COLORADO SPRINGS, Ronde. (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, December 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. Olympisch Team Trials voor Boksen en 2019 Nationale Kampioenschappen, December. 7-15, at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The finals of the Olympic Trials will be held Sunday, December. 15, at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino. 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, “Groot” George Foreman, “Smokin'” Joe Frazier en 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: bokser, officieel, trainer, administrator and, natuurlijk, 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, “Ik was verslaafd. 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 en 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. Meer, he’s already been inducted in three Hall of Fames: Zilveren handschoenen, Golden Gloves and Arkansas Sports HOF.
“Ray’s sacrifice to countless youth as a coach, mentor, cut man, and leader throughout the amateur boxing community is inspirational,” becommentarieerde Chris Tofflemire, USA Boxing Alumni Association uitvoerend directeur. “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 verjaardag. 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.
“Op mijn leeftijd, I’m happy to have any birthday,” Rodgers joked. “I’m hoping to live another 10-12 jaar, Lord willing. It’s all in the Lord’s hands; controlling the flow of blood, hoewel, is in my hands.”
Confirmed special guests include 1988 Olympisch gouden medaillewinnaar Andrew Maynard, three-time National AAU Coach of the Year (1972-76-77) Joe Clough, 1984 Olympisch gouden medaillewinnaar Frank Tate en zijn broer Thomas, 1972 Olympiër Tim Dement, 2002 Nationale Golden Gloves kampioen 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 en deStephens broers – Donald, Anthony en Jerry.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE USA BOXING ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Gemaakt om kampioen een levenslange, wederzijds voordelige relaties tussen de VS in dozen en haar alumni, –boksers, ambtenaren, coaches en boxing fans — De Alumnivereniging verbindt generaties kampioenen, inspirerende en terug te geven aan de VS Boxing toekomstige kampioenen boksen, in en uit de ring.
De Verenigde Staten Boxing Alumni Association staat open voor iedereen die een liefde heeft voor het boksen en wil graag contact houden met amateur-boksen. Leden krijgen toegang tot een breed scala aan speciale evenementen gastheer verleend door de Alumni Association, waaronder de Verenigde Staten Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame receptie.
Om lid te worden van de Alumnivereniging, kunt u zich registreren op alumni@usaboxing.org voor een $40.00 per jaar contributie. Nieuwe leden krijgen een T-shirt te ontvangen, sleutelhanger en e-wallet.
KLASSE VAN 2017: The charter class was headed by Muhammad Ali en Evander Holyfield, in addition to veteran coaches Roosevelt Sanders en Tom Coulter.
KLASSE VAN 2018: U.S. Olympisch Team medaillewinnaars en de wereld (professioneel) kampioenen Roy Jones, Jr., Andre Ward en Claressa Shields, as well as former USA Boxing National Director of Coaching Emanuel Steward and veteran USA Boxing official Tom Cleary.