Tag Archives: Virgil Hill

ATLANTIC CITY BOXING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCE THEIR CLASS OF 2019!!!! 

   
Atlantic City, N.J. – November 19, 2018 – The Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame (ACBHOF) has announced its 2019 Induction Class. The Induction Weekend will take place at The Claridge, a Radisson Hotel located at Park Place & Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey on June 21 – 23, 2019.
“We’re extremely excited about the Class of 2019 and are very much looking forward to paying tribute to the new inductees in Atlantic City at our 3rd annual induction weekend next June” said ACBHOF President and Founder Ray McCline.
The 2019 inductees in the Fighter category are:

Bernard Hopkins                Tim Witherspoon, Sr.
Kevin Watts                        Virgil Hill, Sr.
Iran Barkley                        John Brown
Roberto Duran, Sr.             Micky Ward

Trainers and Cutmen:

Ace Marotta                       English “Bouie” Fisher

Non-Participants–Special Contributors:

Butch Lewis                       Bobby Goodman
Stan Hoffman                    Nigel Collins
Henry Hascup                   Jimmy Binns Sr.
Tom Kaczmarek                Tony Orlando Jr.
Rhonda Utley-Herring
                                                            
Bernard Hopkins will be inducted into his first Hall of Fame as part of the third annual class that will include a total of 19 inductees.
“I feel appreciated and it’s starting to settle in that I’m near that mark of living legend. I don’t see myself as a living legend. Let other people decide that. This is a great honor and I’m grateful for the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame for making this happen,” Hopkins said in a November 16 RingTV interview with Joseph Santoliquito.
“Watch who you co-sign for; you can’t sell me black to get in the door. You can’t sell me white to get in the door. You can’t sell me half white or half black or none of that to get in the door. But you can sell me LOYALTY” said former two-division champion Bernard Hopkins.
The 3rd Annual Induction Ceremony & Celebration Weekend will honor some of the world’s most iconic figures from the sport of boxing: Butch Lewis, Nigel Collins, English “Bouie” Fisher and New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame’s President Henry Hascup are just a few named who will be enshrined with the 2019 induction class.
Inductees will be named in three categories: Fighter, Trainer & Cut-Men and Special Contributors.
“It was a great honor to hear I was going to be inducted into Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame. Atlantic City is my second home, and as a pro fighter I’ve fought numerous times in this great city. It’s a great boxing town and it is an honor to be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame” says Micky Ward.
Over the next several weeks there will be updates on the schedule of events, room packages and expected VIP appearances on the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame and the Claridge Hotel websites and social media platforms.
For more information on the Hall of Fame’s 3rd Annual Induction Weekend please contact the ACBHOF at (609) 318 -3188 or acbhof@gmail.com, or visit on Facebook Instagramand on Twitter.
ACBHOF is pleased to recognize our partners:

USA Boxing declares June “Alumni Association Membership Drive Month”

PAST & PRESENT of USA Boxing: (L-R) 1972 Olympic bronze medalist Jesse Valdez, 2004 U.S. Nationals champion Austin Trout, future Olympic hopeful Sharaha-Taina Moreu, 2-time world (pro) champion Danny Romero, and 1984 Olympic silver medalist Virgil Hill.

 

 

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO (May 31, 2018) – USA Boxing has declared June as its “Alumni Association Membership Drive Month”.

 

 

 

“I have been involved in boxing my entire life,” USA Boxing president John Brown said. “I’m a strong believer in USA Boxing and The Grass Roots Program; that truly makes up everything that IS boxing in America. The USA Boxing Alumni Association was started to keep this FAMILY together. I’m hoping that each of our current members will reach out to ONE other potential new member. I look forward to a busy month of June. ”

 

 

 

Created to champion lifelong, mutually beneficial relations between USA Boxing and its alumni, –boxers, officials, coaches and boxing fans — The Alumni Association connects generations of champions, inspiring and giving back to USA Boxing’s future boxing champions, in and out of the ring.

 

 

 

Chris Cugliari and John Scully will oversee two USA Boxing Alumni Association tables at the International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, June 7- 10 Canastota, New York, during the its golf tournament and Memorabilia Show.

 

 

 

USA Boxing product Winky Wright (51-6-1, 25 KOs), a two-time junior middleweight world champion, is one of only three boxers being inducted into the IBHOF Class of 2018.

