Колорадо-Спрінгс, Коло. (Листопад 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, Грудня 13, during a special Class of 2019 ceremony, at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles, Луїзіана.
The HOF reception is being held in conjunction with the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing and 2019 Національні чемпіонати, Грудня. 7-15, at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The finals of the Olympic Trials will be held Sunday, Грудня. 15, at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Казино. Hall of Fame broadcaster Аль Бернштейна 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, “Великий” Джордж Форман, “Smokin'” Джо Фрейзер і Відзначити Breland, as well as legendary coach Аль Мітчелл.
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: боксер, official, тренер, administrator and, звичайно, катом. “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, “Я був завербований. 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 і Томмі Моррісон.
“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. Більше, he’s already been inducted in three Hall of Fames: Срібні рукавички, Golden Gloves and Arkansas Sports HOF.
“Ray’s sacrifice to countless youth as a coach, наставник, катом, and leader throughout the amateur boxing community is inspirational,” прокоментував 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 83ї день народження. 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, Міссісіпі, 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 роки, Lord willing. It’s all in the Lord’s hands; controlling the flow of blood, хоча, is in my hands.”
Confirmed special guests include 1988 Олімпійський чемпіон Andrew Maynard, three-time National AAU Coach of the Year (1972-76-77) Joe Clough, 1984 Олімпійський чемпіон Frank Tate і його брат Томас, 1972 Олімпієць Tim Dement, 2002 Національний Золоті рукавички чемпіона Jaidon Codringtion, 1980 Olympic Qualifier Jackie Beard, 1981 Junior Olympics Glen Modicue, four-time National champion Ерік Келлі, 1988 Eastern Olympic Qualifier champion Джон Скаллі, Obie Beard, Mark Lanton іStephens брати – Donald, Ентоні і Джеррі.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE USA BOXING ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Created to champion a lifelong, mutually beneficial relations between USA Boxing and its alumni, –боксери, officials, coaches and boxing fans — The Alumni Association connects generations of champions, inspiring and giving back to USA Boxing’s future boxing champions, в і з кільця.
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 the 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.
КЛАС 2017: The charter class was headed by Мухаммед Алі і Евандер Холіфілд, in addition to veteran coaches Roosevelt Sanders і Tom Coulter.
КЛАС 2018: U.S. Olympic Team medalists and world (професійний) champions Рой Джонс, Молодший., Андре Уорд і Клареса Шилдс, as well as former USA Boxing National Director of Coaching Емануель Стюард and veteran USA Boxing official Tom Cleary.