържател и електронен портфейл.
Despite all the honors and accolades, she has so richly received, Shields hasn’t forgotten where it all started, and she’s still actively involved in USA Boxing.
“I keep in contact with a lot of the female athletes and give them advice if they ask me,” Claressa added. “I also went to Colorado for five days to be a motivator and keynote speaker for the Next Olympic Hopeful. After my career is over in about 15 години, I want to be a boxing trainer and lead the women’s team to more Olympic gold medals, if given the opportunity. I also want to be a school teacher and a counselor for youth.”
Шийлдс, за съжаление, is unable to attend this Friday night’s Hall of Fame reception because she’s in deep training for her titles defense this Saturday evening on HBO, live from the StubHub Center in Carson, Калифорния, срещу Fenmke Hermans (9-1).
“Печално,” Shields concluded, “I can’t be there but, if I was there, I would say: Thank you to USA Boxing for believing in me at the age of 16. It was an honor to represent America, not only once but two times in the Olympics! I thank Coach Тояга (Walsh) for making me dig deep, by having to deal with his Irish ways and jokes, also for changing the culture of USA Boxing. A special thank you to coach Kay, also, I can’t count on my hands how many days we trained at 1 сутринта, how many times I knocked on his room door and ran, how many times he has had to take my phone from me because I was crying or having a family problem. He is the coach I could tell everything to, and he also blessed me with his boxing knowledge and made me always feel secure in myself when he was in the corner. USA Boxing isn’t just staff – USA Boxing is family! Even though I’ve had a few words with Matthew Johnson and other staff, I thank them for being hard on me and making sure I handled my responsibilities. Love to all USA Boxing staff, I’m truly thankful.”
Claressa Shields is much more than world and Olympian champion, she’s a class act as well, exactly what’s so desperately needed today.
ИНФОРМАЦИЯ:
Кикотене: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing