Колорадо Спрингс, Тойргийн. (Арваннэгдүгээр 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, Арванхоёрдугаар сар 13, during a special Class of 2019 ceremony, at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles, Луизиана.
The HOF reception is being held in conjunction with the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing and 2019 Үндэсний аварга шалгаруулах тэмцээн, Нийтэлсэн. 7-15, at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The finals of the Olympic Trials will be held Sunday, Нийтэлсэн. 15, at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Казино. Hall of Fame broadcaster Аль 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” Жорж мастер, “Smokin'” Жо Фрейзиер болон Марк Breland, as well as legendary coach Аль 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: боксчин, official, сургагч багш, administrator and, Мэдээж, захын хүн. “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, “Би залгагдаж байна. 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 болон 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. Дэлгэрэнгүй, 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, багш, захын хүн, and leader throughout the amateur boxing community is inspirational,” тайлбар Крис Кулиари, 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 83дугаар төрсөн өдөр. He still owns and operates Ray Rodgers Boxing Club in West Little Rock, Арканзас, in addition to serving as director of the Arkansas Golden Gloves and Mid-South Tournament, which includes Louisiana, Миссисипи, 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 жил, Lord willing. It’s all in the Lord’s hands; controlling the flow of blood, Хэдийгээр, is in my hands.”
Confirmed special guests include 1988 Олимпийн алтан медальт Andrew Maynard, three-time National AAU Coach of the Year (1972-76-77) Joe Clough, 1984 Олимпийн алтан медальт Фрэнк Tate мөн түүний дүү Томас, 1972 Олимпод Tim Dement, 2002 Үндэсний Алтан бээлий аварга Jaidon Codringtion, 1980 Olympic Qualifier Jackie Beard, 1981 Junior Olympics Glen Modicue, four-time National champion Эрик Келли, 1988 Eastern Olympic Qualifier champion Жон Scully, Obie Beard, Mark Lanton болонStephens brothers – Donald, Энтони болон Жерри.
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, –боксчид, албан тушаалтнууд, дасгалжуулагчид, боксын хорхойтнууд — Төгсөгчдийн холбоо үе үеийн аваргуудыг холбодог, боксын ирээдүйн аваргуудад урам зориг хайрлаж, буцааж өгөх болно, болон бөгж гарч.
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.
Төгсөгчдийн холбоонд элсэх, зүгээр л бүртгүүлэх alumni@usaboxing.org нь $40.00 per year membership fee. New members will receive a T-shirt, түлхүүрийн оосор ба цахим түрийвч.
Анги 2017: The charter class was headed by Мухаммед Али болон Evander Холифилд, in addition to veteran coaches Roosevelt Sanders болон Tom Coulter.
Анги 2018: U.S. Olympic Team medalists and world (Мэргэжлийн) champions Рой Жонс, JR., Андре Тойргийн болон Claressa Shields, as well as former USA Boxing National Director of Coaching Emanuel нярав and veteran USA Boxing official Tom Cleary.