Tag Archives: Colorado Springs

pib xyaum ua boxing, boxing, USA Boxing

World Class referee….. Tom Cleary USA Boxing Alumni Association, Class of 2018 Inductee

Cia ib saib

COLORADO SPRINGS, Ncej puab. (Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 12, 2018) – The late Tom Cleary was one of the most respected referees in the world during his illustrious career. He joins a select group in the Class of 2018 getting inducted into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame.

 

 

 

The second annual USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception, held in conjunction with the 2018 USA Boxing Elite and Youth National Championships and Junior and Prep Open, Kaum Ob Hlis Ntuj 2-8, will be held December 7, at the Radisson Hotel (215 S. Temple St.) in Salk Lake City, Utah.

 

 

 

In addition to Cleary, lub chav kawm ntawv ntawm 2018 also includes U.S. Olympic Team medalists and world (kev) champions Roy Jones, Jr., Lwm Ward thiab Claressa Shields, as well as a past USA Boxing National Director of Coaching, lub lig Emanuel Steward.

 

 

 

The charter class inducted last year included Muhammad Ali thiab Evander Holyfield, as well as veteran coaches Roosevelt Sanders thiab Tom Coulter.

 

 

 

A longtime resident of Westchester, Ohio, Cleary was a USA Boxing member since 1982, and he served as Chief of Officials for the National Collegiate Boxing Association from 2002 until his passing May 21, 2017.

 

 

 

He refereed in 12 different countries, on four continents, as an International Official assigned by AIBA. Tom earned a three-star rating and he was selected to work the World Series of Boxing.

 

 

 

“Tom’s dedication to amateur boxing and respect he garnered from boxers, coaches and fellow officials are second to none,” hais tias Chris Cugliari, USA Boxing Alumni Association Executive Director. “The Alumni Association emphatically endorsed his case for the Hall of Fame, and his induction was received both by those close to him, as well as the entire amateur boxing community. Tom’s commitment to serving USA Boxing provides a great example for all of us and we couldn’t be prouder to call him a member of this year’s Hall of Fame class.”

 

 

 

Tom never forgot where he came from, dedicating countless hours to the youth of Cincinnati, in addition to helping boxing clubs run efficiently throughout his community for more than a quarter-century.

 

 

 

Lub 2017 NCBA Official of the Year, Tom worked local, regional, national, International, world and Olympic levels of boxing. Highlights included working numerous U.S. Teb chaws Championships, four U.S. Olympic raug kev txom nyem (2000, 2004, 2008 & 2012) thiab cov 2007 World Championships in Chicago.

 

 

 

“When I was a young coach at the Air Force Academy,” USA Boxing coach Ed Weichers commented, “we needed to replace an AIBA top notch referee who was retiring. We were looking for a highly qualified person and Tom Cleary was recommended. He came out the next 25 years straight. Tom was one of the best referees. He cared so much about the safety of the boxers and Tom was also a valuable mentor.

 

 

 

“Tom was a wonderful man who everybody loved. He administered referee clinics in the United States and always helped those in need, youngsters and adults. Tom’s work in the Cincinnati area influenced so many boxers and coaches for more than 25 xyoo. We dearly miss him.”

 

 

 

USA Boxing Alumni Association

 

Created to champion a lifelong, mutually beneficial relations between USA Boxing and its alumni, –boxers, officials, coaches and boxing fans — The Alumni Association connects generations of champions, inspiring and giving back to USA Boxing’s future boxing 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, 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.

 

 

 

 

Tom is survived by his wife, Diane, their two children and eight grandchildren.

 

 

 

Tom Cleary’s leadership and mentor-ship inspired all those who were fortunate enough to meet him. He cared passionately about the boxers he shared the ring with, offering words of advice before, during and after bouts.

 

NTAUB NTAWV:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

pib xyaum ua boxing, boxing, USA Boxing

Otha Jones III kev sib tw ntawm Lub Caij Ntuj Sov Cov Hluas Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018

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Ncaj outta Toledo….
Oct. 6-18 nyob rau hauv Argentina

COLORADO SPRINGS, Ncej puab. (Lub kaum hli ntuj 4, 2018) – Kev sib tw tau ob zaug nyob Tebchaws Meskas Otha Jones III mus rau Argentina tag kis los ua nqe lus ntawm Lub Caij Ntuj Sov Cov Hluas Olympic Games Buenos Aires, Lub kaum hli ntuj 6-18 hauv Roca Sports Park.

