Tag Archives: Steve Smoger

Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame Inaugural Induction Weekend

THIS WEEKEND
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WHO: The Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame (ACBHOF)
WHAT: The Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame will enshrine 24 Charter Class members.
Confirmed to attend Honorees:
Mike Tyson, Michael Spinks, Don King, Larry Hazzard, Dwight Muhammad Qawi, J Russell Peltz, Frank Gelb, Mike Rossman, Bill Johnson, Steve Smoger, Dave Bontempo, Don Elbaum, Bob Lee and Ken Condon.
The Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame will celebrate and remember the legacy of Lou Duva, Arturo “Thunder” Gatti, Matthew Saad Muhammad as well as hometown hero Leavander Johnson for their extraordinary careers spanning seven decades.
Special Guests
  • *Ray Mercer (BULLYING…We’re Kickin’ It Spokesperson)
  • *Mark Breland
  • *Iran Barkley
  • *Milton Luban
  • *Tracy Patterson
  • *John Scully
  • Non Fighters
  • *Don Guardian, Mayor of Atlantic City
  • *Rodney Jerkins, multi Grammy-award winner
  • *Suzette Charles, former Miss America
  • *Sophia Gatti, daughter of Arturo Gatti
  • *Pat Lynch, renowned Boxing Manager
  • *Lillo Brancato, Actor
  • *Grandy Twins
  • *Vincenzo Vaccaro: Cake King of Queens
  • *Atlantic City Police Athletic League
  • *Aaron Snowell, co-organizer the Jack Johnson Exhibit
  • *BULLYING…We’re Kickin’ It
  • *The Legacy Exists Joe Frazier Scholarship Fund
  • *Joseph Nicolosi, Artist known for his signature Pop Art portraits
  • *James O’Neal, Wood Sculpture Artist
WHERE: The Claridge – A Radisson Hotel, 123 South Indiana Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Friday, May 26th, Sunday May 27th and Sunday, May 28th
May 26th (Press Conference) Check-in 3:30P | in the The Vue | Kickoff Reception 4P – 7P
 May 27th Press Check-in 9:15A | in the Conference Center | Fight Fan Experience 10A – 4P
May 27th Press Check-in 5:15P | Red Carpet Arrivals 6:00P | in the Art Gallery | Honoree Gala 7P – 11P
May 28th Press Check-in 4:00P | Red Carpet Arrivals 4:30P | in the Conference Center | Inaugural Induction Ceremony | Time: 6P – 9P
Post ceremony interviews and photo ops available as well.
Media Inquiries:
Please note that space is limited and all press will need credentials to check-in. Representatives of the media must RSVP to:
Angela Crockett                                             Marc Abrams
              Communications Director for ACBHOF         Abrams Boxing
              (609) 350-5310                                              (856) 287-7611
Honorees, Celebrity Guests and ACBHOF Executives will be available for interviewS.
******ACBHOF is pleased to recognize our sponsors*****
Corporate Partner: The Claridge Hotel a Radisson Hotel Title Sponsor: Hard Lifestyle Beverages
City of Atlantic City; Designer Wraps; Hammer Fiber Optics; Triax 57; 2300 Arena; FantaSea Resorts; Adams Boxing; Cake King of Queens and Bee Apparel
Fight Fan Experience Timeline
Honoree Gala Timeline
6:00    Dignitaries Arrival/Reception  (Lower GalleryLevel)