 

 

 

Multiple world champion as a pro and 1984 Olympic silver medalist, Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill, three-time Fight of the Year participant “Irish” Micky Ward, world champions Riddick BoweJunior Jones and other “Alumni Association” members are expected to make supportive appearances.

 

 

 

 

 

“USA Boxing Alumni Association has enabled countless alumni to congregate at various events throughout the country since its inception last November,” added Cugliari, USA Boxing Alumni Association Executive Director. “By expanding our membership through a strong June campaign, we will build on our successful infancy and strengthen our ability to support the Alumni Association’s mission statement.  We are very thankful for the support provided by our members and look forward to even better times to come.”

 

 

 

The Alumni Association drive will continue June 24-30 in Charleston, West Virginia during the 2018 Junior Olympics, Prep Nationals and Youth Open.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

To join the Alumni Association, simply register at alumni@usaboxing,.org for a $40.00 per year membership fee. New members will receive a T-shirt, keychain and e-wallet.

 

 

 

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

Back to the future with Hall of Famer Virgil Hill

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (April 20, 2018) —

Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill has gone back to the future, parlaying what he learned as an amateur boxer into a Olympic silver medal, five world titles in two weight class, induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF), and now giving back as a Los Angeles-based boxing coach and invaluable member of the USA Boxing Alumni Association.

 

 

 

 

“Winning the WBA (World Boxing Association) and IBF (International Boxing Federation) world titles were all big.” Hill spoke about his greatest boxing achievement, “But the Olympics come around every four years with only one guy from each country, if that, in each weight class. It’s very difficult. I had competed against some of the best athletes in the world, right here in the United States, preparing to represent our country in the Olympics against the best in the world. We sparred each other at camp. US fighters all have a target on their backs.

 

 

 

 

“I fought in 10 different countries that year (1984), but the best Olympics ever was held here in Los Angeles. Half of our team went on to become world champions as pro fighters and three are in the Hall of Fame (Hill, Evander Holyfield and Pernell Whitaker). I wasn’t picked to win a medal in my class. I should have won a gold medal but lost in the final (middleweight division) to a Korean fighter (Shin Joon-Sup, 2-3). Losing was tough but the opportunity to be on the US Olympic Boxing Team was the highlight of my boxing career, even more so than winning my world titles.”

 

 

 

 

Hill grew up on a ranch in North Dakota. He watched the Golden Gloves on television and asked his father if he could learn to box. His response was, maybe if we move to a city. “Remember,” Hill noted, “a city for me back then was only 50,000 people. We did move to Grand Forks and my father asked me if I still wanted to box. He brought me to a local gym when I was eight and I started training right away.”

 

 

 

 

After capturing a gold medal at the 1984 National Golden Gloves Tournament, Hill went to the USA Boxing training facility, where he learned a lot being around so many different people and boxing styles. Although he’s part Puerto-Rican, Hill is a Native-American who grew up in a predominantly German and Norwegian state (North Dakota).

 

 

 

 

“There were not many blacks or Latinos,” Hill admitted. “We grew up poor, but not ghetto poor. I learned a lot. My roommate (at USA Boxing’s training facility) was a 106-pound Puerto-Rican from New Jersey, Jose Lazario. Jose took me for a haircut one day and, when I went back to North Dakota, I had a bounce in my step and people there were all looking at my haircut. Evander Holyfield taught me how to iron. He wouldn’t go with me to the mall unless I ironed my jeans. I sat and listened to know what to expect.”

 

 

 

 

Hill completed his amateur career with an incredible 288-11 record, married a woman who was on the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team, Denean Howard (two-time gold and two-time silver medalist), and turned professional November 15, 1984, stopping Arthur Wright in the second round at famed Madison Square Garden.

 

 

 

 

He had moved to Las Vegas to train with legendary trainer, Eddie Futch, and his assistant, Freddie Roach. “I was on my own for the first time,” Hill explained. “They were good role models who prepared me to be a pro boxer, as well as for life.

 

 

 

 

Hill fought professionally until 2015, winning 51 of 58 pro fights, 24 by knockout, with only seven losses. He won his first 30 pro fights, including a fourth-round win by technical knockout of Leslie Stewart in his 19th pro fight to capture the WBA world light heavyweight title. Hill made 10 successful WBA title defenses, including eight in Bismarck, North Dakota, before losing for the first time as a pro in 1991 to future Hal of Famer Tommy Hearns.