 

 

 

Jones yog los ntawm lub tsev tshiab ntawm kev twv txiaj ntawm kev sib tw ncaws pob, Toledo, Ohio, qhov twg 18-xyoo-laus Jones tseem tabtom ua qhov sib txawv hauv nws lub zej zog, tshwj xeeb tshaj yog tom qab nws tus tij laug raug tua thiab tua tau ob peb lub lis piam dhau los thaum nws tab tom caij tsheb kauj vab.

 

 

 

Otha tau pib nyiam txoj kev ntaus nrig tom qab saib qhov kev ua yeeb yaj kiab hauv YouTube. “Kuv xav tias qhov ntawd yog qhov txias,” lub teeb welterweight Jones piav qhia, “yog li kuv tau thov kuv txiv coj kuv mus hauv kev ntaus kis las. Tsis ntev kuv kawm paub tias kuv yog neeg zoo rau nws, ua haujlwm hnyav, thiab tam sim no kuv mus rau Kev Ncaws Pob Tawb Cov Hluas.

 

 

 

“Tus neeg sib ntaus ntawm txhua lub gyms hauv Toledo sib pab. (2017 Tebchaws Asmeskas Cov Tebchaws hnyav tshaj hnyav) Jared Anderson yog kuv tus phooj ywg zoo tshaj plaws. Thawj xyoo peb tau kawm hauv tib qho chaw ua si, tab sis kuv yeej tsis tau nrog nws (luag), vim nws loj heev rau kuv. Tam sim no peb nyob ntawm lub cev sib txawv ntawm lub sijhawm. Rau Toledo boxers, tsib ntawm kuv khub, yog nyob rau USA kev pab cuam Boxing, suav nrog kuv leej muam, (Welterweight) Oshae Jones, uas yog nyob rau ntawm tus poj niam pab pawg Elite sib tw tam sim no nyob Spain. Peb txhua tus thawb txhua tus mus rau qhov tsis pub tshaj.”

 

 

 

Ntxiv nrog rau kev ntes kub ntawm ob qhov kawg hauv Tebchaws Asmeskas kev sib tw, nws kuj yeej tseem yog honors saum 2018 Cov Hluas Kev Sib Nrauj Kev Sib Tw, ntxiv rau ib lub kib nyiaj ntawm qhov 2018 Emil Jechev Kev Sib Tw Ncaws Pob.

 

 

 

Tus kheej-piav qhia raws li tus neeg tsis paub zoo lub thawv-puncher, Jones hais tias nws, “Pov xuas nrig ntaus los ntawm txhua lub ces kaum. Kuv tuaj yeem thawv zoo lossis zaum thiab sib ntaus yog tias kuv yuav tsum.”

 

 

 

Jones, leej twg muaj a 267-11 pib xyaum ua cov ntaub ntawv, twb tau mus ncig thiab sib tw hauv Bulgaria, Hungary thiab Russia. Nws tab tom nrhiav rau pem hauv ntej kom muaj kev paub txog Argentina, qhov chaw nws yuav nyob thiab qhia rau ob lub lis piam hauv ib puag ncig hauv Olympic zos.

 

 

 

“Ua nws nyob deb rau Cov Hluas Olympic, kom deb li deb, yog qhov tseem ceeb ntawm kuv txoj haujlwm,” nws hais tias. “Kuv nyiam taug kev mus rau ntau lub tebchaws dhau los ua thiab paub txog kev coj noj coj ua tshiab. Kuv lub hom phiaj yog mus tua cov ntawm 2020 Kev sib tw ua yeeb yam hauv Nyij Pooj thiab yeej ib lub qe kub. Kuv yuav tsum txhim kho kuv cov kev txawj ntse; punch nyuab dua thiab muab kuv cov punches zoo dua.

 

 

 

“Tom qab Kev Sib Tw, Kuv npaj yuav muab cov pro. Kuv xav rhais kuv tsev neeg tawm ntawm ghetto thiab tau txais khaub ncaws thiab khoom noj zoo dua rau txhua tus.

