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Colorado Springs, Poală. (Decembrie 3, 2018) – Two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields not only is spearheading a new wave in women’s boxing, she has developed into a true role model for countless youths.
Shields will be inducted into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame this Friday night in Salt Lake City, along with Class of 2018 Membrii Roy Jones Jr. și, Andre Ward, as well as the late Emanuel Stewartși Tom Cleary.
Al doilea Statele Unite ale Americii de box Asociatia Alumni Hall anual de recepție Fame, a avut loc în colaborare cu 2018 Statele Unite ale Americii Box Elite și Campionatele Naționale de Tineret și Junior și Prep Deschideți, Decembrie 2-8, va avea loc decembrie 7, la Hotel Radisson (215 S. Temple St.) în Salt Lake City, Utah.
“I feel honored,” Shields spoke about being inducted into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame,” I am only 23 years old and to be inducted into the USA Boxing Hall of Fame is a great honor, but also a shock to me. I believe I am worthy of any honor, but I know things take time, and I always thought I would put in the Hall of Fame at the age 40 sau 50. This is a big deal to me and I feel so honored. Just to have my name mentioned alongside names of greats like Andre Ward and Roy Jones just really motivates me. I feel privileged!”
The pride of Flint, Michigan, Shields has already successfully parlayed her amateur success to the professional ranks, in which she is 7-0 (2), and the reigning unified (IBF, WBA & WBC) campion mondial mijlocie.
Shields finished her amateur career with an incredible 77-1 (18 KO) record, highlighted by her Olympic gold-medal-performances in 2012 și 2016. She hasn’t lost in the ring since 2012, când Savannah Marshall (Anglia) won on points, 14-8, at the World Championships in China.
“USA Boxing came into my life as a two-time Junior Olympic champion,” Claressa explained her USA Boxing relationship. “The help from USA Boxing was so important: just noticing me as a young athlete and knowing I would be a strong young woman to represent the USA in the future; întâlnire Julie Goldsticker, who was a blessing for me as she helped me with a lot as a teenager, and just having Coach Abdullah, antrenor Al Mitchell, and coach Gloria Peek teach me different styles and how to use all my attributes. USA Boxing blessed me with a lot of knowledge and life-long friendships with all my Olympic teammates and Olympic coaches. My favorite coach, Koroma, literally was with me the whole way through 2015-2016, helping me outside the ring with advice and inside the ring.”
Shields is one of the driving forces in women’s boxing today, carrying the torch handed off by American female boxing pioneers such as Christy Martin, Laila Ali and a few others.
“There is great change going on right now — mă, Mikaela Mayer, Franchon Crews, Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano and a few other women are carrying the torch for women’s boxing right now,” Shields explained. “Progress has been fast, every network has had a women’s fight on television this year, especially Showtime, on which I have boxed the main event four times. Women’s boxing can go far. I believe the day will come when we can be paid millions just like men.”
By opening doors and breaking down obstacles, Claressa has become a true role model for youngsters all over, in and out of boxing.
“It feels good to be a role model for them (females), and also for so many male boxers,” Shields noted. “Boxing is in a different era and I just want to make it easier for girls coming up, so when they turn pro, boxing will be closer to equality.”
“Claressa has one of the greatest stories in the history of amateur boxing,” a spus Chris tofflemire, Box Alumni Director Executiv Asociatia Statele Unite ale Americii. “Her drive, commitment, talent, and character made her a USA Boxing and Olympic champion, leaving a legacy that will last for a very long time. She is a trailblazer for women’s boxing and has established her place as one of the most influential USA Boxing Alumni members of all time. The USA Boxing Alumni Association wants to thank her for inspiring the amateur boxing community and serving as a great role model for the next generation of champions.”
Statele Unite ale Americii Asociația Alumni de box
Creat pentru un campion pe tot parcursul vieții, relații reciproc avantajoase între Statele Unite ale Americii de box si absolventii sai, –boxeri, oficialii, antrenori și fani de box — Asociația Alumni se conectează generații de campioni, inspirat și dând înapoi viitorii campioni de box Statele Unite ale Americii de box a lui, în și afară din inelul.
Statele Unite ale Americii de box Alumni Asociația este deschisă pentru oricine care are o dragoste pentru box și-ar dori să rămână în legătură cu boxul amator. Membrii li se acordă acces la o gamă largă de gazdă evenimente speciale de către Asociația Alumni, inclusiv SUA box Alumni Association Hall of Fame recepție.
Pentru a vă alătura Asociației Alumni, pur și simplu se înregistreze la alumni@usaboxing.org Pentru o $40.00 pe an, taxa de membru. Noii membri vor primi un tricou, keychain și e-portofel.
Despite all the honors and accolades, she has so richly received, Shields hasn’t forgotten where it all started, and she’s still actively involved in USA Boxing.
“I keep in contact with a lot of the female athletes and give them advice if they ask me,” Claressa added. “I also went to Colorado for five days to be a motivator and keynote speaker for the Next Olympic Hopeful. After my career is over in about 15 an, I want to be a boxing trainer and lead the women’s team to more Olympic gold medals, if given the opportunity. I also want to be a school teacher and a counselor for youth.”
Shields, din păcate, is unable to attend this Friday night’s Hall of Fame reception because she’s in deep training for her titles defense this Saturday evening on HBO, live from the StubHub Center in Carson, California, împotriva Fenmke Hermans (9-1).
“Trist,” Shields concluded, “I can’t be there but, if I was there, I would say: Thank you to USA Boxing for believing in me at the age of 16. It was an honor to represent America, not only once but two times in the Olympics! I thank Coach Billy (Walsh) for making me dig deep, by having to deal with his Irish ways and jokes, also for changing the culture of USA Boxing. A special thank you to coach Kay, also, I can’t count on my hands how many days we trained at 1 dimineața, how many times I knocked on his room door and ran, how many times he has had to take my phone from me because I was crying or having a family problem. He is the coach I could tell everything to, and he also blessed me with his boxing knowledge and made me always feel secure in myself when he was in the corner. USA Boxing isn’t just staff – USA Boxing is family! Even though I’ve had a few words with Matthew Johnson and other staff, I thank them for being hard on me and making sure I handled my responsibilities. Love to all USA Boxing staff, I’m truly thankful.”
Claressa Shields is much more than world and Olympian champion, she’s a class act as well, exactly what’s so desperately needed today.
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