COLORADO SPRINGS, Giro. (Novembre 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, Dicembre 13, during a special Class of 2019 ceremony, al Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The HOF reception is being held in conjunction with the 2020 U.S. Qualificazioni olimpiche per la boxe e 2019 Campionati Nazionali, Dicembre. 7-15, al Lake Charles Civic Center. The finals of the Olympic Trials will be held Sunday, Dicembre. 15, al Golden Nugget Hotel & Casinò. 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, “Grande” George Foreman, “Smokin'” Joe Frazier e 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: pugile, official, allenatore, administrator and, naturalmente, taglio uomo. “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, “Sono stato agganciato. 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 e 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. Di Più, he’s already been inducted in three Hall of Fames: Guanti d'argento, Golden Gloves and Arkansas Sports HOF.
“Ray’s sacrifice to countless youth as a coach, mentore, taglio uomo, and leader throughout the amateur boxing community is inspirational,” commentato Chris Tofflemire, USA Boxing Alumni Association direttore esecutivo. “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 compleanno. 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.
“Alla mia età, I’m happy to have any birthday,” Rodgers joked. “I’m hoping to live another 10-12 anni, Lord willing. It’s all in the Lord’s hands; controlling the flow of blood, anche se, is in my hands.”
Confirmed special guests include 1988 Medaglia d'oro olimpica Andrew Maynard, three-time National AAU Coach of the Year (1972-76-77) Joe Clough, 1984 Medaglia d'oro olimpica Frank Tate e suo fratello Thomas, 1972 Olimpionico Tim Dement, 2002 Gloves Nazionale campione d'Oro Jaidon Codringtion, 1980 Olympic Qualifier Jackie Beard, 1981 Olimpiadi Junior Glen Modicue, four-time National champion Eric Kelly, 1988 Eastern Olympic Qualifier champion John Scully, Obie Beard, Mark Lanton e laStephens fratelli – Donald, Anthony e Jerry.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE USA BOXING ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Creato per sostenere una vita, relazioni reciprocamente vantaggiose tra USA Boxing ed i suoi ex allievi, –pugili, funzionari, allenatori e appassionati di boxe — L'Alumni Association collega generazioni di campioni, ispirando e restituendo ai futuri campioni di boxe USA Boxing, in e fuori dal ring.
Gli Stati Uniti Boxing Alumni Association è aperta a chiunque abbia un amore per la boxe e vorrebbe rimanere in contatto con il pugilato dilettantistico. I membri hanno accesso a una vasta gamma di speciali ospita eventi dall'Associazione Alumni, compresi gli Stati Uniti Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame di ricezione.
Per aderire all'Associazione Alumni, semplicemente registrarsi al alumni@usaboxing.org per un $40.00 all'anno quota associativa. I nuovi membri riceveranno una T-shirt, portachiavi e e-wallet.
CLASSE DI 2017: The charter class was headed by Muhammad Ali e Evander Holyfield, in addition to veteran coaches Roosevelt Sanders e Tom Coulter.
CLASSE DI 2018: U.S. Medagliati a squadre olimpiche e mondiali (professionale) campioni Roy Jones, Jr., Andre Ward e Claressa Shields, as well as former USA Boxing National Director of Coaching Emanuel Steward and veteran USA Boxing official Tom Cleary.