 

 

 

“I own the Soul City Gym with my brother and dad. Muaj ntau ntawm cov menyuam hauv Toledo tsis muaj dab tsi los ua. Peb mus tshaj tawm kev sib raug zoo los qhia cov menyuam yaus no los ntawm qhov chaw dhia ua si kom tau txais lub luag haujlwm. Peb yog ib feem ntawm txoj haujlwm pabcuam pub cov menyuam yaus no. Peb xav li ntawd, lub sijhawm tsawg dua ntawm txoj kev, peb tuaj yeem pab nres qhov kev ua phem, zoo li kuv tus tij laug raug tua. Peb tab tom sim ua kom cov me nyuam tawm ntawm txoj kev thiab hauv chav ua si.”

 

 

Otha Jones III (xiav)

 

 

 

 

Jones kuj tau sau tseg tias nws yeej nyiam txoj kev kawm hauv Colorado Springs, tsis yog tsuas yog vim muaj cov chaw zoo thiab kev cob qhia, tab sis rau nws txoj kev thaj yeeb ntawm lub siab.

 

 

 

“Kuv xav tias kuv tau nyob hauv kev ua haujlwm siab tshaj hauv Toledo,” Jones ntxiv, “tab sis koj tuaj ntawm no, thiab huab cua sib txawv. Tom qab kev cob qhia tom hiav txwv theem, koj tau nkees kawm ntawm no. I love it here. Muaj ntau cov tsev zoo nkauj thiab chaw nyob, nws zoo li lub nroog me, tsuas yog tsis muaj tub sab tub nyiag. Kuv tuaj yeem yog kuv tus kheej ntawm no.”

 

 

 

Otha Jones, III ua rau muaj kev cuam tshuam rau hauv thiab sab hauv lub nplhaib, seb nws puas nyob hauv tsev hauv Toledo, kev cob qhia hauv Colorado Springs, lossis sib tw thoob ntiaj teb.

NTAUB NTAWV:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

pib xyaum ua boxing, boxing, USA Boxing

USA Boxing Alumni Association Profile: 1972 Olympic Bronze Medalist JESSE VALDEZ

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(L-R) – Austin trout, Jesse Valdez, Raphael Marquez and B.J. Paj

COLORADO SPRINGS, Ncej puab. (Lub kaum hli ntuj 5, 2018) — 1972 Olympic bronze medalist Jesse Valdez, who was an outstanding amateur boxer, never turned pro because he chose security for his family rather than take a risk and parlay his amateur pedigree into a prize fighting career.

 

 

 

Valdez first went to the local Boys’ Club when he was 11. The youngest of seven children in a low-income family, headed by his single mother, in which the kids all slept in one bedroom, girls in a bed, boys on the floor, sharing space with cockroaches.

 

 

 

“I started going to the club and I guess I did well because I started beating older and bigger guys,” Valdez remembered. One day a coach asked me if I was interested in learning how to box. Ntawm 11, USA Boxing people were interested in me, not me the boxer, and they always gave me guidance. Because of my background, I knew I wouldn’t be going to college, and these people helped me and gave me guidance.

 

 

 

Nyob rau hauv 1964, 16-year-old Valdez upset Olympic bronze medalist Quincey Daniels at the National AAU Championship in the welterweight division, and later that year he qualitied for the U.S. Olympic Team as an alternate. Valdez captured a gold medal at the1967 National Golden Gloves in the light middleweight weight class and he added a bronze medal from the prestigious Pan-American Games.

 

 

 

“I wanted to be a better boxer and that (defeating Daniels) also helped me become a better person. I had never traveled outside of Texas before then. I went to the Regionals and Nationals and then I was asked if I wanted to go to East Africa. All I knew about Africa was Tarzan, Jane and Cheetah. In high school, I was offered college scholarships, but my grades were bad because I spent more time out than in school. I didn’t have a father figure.”

 

 

 

While he served in the U.S. Cua Dag Zog Yuam, Valdez won a gold medal at the 1970 National AAU Championship as a light middleweight and two years later, he became the 1972 National Golden Gloves welterweight champion. A USA Olympic Team alternate for the second time in 1968, the third time was the charm for Valdez, who qualified for the 1972 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team by defeating future world champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.

