COLORADO SPRINGS, Lap. (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 US. Olympiska lagförsök för boxning och 2019 SM, 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 & 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, “Stor” George Foreman, “Smokin'” Joe Frazier och 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: boxare, officiell, tränare, administrator and, Naturligtvis, skuren människa. “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, “Jag var hooked. 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 och 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. Mer, 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, mentorn, skuren människa, and leader throughout the amateur boxing community is inspirational,” kommenterade Chris tofflemire, USA Boxing Alumni Association verkställande direktör. “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 födelsedag. 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.
“Vid min ålder, I’m happy to have any birthday,” Rodgers joked. “I’m hoping to live another 10-12 år, Lord willing. It’s all in the Lord’s hands; controlling the flow of blood, fast, is in my hands.”
Confirmed special guests include 1988 OS-guldmedaljören Andrew Maynard, three-time National AAU Coach of the Year (1972-76-77) Joe Clough, 1984 OS-guldmedaljören Frank Tate och hans bror Thomas, 1972 Olympian Tim Dement, 2002 Nationell Golden Handskar mästare 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 ochStephens brothers – Donald, Anthony och Jerry.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE USA BOXING ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Skapad att kämpa en livslång, ömsesidigt gynnsamma relationer mellan USA boxning och dess alumner, –boxare, tjänstemän, tränare och boxning fans — Alumni Association ansluter generationer av champions, inspirerande och ge tillbaka till USA Boxning framtida boxning mästare, in och ut ur ringen.
USA Boxing Alumni Association är öppet för alla som har en kärlek till boxning och vill hålla kontakten med amatörboxning. Medlemmar får tillgång till ett brett utbud av specialevenemang värd av Alumni Association, inklusive USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame mottagning.
För att delta i Alumni Association, helt enkelt registrera vid alumni@usaboxing.org för en $40.00 per år medlemsavgift. Nya medlemmar får en T-shirt, nyckelring och e-plånbok.
CLASS OF 2017: The charter class was headed by Muhammad Ali och Evander Holyfield, in addition to veteran coaches Roosevelt Sanders och Tom Coulter.
CLASS OF 2018: US. OS-laget medaljörer och världen (professionell) mästare Roy Jones, Jr., Andre Ward och Claressa Shields, as well as former USA Boxing National Director of Coaching Emanuel Steward and veteran USA Boxing official Tom Cleary.