Colorado Springs, Gwiwa. (Nuwamba 25, 2019) – Arkansas boxing icon Ray Rodgershas successfully dealt with more cuts than most surgeons, all the way into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame, in which he’ll be inducted on Friday night, Disamba 13, during a special Class of 2019 ceremony, at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The HOF reception is being held in conjunction with the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing and 2019 National gasar, Dec. 7-15, at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The finals of the Olympic Trials will be held Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Gidan caca. Hall of Fame broadcaster Al Bernstein from Showtime Sports will serve as the event’s emcee for the third year in a row.
The USA Boxing Alumni Association’s third HOF class also includes three Olympic gold-medalists, “Big” George Foreman, “Smokin'” Joe Frazier da kuma Mark Breland, as well as legendary coach Al Mitchell.
Sen. John McCain will be posthumously presented a special Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work to protect boxers and elevate the sport.
There isn’t much in boxing, if anything, that Rodgers hasn’t done: ɗan dambe, official, mai horo, administrator and, i mana, yanke mutum. “I’m a boxing guy,” Rodgers said in his Southern twang. “I’ve been around the block, several times. But I don’t say I’m a cut man, I’m a laceration management specialist.”
Rodgers first got into boxing when he was in the fifth grade, back in Oklahoma, where he was born. A memo was sent around that there would be a tryout for boxing held the next day at the local high school gym. His parents gave their permission to let him tryout, the first chapter of his incredible boxing career.
“From the first moment,” the charming boxing character remembered, “An kamu. I still have the letter I received in boxing. That was in 1947 and I’m still in boxing. I’m very proud of that.”
Rodgers has worked 39 world championship fights in professional boxing, as a cut man (he only trains amateur boxers) for the likes of world champions Jermaine Taylor, Wayne McCollough da kuma Tommy Morrison.
“It’s been beyond belief for a regular old boxing guy like me,” Rodgers said about his life in boxing. “I’ve traveled all over the world, many times, as a cut man.”
He was the first national official of both the Golden Gloves and Silver Gloves. Kara, he’s already been inducted in three Hall of Fames: Silver Gloves, Golden Gloves and Arkansas Sports HOF.
“Ray’s sacrifice to countless youth as a coach, shawarta, yanke mutum, and leader throughout the amateur boxing community is inspirational,” sharhi Chris Cugliari, USA Boxing Alumni Association Executive Director. “His years of service and the knowledge he has passed on to other generations is what makes him a Hall of Famer, and we look forward to honoring him in December.”
Rodgers hasn’t slowed down, despite recently celebrating his 83RD ranar haihuwa. He still owns and operates Ray Rodgers Boxing Club in West Little Rock, Arkansas, in addition to serving as director of the Arkansas Golden Gloves and Mid-South Tournament, which includes Louisiana, Mississippi, Western Tennessee and Arkansas. And he’s also the vice-president of the National Golden Gloves and chairman of the National Silver Gloves.
“At my age, I’m happy to have any birthday,” Rodgers joked. “I’m hoping to live another 10-12 shekaru, Lord willing. It’s all in the Lord’s hands; controlling the flow of blood, ko da yake, is in my hands.”
Confirmed special guests include 1988 Olympics zinariya medalist Andrew Maynard, three-time National AAU Coach of the Year (1972-76-77) Joe Clough, 1984 Olympics zinariya medalist Frank Tate da ɗan'uwansa Thomas, 1972 Tseren Tim Dement, 2002 Na kasa Golden safofin hannu Zakaran Jaidon Codringtion, 1980 Olympic Qualifier Jackie Beard, 1981 Junior Olympics Glen Modicue, four-time National champion Eric Kelly, 1988 Eastern Olympic Qualifier champion John Scully, Obie Beard, Mark Lanton da kumaStephens brothers – Donald, Anthony da kuma Jerry.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE USA BOXING ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Created to champion a lifelong, mutually beneficial relations between USA Boxing and its alumni, –boxers, jami'an, kocina da kuma dambe magoya — A Daliban da Association ta haɗu da al'ummomi na zakarun, yin ishãra da kuma bada baya ga USA dambe ta nan gaba dambe zakarun, a kuma daga cikin zobe.
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, including the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception.
Don shiga cikin Daliban da Association, kawai yin rijista a alumni@usaboxing.org ga wani $40.00 per year membership fee. New members will receive a T-shirt, keychain da kuma e-walat.
CLASS OF 2017: The charter class was headed by Muhammad Ali da kuma Evander Holyfield, in addition to veteran coaches Roosevelt Sanders da kuma Tom Coulter.
CLASS OF 2018: U.S. Olympic Team medalists and world (sana'a) champions Roy Jones, Jr., Andre Ward da kuma Claressa Shields, as well as former USA Boxing National Director of Coaching Emanuel Steward and veteran USA Boxing official Tom Cleary.