 

 

 

“My dream came true in 1964,” Valdez noted. “I was a USA Olympic Team alternate in 1964 and again in 1968. But in 1972, I wanted to win a gold medal, even though I ended up with bronze.”

 

 

 

Valdez became a household name in America because his Olympic fights in Munich, Lub teb chaws yelemees, aired live on ABC Wide World of Sports, the award-winning Saturday afternoon show during the seventies, when legendary announcer Howard Cosell took a shine to Valdez. Tu siab, Jessie was eliminated in the semifinals by the eventual gold medalist, Emilio Correa, by way of a controversial decision, and Jesse settled for a bronze medal.

 

 

 

Lub 1972 Olympics, Txawm li cas los, is sadly remembered for the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches taken hostage and murdered by a Palestinian terrorist group, Black September.

 

 

 

“The Olympic village was built in a circle,” Valdez explained. “There were athletes everywhere from all around the world. My roommate and I had a routine after eating. We walked to digest our food and that night we started to walk, when guards with guns and rifles wouldn’t let anybody go past them. We didn’t know why and didn’t speak German. We then asked our coaches what had happened, and they said people were shot that afternoon. Tom qab ntawd, we saw what happened on television.

 

 

 

“I was team captain and all the captains from every sport were asked what the athletes wanted to do, continue (competing) or go home. We decided to go on because, if we had stopped, that’s what they (terrorists) wanted. The Olympics were halted one day for a memorial recognizing those who had died.”

 

 

TEAM USA vs. TEAM GERMANY, Oct. 6 & 12 in CHATTANOOGA

 

 

 

Team USA and Team Germany, two of the world’s top amateur boxing programs, will meet in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for two separate duels taking place Saturday, Lub kaum hli ntuj 6 and Friday, Oct. 12, at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

 

 

 

The duels will feature some of the top male and female elite boxers as they prepare for the lead up to the Olympics in 2020. The two events will take place alongside this year’s Eastern Elite Qualifier & Regional Open Championships, which is expected to have more than 650 boxers, aged 8-40, compete from Oct. 8-13.

 

 

 

 

After the 1972 Olympics, promoters lined-up to offer Valdez a pro contract, but he quickly turned down all offers having other options as well. He could have remained in the Air Force and been a coach. Es tsis txhob, he accepted an offer from a Houston television station that wanted to benefit from hiring the Olympic bronze medalist returning home. Valdez became a reporter and the station’s ratings immediately went up, but other reporters became jealous and that became a problem for Jesse. Thaum xub thawj, he contemplated a return to the Air Force, but Valdez liked working in television and he became a photo journalist until he retired in 2005.

 

 

 

Why not take advantage of his fame as an Olympic bronze medalist and turn pro?

 

 

 

“Thaum kuv yog 14 los yog 15 there were pros training at the gym I went to after school,” Valdez explained, “There was one professional boxer there I really liked and looked up to. He was a world champion, who will remain nameless, and I watched him work out. I’ll never forget, he asked me if he could borrow $1.00. I didn’t even have a nickel and that really opened my eyes. Here was a world champion asking me for money. It stuck in my mind. I took a job as a reporter because I really needed (medical) benefits.

 

 

 

“I try to go to clubs and help amateurs, but I don’t watch pro fights.”

 

USA Boxing Alumni Association

 

 

 

Created to champion a lifelong, mutually beneficial relations between USA Boxing and its alumni, –boxers, officials, coaches and boxing fans — The Alumni Association connects generations of champions, inspiring and giving back to USA Boxing’s future boxing 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 hosted by the Alumni Association, including its annual 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.

 

 

 

 

Tam sim no 70, the Mexican-American from Houston has never regretted the decision he made nearly a half-century ago, los yog, ntawm chav kawm, his experience at the 1972 Olympics. Jesse Valdez has become a valued speaker for the USA Boxing Alumni Association.

