COLORADO SPRINGS, Лап. (Ноември 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, Декември 13, during a special Class of 2019 ceremony, at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles, Луизијана.
The HOF reception is being held in conjunction with the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing and 2019 Националниот првенство, Декември. 7-15, at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The finals of the Olympic Trials will be held Sunday, Декември. 15, at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Казино. Hall of Fame broadcaster Ал Бернштајн 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, “Биг” Џорџ Форман, “Smokin'” Eо Фрејзер и Означи Breland, as well as legendary coach Ал Мичел.
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: Боксерот, official, тренер, administrator and, се разбира, намалување на човек. “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, “Јас бев зависник. 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 и Томи Морисон.
“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. Повеќе, 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, ментор, намалување на човек, and leader throughout the amateur boxing community is inspirational,” коментира Крис Куliари, 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 83то роденден. He still owns and operates Ray Rodgers Boxing Club in West Little Rock, Арканзас, in addition to serving as director of the Arkansas Golden Gloves and Mid-South Tournament, which includes Louisiana, Мисисипи, 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 години, Lord willing. It’s all in the Lord’s hands; controlling the flow of blood, иако, is in my hands.”
Confirmed special guests include 1988 Олимписки златен медал Andrew Maynard, three-time National AAU Coach of the Year (1972-76-77) Joe Clough, 1984 Олимписки златен медал Frank Tate и неговиот брат Томас, 1972 Олимпиец Tim Dement, 2002 Националниот златни ракавици шампион Jaidon Codringtion, 1980 Olympic Qualifier Jackie Beard, 1981 Junior Olympics Glen Modicue, four-time National champion Ерик Кели, 1988 Eastern Olympic Qualifier champion Џон Scully, Obie Beard, Mark Lanton иStephens brothers – Donald, Ентони и Џери.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE USA BOXING ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Создадено за да биде шампион доживотно, взаемно корисни односи меѓу САД бокс и нејзините алумни, –боксери, службени лица, тренери и boxубители на боксот — Здружението на алумни ги поврзува генерациите на шампиони, инспирирање и враќање на идните шампиони во боксот во САД-боксот, во и надвор од прстенот.
Асоцијацијата за алумни во боксот во САД е отворена за секој што има forубов кон боксот и би сакал да остане поврзан со аматерскиот бокс. Members are granted access to a wide variety of special events host by the Alumni Association, including the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception.
Да се придружиме на Здружението на алумни, едноставно се регистрирате на alumni@usaboxing.org за $40.00 годишно членарина. Новите членови ќе добијат маица, приврзок за клучеви и е-паричник.
Класа на 2017: The charter class was headed by Мухамед Али и Evander Холифилд, in addition to veteran coaches Roosevelt Sanders и Tom Coulter.
Класа на 2018: U.S. Olympic Team medalists and world (професионална) champions Рој Џонс, Џуниор., Андре Вард и Claressa Шилдс, as well as former USA Boxing National Director of Coaching Емануел Стјуард and veteran USA Boxing official Tom Cleary.