George foreman, Mark Breland, Joe Frazier, Al Mitchell & Ray Rodgers
Lifetime Achievement Award to Sen. John McCain
Dec. 13 reception at Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana
COLORADO SPRINGS, Ncej puab. (Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 4, 2019) – Olympic gold-medalists“Big” George Foreman, Mark Breland thiab“Smokin’” Joe Frazier head the Class of 2019 into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame, Friday yav hmo ntuj, Kaum Ob Hlis Ntuj 13, at Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The HOF reception is being held in conjunction with the 2020 Olympic Trials and 2019 Teb chaws Championships. Dec. 7-15, at Lake Charles Civic Center. The finals Olympic Trials will be held Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Hall of Fame broadcasterAl Bernstein from Showtime Sports will serve as the event’s emcee for the third year in a row.
USA Boxing Alumni Association’s third class also includes decorated coachesAl MitchellthiabRay Rodgers.
Sen. John McCain will be posthumously presented a special Lifetime Achievement Award. A fearless boxer for three years at the U.S. Naval Academy, Sen. McCain managed his battalion’s boxing team to the brigade championship.
Sen. McCain was the architect of the ground-breaking Muhammad Ali Act, pushed for the pardoning ofJack Johnson, and worked with the Cleveland Clinic on the forefront of brain trauma studies leading to more safety measures for boxers.
“My father had a passion for boxing,” his daughterMegan McCain said. “He loved it for the thrill of achievement, the nobility of struggle, and the dignity of men bloodied but unbowed. His love for boxing and his love for America had a lot in common. That’s why he worked tirelessly to protect and elevate the sport – making it an arena of integrity for fans and fighters alike.
“That’s also why I am honored to join the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame to accept their Lifetime Achievement Award on his behalf.”
Foreman (rau: 76-5, 68 Kos, pib xyaum ua: 22-4) was also a three-time World Heavyweight Champion as a pro, in addition to famously winning a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, as well as at the National AAU Championships. A resident of Houston, Texas, his victims included Frazier (ob zaug), Ken Norton, Dwight Muhammad Qawi thiabMichael Moorer.
Considered one of the greatest amateur boxers of all-time, Breland (rau: 35-3-1, 25 Kos), pib xyaum ua: 110-1) was a gold medalist at the 1984 Olympic Games in Las Angeles and 1982 World Championships. The Brooklyn native was a two-time World Welterweight Champion as a pro. His most notable victories were versusSteve Little, Rafael Pineda thiabLloyd Honeyghan.
The late Frazier (rau: 32-4-1, 27 Kos, pib xyaum ua: 38-2), representing Philadelphia, captured a gold medal at the 1964 Olympics in Japan and he was a three-time World Heavyweight Champion as a professional. Frazier’s hit list includedMuhammad Ali, Jimmy Ellis (ob zaug),Bob Foster thiabOscar Bonavena (ob zaug).
Mitchell has been in boxing for more than 60 xyoo, first as a boxer, but he’s much better known as a world-class boxing coach. He has been the boxing coach at N. Michigan University for decades, in addition to being head coach of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team, and technical advisor for the 2004 thiab 2012 U.S. Olympic squads. He was selected as the 1994 USA Boxing Coach of the Year and among the 800-plus national amateur champions he has worked with areMike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather thiabVernon Forrest. He currently trains 2016 U.S. Olympian and world title contenderMikaela Mayer, who will be in attendance supporting her coach.
A legend in Arkansas boxing, Rodgers has been an outstanding coach and extraordinary cut-man, who has been in the corner of world champions such asWayne McCullough, Jermain Taylor, Iran Barkley thiabTommy Morrison. Ray’s decades of service through coaching and mentorship for the youth of Arkansas have established him as a role model and inspiration for amateur boxing coaches everywhere.
“This year’s USA Boxing Alumni Hall of Fame class, as well as Senator McCain, represent the very best of Olympic style boxing, ob nyob rau hauv thiab tawm ntawm lub nplhaib,"commentedChris cugliari, Tebchaws Asmeskas Boxing Cov Koom Haum Laus Alumni Cov Thawj Coj. “Their decades worth of service representing themselves inspire us to give back and support current and future generations of champions. The USA Boxing Alumni Association looks forward to an exciting and memorable evening as we honor these champions of our sport.”
Confirmed special guests include 1988 Olympic kub medalistAndrew Maynard, three-time National AAU Coach of the Year (1972-76-77) Joe Clough, 1984 Olympic kub medalistFrank Tatethiab nws tus tij laugThomas, 1972 OlympianTim Dement, 2002 Teb chaws Golden hnab looj tes championJaidon Codringtion, 1980 Olympic QualifierJackie Beard, 1981 Junior OlympicsGlen Modicue, four-time National championEric Kelly, 1988 Eastern Olympic Qualifier championJohn Scully, Obie Beard, Mark Lanton thiab covStephens brothers –Donald, Anthony thiabJerry.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE USA BOXING ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Tsim los rau tus yeej ib lub neej, Kev muaj kev sib raug zoo ntawm kev sib raug zoo ntawm Asmeskas Boxing thiab nws cov alumni, –boxers, cov nom, Cov qhia thiab Boxing kiv cua — Lub Koom Haum Alumni txuas ntau tiam kev sib tw, Kev tshoov siab thiab muab rov qab rau USA Boxing lub neej tom ntej champions, nyob rau hauv thiab tawm ntawm lub nplhaib.
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, suav nrog Tebchaws Asmeskas Boxing Alumni Association Hall ntawm Fame Txais Tos.
Txhawm rau koom nrog lub koom haum Alumni, Tsuas sau npe ntawmalumni@usaboxing.org rau a $40.00 per year membership fee. New members will receive a T-shirt, Keychain thiab e-hnab nyiaj.
HOOB NTAWM 2017: The charter class was headed byMuhammad Ali thiabEvander Holyfield, Ntxiv rau cov tub rog qubRoosevelt Sanders thiabTom coulter.
HOOB NTAWM 2018: U.S. Pab pawg neeg Olympic Medalists thiab Ntiaj Teb (kev) championsRoy Jones, Jr., Lwm Ward thiabClaressa Shields, Zoo li qub Asg usa Boxing teb chaws tus thawj coj ntawm kev qhiaEmanuel Steward thiab qub qub tub rog Asmeskas Boxing OfficialTom Cleiny.
NTAUB NTAWV:
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Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
