COLORADO SPRINGS, Putaran. (November 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, Bulan Desember 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 DIRI KITA. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing and 2019 Kejuaraan Nasional, Desember. 7-15, at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The finals of the Olympic Trials will be held Sunday, Desember. 15, at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Kasino. 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, “Besar” George Foreman, “Smokin'” Joe Frazier dan 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: petinju, official, pelatih, administrator and, tentu saja, cut man. “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, “Aku ketagihan. 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 dan 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. Lebih Banyak, 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, penasihat, cut man, and leader throughout the amateur boxing community is inspirational,” berkomentar Chris Cugliari, Direktur Eksekutif Asosiasi Alumni Tinju AS. “His years of service and the knowledge he has passed on to other generations is what makes him a Hall of Famer, dan kami berharap untuk menghormatinya di bulan Desember.”
Rodgers hasn’t slowed down, despite recently celebrating his 83rd ulang tahun. 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 tahun, Lord willing. It’s all in the Lord’s hands; controlling the flow of blood, meskipun, is in my hands.”
Confirmed special guests include 1988 Peraih medali emas Olimpiade Andrew Maynard, three-time National AAU Coach of the Year (1972-76-77) Joe Clough, 1984 Peraih medali emas Olimpiade Frank Tate dan saudaranya Thomas, 1972 Olimpiade Tim Dement, 2002 Juara Golden Gloves nasional 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 danStephens kakak beradik – Donald, Anthony dan Jerry.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE USA BOXING ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Diciptakan untuk juara seumur hidup, hubungan yang saling menguntungkan antara USA Boxing dan alumninya, –petinju, pejabat, pelatih dan penggemar tinju — Asosiasi Alumni menghubungkan generasi juara, menginspirasi dan memberikan kembali kepada juara tinju masa depan USA Boxing, masuk dan keluar dari ring.
Asosiasi Alumni Tinju AS terbuka untuk siapa saja yang menyukai tinju dan ingin tetap terhubung dengan tinju amatir. Anggota diberikan akses ke berbagai acara khusus yang diselenggarakan oleh Asosiasi Alumni, termasuk penerimaan Hall of Fame Asosiasi Alumni Tinju AS.
Untuk bergabung dengan Asosiasi Alumni, cukup mendaftar di alumni@usaboxing.org untuk sebuah $40.00 biaya keanggotaan per tahun. Anggota baru akan menerima kaos, gantungan kunci dan e-wallet.
KELAS 2017: The charter class was headed by Muhammad Ali dan Evander Holyfield, selain pelatih veteran Roosevelt Sanders dan Tom Coulter.
KELAS 2018: DIRI KITA. Peraih medali Tim Olimpiade dan dunia (profesional) juara Roy Jones, Jr., Andre Ward dan Claressa Shields, serta mantan Direktur Pelatihan Nasional Tinju USA Emanuel Steward dan pejabat veteran USA Boxing Tom Cleary.