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 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing and 2019 National n'asọmpi, Dec. 7-15, at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The finals of the Olympic Trials will be held Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Cha cha. 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, “Big” George onyeisi ọrụ, “Smokin'” Joe Frazier na 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: oku okpu, official, ọzụzụ, administrator and, n'ezie, ịkpụ nwoke. “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, “Eriela m ahụ. 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 na 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. Ọzọ, 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, abara, ịkpụ nwoke, and leader throughout the amateur boxing community is inspirational,” kwuru Chris Cugliari, USA Boxing Alumni Association Executive Director. “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 83Rebecca ụbọchị ọmụmụ. 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.
“At my age, I’m happy to have any birthday,” Rodgers joked. “I’m hoping to live another 10-12 afọ, Lord willing. It’s all in the Lord’s hands; controlling the flow of blood, ezie, is in my hands.”
Confirmed special guests include 1988 Olympic gold medalist Andrew Maynard, three-time National AAU Coach of the Year (1972-76-77) Joe Clough, 1984 Olympic gold medalist Frank Tate na nwanne ya nwoke Thomas, 1972 Olympia Tim Dement, 2002 National Golden uwe onye mmeri 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 naStephens brothers – Donald, Anthony na Jerry.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE USA BOXING ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Emepụtara ka ọ bụrụ mmeri ogologo ndụ, mmekọrịta bara uru n'etiti USA Boxing na ndị okenye ya, –na-eti ọkpọ, ndị ọchịchị, ndị nkuzi na ndị ọkpọ ọkpọ — Ndị otu ndị okenye na-ejikọ ọgbọ ndị mmeri, na-akpali akpali ma na-enyeghachi ndị mmeri ịkụ ọkpọ n'ọdịnihu nke USA, na nke mgbanaka.
USA Boxing Alumni Association ghere oghe nye onye ọ bụla nwere ịhụnanya maka ịkụ ọkpọ yana ọ ga-achọ ka ya na ọkpọ ọkpọ amateur nọrọ.. Enyere ndị otu ohere ịnweta mmemme pụrụiche dị iche iche nke ndị otu ndị okenye na-anabata ya, gụnyere USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception.
Iji sonye n'òtù Alumni, naanị debanye aha na alumni@usaboxing.org maka a $40.00 ụgwọ otu afọ kwa afọ. Ndị otu ọhụrụ ga-anata uwe elu, keychain na e-wallet.
Klas nke 2017: The charter class was headed by Muhammad Ali na Evander Holyfield, in addition to veteran coaches Roosevelt Sanders na Tom Coulter.
Klas nke 2018: U.S. Olympic Team medalists and world (ọkachamara) champions Roy Jones, Obere., Andre Ward na Claressa ọta, as well as former USA Boxing National Director of Coaching Emanuel-elekọta Ụlọ and veteran USA Boxing official Tom Cleary.