 

NTAUB NTAWV:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing, @USABoxingAlumni

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

pib xyaum ua boxing, boxing, USA Boxing

TEB CHAWS USA vs. Germany Duels to take place in Chattanooga alongside Eastern Qualifier

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World medalist and Olympic Hopefuls to step into the ring on American soil

COLORADO SPRINGS, Ncej puab. (Cuaj hlis 17, 2018) — Two of the world’s top amateur boxing powerhouses will meet in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for two separate duels taking place Saturday, Lub kaum hli ntuj 6 and Friday, Oct. 12, at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

 

 

 

The duels will feature some of the top male and female elite boxers from both the United States and Germany, as they prepare for the lead up to the Olympics in 2020. The two events will take place alongside this year’s Eastern Elite Qualifier & Regional Open Championships, which is expected to have more than 650 boxers, aged 8-40, compete from Oct. 8-13.

 

 

 

“We are excited to host the German Federation, as they have hosted us numerous times for training camps over the past two years,” said USA Boxing High Performance Director Matt Johnson. “This will be a great competition and a great opportunity for USA Boxing to showcase our next generation of Olympic hopefuls on home soil.”

 

 

 

Team USA is expected to bring a talented team that will include multiple World Championship medalists, kuj muaj 2017 Elite World Championship medalists Troy Isley (Alexandria, Va.), Duke Ragan (Cincinnati, Ohio) thiab Freudis Rojas Jr. (Las Vegas, Nev.), as well as two-time World Championship medalist Christina Cruz (New York, N.Y.), 2016 Hluas ntiaj teb tau zus ib Delante Johnson (Cleveland, Ohio) thiab 2016 Youth World Championships bronze medalist Cai Richard Torrez Jr. (Tulare, California.)

 

 

 

Other boxers anticipated to compete for Team USA include international medalists Khalil Coe (Jersey City, New Jersey), Keyshawn Davis (Norfolk, Va.), Virginia Fuchs (Tsev pheebsuab, Texas), Oshae Jones (Toledo, Ohio), Qu Quar Randall (Katy, Texas) thiab Stacia Suttles(Brooklyn, N.Y.). These boxers are subject to change, and a full roster for both teams will be released closer to the start of the duels.

 

 

 

Boxers who are competing at the Eastern Elite Qualifier & Regional Open Championships are eligible for an early check-in on Saturday, Oct. 6 for the qualifier and will receive free entrance to that night’s duel. Coaches who pre-register for the Qualifier and complete early check-in will also receive free entrance to that night’s event.

 

 

 

Check USABoxing.org for updates on the event in the coming weeks.

 

NTAUB NTAWV:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

 

HAIS TXOG USA BOXING: The mission of USA Boxing shall be to enable United States’ athletes and coaches to achieve sustained competitive excellence, develop character, support the sport of boxing, and promote and grow Olympic style boxing in the United States. The responsibility of USA Boxing is not only to produce Olympic gold, but also oversee and govern every aspect of amateur boxing in the United States.

pib xyaum ua boxing, USA Boxing

Team USA’s newest boxing star Light heavyweight Khalil Coe

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(L-R) – USA head coach Billy Walsh, USA National assistant coach Kay Koroma, Khalil Coe and coach Jeff Mays

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Lub Xya hli ntuj 9, 2018) – A star was born last month at the 45th Chemistry Cup in Halle, Lub teb chaws yelemees, when American light heavyweight Khalil Coe shocked the amateur boxing world, stopping Cuban’s multiple world champion Julio Cesar La Cruz in the opening round of the championship final match.

 

 

 

Ze li ntawm 100 boxers represented 16 different countries at the Chemistry Cup, kuj muaj, Russia, Ukraine, Ireland, India and host Germany, in addition to the United States and Cuba.

 

 

 

The 21-year-old Coe, who was boxing in only his 25th match, his first on the International scene, stole the show and he was named Most Outstanding Boxer of the tournament. In the semifinals, Coe knocked out Matus Strnisko, of Slovakia, nyob rau hauv thawj puag ncig.

 

VOTE FOR KHALIL COE

 

Khalil Coe is a candidate for the USOC Best Male Athlete of the Month for June. Voting ends this evening at https://awards.teamusa.org/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coe respected but he wasn’t intimidated by his much more experienced opponent, 2016 Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion La Cruz, who had one less fight in the World Boxing Series than Cue did during his entire amateur career.