 

 

 

 

 

Hill later recaptured the WBA world light heavyweight crown and he eventually added the IBF world light heavyweight title, in addition to becoming three-time WBA cruiserweight world champion. He retired in 2007 and then make a one-fight comeback February 28, 2015, stopping Jimmy Campbell in the second round in Bismarck, marking Hill’s final fight.

 

 

 

 

During his remarkable pro career, Hill had a 24-5 (7 KOs) world title fight record, including victories over Stewart, Marvin CamelAdolpho WashingtonLou Del ValleDonny LalondBobby CzyzFabrice Tiozzo (twice), Henry Maske and Hill’s 1984 US Olympic teammate, Frank Tate (twice).

 

 

 

 

Hill remains in boxing as a trainer and occasionally a co-promotes pro-am shows in North Dakota. In Los Angeles, Hill currently trains one pro and nine amateurs. “I love being a trainer,” Hill exclaimed. “There are some special kids, the real athletic ones, but it’s the others that often make it for me. Those who aren’t as athletic and really need to work hard. Once you get a few of the kids working hard, the rest follow in line. This isn’t a democracy; it’s a dictatorship and I push ’em hard. Our LBC has 180 fights a year. I do all the matching and, if they’re in too tough, I top the fight. It’s not about winning and losing. It’s striving to be better, discipline, accomplishments and competition.

 

 

 

 

“The Elite boxers are moving on to the next level, establishing themselves to make a name and enter the pros. Ninety-five percent of the others aren’t. Boxing is still a poor man’s sport and sometimes the only option for some of these kids have is boxing. And boxing is still a very dangerous, unforgiving sport. The sky’s the limited, good and bad, for these kids. Boxing occupies their time. Some kids need more encouragement, others need to believe more in themselves. This is where they come from and who they become.”

 

 

 

 

Not only is Hill giving back as a coach, he’s key member of and spokesperson for the USA Boxing Alumni Association.

 

 

 

 

“I’m happy to be involved,” Hill talked about his back to the future journey in boxing. “It’s about time we had an alumni organization. Only the top three-percent of boxers make it big. It’s great watching everybody mix and mingle at alumni gatherings. This is about respect for each other; it’s a kinship.”

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

Ali & Holyfield to be inducted this Friday into USA Boxing Alumni Hall of Fame inaugural class

 
USA Boxing stars out to support and celebrate
USA Boxing Elite National Championships
Dec. 5-9 in Salt Lake City, Utah
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (December 5, 2017) – The fledgling USA Boxing Alumni Association will host a gala reception this Friday night (Dec.) 8, highlighted by the induction of the inaugural class of the USA Boxing Alumni Hall of Fame, at the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown in Salk Lake City, Utah.
The reception is being held in conjunction with the 2017 USA Boxing Elite and Youth National Championships and Junior and Prep Open, Dec. 5-9, also held in Salt Lake City.
Created to champion a lifelong, mutually beneficial relations between USA Boxing and its alumni, –boxers, officials, coaches and boxing fans — The Alumni Association connects generations of champions, inspiring and giving back to USA Boxing’s future boxing champions, in and out of the ring.
“The Alumni Association will bring together former boxers, coaches and official who have reached all levels of success in amateur boxing, as well as people who have all over for Olympic-style boxing,” explained Mike McAtee, USA Boxing Executive Director. “This association will help expand our grassroots and create fight champions of USA Boxing and alumni members.”
“The Greatest” and “The Real Deal”, respectively, Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield, will be the first boxers inducted into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame, joining two others, veteran coaches Roosevelt Sanders and Tom Coulter, also being inducted as charter members.
The late Ali is the lone three-time lineal world heavyweight champion of all-time, who as an amateur (known then as Cassius Clay), captured a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome.
Holyfield was the first and remains the only undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion. At the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Holyfield won a bronze medal as a light heavyweight, after a he suffered a questionable disqualification in his semifinals match. Earlier this year, Holyfield started his promotional company, The Real; Deal Boxing.
A 1993 USA Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, Roosevelt coached the U.S. Marines boxing team in 1975-1978 and 1988-2000. He also served as assistant coach on the USA Olympic boxing teams in 1984 and 1992.
Coulter has been a boxing coach for more than 62 years, continuing to conduct boxing clinics today around the glove. In addition to coaching the iconic 1988 USA Olympic boxing team, which captured eight individual medals, he was a consultant for the 1996 squad that won 14 meals. A national boxing champion at Syracuse University, Coulter also coaches the U.S. Army Boxing Team.
International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Al Bernstein will serve as Master of ceremonies for Friday’s event. “USA Boxing makes a positive difference in the lives of thousands and thousands of young people ion a daily basis,” the voice of Showtime Boxing said,” and I am so honored to serve as emcee for the inaugural USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame Reception. This new arm of USA Boxing will be a terrific addition to an already great organization. I look forward to it.”.
Four Olympic medalists from Team USA will be in attendance: 1984 gold medalist Paul Gonzales, 1984 and 1988 silver medalists, respectively, Virgil Hill and Michael Carbajal, and 1972 bronze medalist Jessie Valdez.
Other boxing dignitaries who are confirmed attendees include 1992 Olympian Raul Marquez, Hall of Fame referee Steve Smoger, National Golden Gloves champion and NBC boxing announcer B.J. Flores, three-time New England Golden Gloves champion“Irish” Micky Ward, former Air Force Academy coach Eddie Welchers, Rocky Mountain Golden Gloves franchise tournament director Larry Fullmer and others.
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 Friday evening’s USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception.
To join the Alumni Association, simply register at alumni@usaboxing.org for a $40.00 per year membership fee. New members will receive a T-shirt, keychain and e-wallet.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing

USA Boxing Alumni Association Open for Registration 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (November 2, 2017). – The newly created USA Boxing Alumni Association registration is officially open for those interested in becoming members.
The Alumni Association, which was created to champion a lifelong, mutually beneficial relations between USA Boxing and its alumni, including boxers, officials, coaches and boxing fans, will help connect generations of champions, as well as help inspire and give back to USA Boxing’s future boxing champions inside and outside the ring.
“The Alumni Association will bring together former boxers, coaches and officials that have reached all levels of success in amateur boxing, as well as people who have a love for Olympic-style boxing,” commented Mike McAtee, USA Boxing Executive Director. “This association will help expand our grassroots and help create the future champions of USA Boxing and alumni members.”
Open to anyone possessing a love for the sport and looking to stay connected with amateur boxing, the Alumni Association members are granted access to a variety of special events that will be hosted by the Alumni Association, including the first annual USA boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception.
The reception, which will honor and celebrate the five inaugural members of the Alumni Association Hall of Fame, will be held on December 8 in Salt Lake City in conjunction with the 2017 USA Boxing Elite and Youth National Championships & Junior and Prep Open. The five inductees include:
  • Muhammad Ali 
  • Tom Coulter 
  • Buddy Davis  
  • Evander Holyfield 
  • Roosevelt Sanders 
World-renowned CBS and Showtime announcer Al Bernstein will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event.
“USA Boxing makes a positive difference in the lives of thousands and thousands of young people on a daily basis, and I am so honored to serve as emcee for the inaugural USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame Reception. This new arm of USA Boxing will be a terrific addition to an already great organization,” Bernstein said. “I look forward to a great week.”
In addition to Bernstein’s role as emcee, many esteemed members of the USA Boxing alumni community are scheduled to attend the inaugural event, including: Michael Carbajal, BJ Flores, Larry Fullmer, Virgil Hill, Raul Marquez, Steve Smoger,Jesse Valdez, Micky Ward and Eddie Weichers.
When joining, which cost $40/year, new members will be given a t-shirt, keychain and e-wallet. For more information on the USA Boxing Alumni Association, please contact alumni@usaboxing.org or visit USABoxing.org
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
Inaugural USA Boxing Alumni Association

Hall of Fame Reception to be held Dec. 8 in Salt Lake City

ABOUT USA BOXING: The mission of USA Boxing shall be to enable United States’ athletes and coaches to achieve sustained competitive excellence, develop character, support the sport of boxing, and promote and grow Olympic style boxing in the United States. The responsibility of USA Boxing is not only to produce Olympic gold, but also oversee every aspect of amateur boxing in the United States.