7:00    General Public Arrival
7:00    Cocktail Reception & Chicken Bone Beach Performing
7:30-7:35    Ray McCline Welcoming Remarks/Intro Emcee Nino DelBuono
7:35-8:00    DJ Young Hitta/Reception
8:00-8:20    Honoree Precession & Greetings
8:20-8:30    Solo Musical Performance by Suzette Charles
8:30-8:55   Honoree & Awards Presentation
8:55-9:05   Solo Musical Performance by PARRIS
9:05-9:35   Chicken Bone Beach Performing
9:35-10:00   Nicolosi Art Reveal Presentation
10:00-10:50   DJ Young Hitta/Reception
10:50   Closing Remarks
Induction Ceremony Timeline
Procession of Inductees Introduction – Founder, Ray McCline
Invocation – Pastor, Wayne M. Nelson Sr. National Anthem – Althea Saunders
Mission Statement – Vice President, Rodrick L. Green Master of Ceremonies – Henry Hascup
Fighter (Resident and Non-Resident)
MIKE TYSON, ARTURO GATTI, LEAVANDER JOHNSON, MIKE ROSSMAN, MATTHEW SAAD MUHAMMAD, DWIGHT MUHAMMAD QAWI,  MICHAEL SPINKS,   LARRY HOLMES
Trainer & Cutman (Resident and Non-Resident)
LOU DUVA   MIKE HALL SR   BILL JOHNSON
Non-Participants
Promoter, Manager, Advisor, Matchmaker & Ring Announcer
DON KING  FRANK GELB   DON ELBAUM   J RUSSELL PELTZ
Officials (Commission, Judges, Doctors & Referees)
LARRY HAZZARD SR.   STEVE SMOGER   DR. FRANK DOGGETT
Media (Writer, Historian, Photographer, Artist & Digital Technology)
BERT SUGAR   DAVE BONTEMPO   JACK OBERMAYER
Special Contributors, Executives, T.V. Networks, Government Officials, Boxing Organizations
KEN CONDON   BOB LEE   DENNIS GOMES
Proclamation – Mayor Don Guardian 9 Count Bell Ringing
Unveiling of Commemorative Paintings Closing Remarks

Michael Spinks & Fitz Vanderpool  Honored at recent 26th annual  Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame Banquet & Awards Night

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (September 25, 2016) — A small crowd packed The Diplomat Party House to honor Michael “Jinx” Spinks and Fitz “The Whip” Vanderpool at the recent 26th annual Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame (RBHOF) Banquet & Awards Night.
Spinks (31-1, 21 KOs) received the prestigious Integrity Award, while Vanderpool (26-8-4, 13 KOs) was presented the coveted Courage Award.
(L-R) – Michael Spinks, Steve Smoger and Fitz Vanderpool
Rochester’s Johnny McCoy (Clarence Millard) was inducted into the Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame.  McCoy (77-30-14, 21 KOs), who passed away in 1978 at the age of 81, was one of the top flyweights in the world between 1916 and 1932. He was recognized as world champion by the state of California following a tournament to determine the winner of the vacant world title relinquished by Fidel LaBarba.
“This was another memorable banquet for the Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame,” RBHOF treasurer/spokesperson Gino Arilotta said. “Everyone enjoyed the evening.  We posthumously inducted Johnny McCoy and honored are award winners, Michael Spinks and Fitz Vanderpool.  Hall of Famer referee Steve Smoger gave a wonderful speech. Each of these great men were so pleasant and they gladly signed hundreds of autographs and posed for so many pictures. These three humble men have my sincere respect.
“On Saturday, September 17th, we took the boxers along with Steve Smoger to a local radio station where they were interviewed on air. We also took them to one of Rochester’s super gyms, where Willie Monroe, Jr. trains.  We showed them many important sites within the city. I also presented a city high school graduate, the Carmen Basilio Scholarship Award, which is awarded annually.
An International Boxing Hall of Famer (IBHOF), Spinks was the most dominant light heavyweight champion of his era, capturing the World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Council (WBC) world titles, in addition to being a 1976 Olympic gold medalist.
Vanderpool is a former World Boxing Federation (WBF), WBC FECARBOX and Canadian welterweight champion.  He took on all comers including Rochester’s only world champion, Charles “The Natural” Murray and world champion Fernando Vargas.  Today, Vanderpool is a trainer in Canada who also gives countless hours of time and energy in Kitchener as a community volunteer.
Special guests in attendance included Murray (44-9, 26 KOs), a former IBF light welterweight champion, world-rated heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (18-0-1, 16 KOs), Rochester lightweight prospect Lavisas “Red” Williams (8-1-1, 3 KOs), Josie Basilio (widow of Hall of Famer Carmen Basilio), distinguished boxing writer Dan Cucco and Smoger, the International referee extraordinaire.
RBHOF holds monthly meetings, plus an annual picnic and Christmas party, in addition to supporting local gyms.
For more information about RBHOF go on Facebook to:  https://www.facebook.com/ROCHESTER-BOXING-HALL-of-FAME-546738288767593/