 

 

 

“My first fight in the tournament was the hardest I’d had,” Coe explained. “I studied him (La Cruz) a lot and watched him fight in the semifinals (defeating three-time European champion Joseph Ward (Ireland), which was right after my semifinals fight. Nws (La Cruz) is very elusive and flashy, but he doesn’t like to get hit in the body. He moves his body, but he forgets about his head. I pulled him, on him, moving around with my footwork and shuffling. He threw a lazy jab and I hit him right on the chin with a right.”

 

 

 

Coe’s short, compact right-hand punch landed right on the button, dropping La Cruz a little less than two-minutes into round one. The Cuban beat the count, but the referee ruled that he was unable to continue. La Cruz was still “Cov txiv neej” in the light heavyweight division and by knocking him out, Coe proved that he truly belongs with the elite, and that the No. 1-rated American is the fighter to beat in terms of qualifying for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team.

 

 

 

“I let everybody know that I’m here,” Coe added. “I still need to work on a lot of different things. I need to throw more combinations, keep by stamina up, and improve everything to be better. I’m more of a pure boxer, but I have strength and punching power. Coach (Billy)Walsh doesn’t change his fighters, he adds to what they have. The coaches put together a fight plan and I executed it.”

 

 

 

“Khalil’s performances in Germany were world class,” Team USA head coach Walsh said, “To be truly world class, we now have to repeat those performances regularly, and that’s where the challenge lies.”

 

 

 

On this year’s USA vs. Ireland Northeast Tour, Coe was 2-0 against his Irish counterparts in Boston and Springfield

 

 

 

Coe often got into fights in school, until his mother sent him to a local gym, and his first amateur bout was when he was 12. If he wasn’t boxing right now, the 6′ 1″ Coe believes he would probably be playing college football, as a fullback or defensive end.

 

 

 

Close with his USA teammates, particularly Keyshawn Davis, Coe lives and trains with them in Colorado Springs. “We’re more than a team,” the Jersey City, New Jersey boxer concluded, “we’re like a family – hais mav, gals and coaches — in Colorado Springs.

 

 

 

“I’m going to turn pro after the Olympics, one way or the other, God-willing, after I win a gold medal.”

 

 

 

Tokyo is legitimately in Khalil Coe’s sights!

 

NTAUB NTAWV:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

 

boxing, USA Boxing

Hall of Fame referee Steve Smoger successfully transitioned from amateur to pro boxing

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Ncej puab. (Lub rau hli ntuj 13, 2018) — Hall of Fame referee Steve “Double S” Smoger, arguably the most recognizable and respected official in boxing history, holds the unique distinction of officiating in more states and countries than any of his peers.

 

 

 

Smoger ranks among the top six all-time, Ua Tsis. 2 American, in terms of most pro boxing matches officiated (1015), including an incredible 220 world time matches. He has been a referee in some of the greatest boxing matches ever – Vernon Forrest-Shane Mosley, Bernard Forrest-Felix Trinidad, Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor, Roy Jones, Jr.-Hopkins, Micky Ward-Emanuel Burton, Andre Ward-Carl Froch and Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito II among the most notable.

 

 

 

Tsis tas li ntawd, Smoger has refereed matches featuring a Who’s Who of Boxing: Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield. Roberto Duran, Hector Camacho Sr., James Toney, Mike McCallum, Vinny Paz, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Arturo Gatti, Felix Trinidad, Diego Corrales, Gennady Golovkin, Lucia Rijker, Christy Martin and so many others..

 

 

 

In addition to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Smoger has also been inducted into four other Hall of Fames in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and Atlantic City.

 

 

 

As a youngster, Smoger got hooked on boxing, primarily because his father was an “awesome fan”, who religiously watched the popular Friday night boxing series, Gillette Cavalcade of Sports, with his son. Steve’s father told him that boxing was the last version of will and skill, one-on-one, to determine the better man that night.

 

 

 

Smoger said he was too small to play football, too short for basketball, so he became a cross-country runner in high school. A friend invited Smoger to the local YMCA in New Jersey to get checkout its boxing program. Only one day working with a pro boxer was enough for Steve to realize that being a boxer wasn’t for him. But he still loved boxing.

 

 

 

After he started refereeing amateur matches in southern New Jersey and Delaware, Smoger got the break of his life that dramatically changed his life. “Everything in life is timing,” Smoger explained. “The gentleman who gave George Foreman the small American that he proudly waved after winning a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics, Pat Duffy, opened a gym in southern Jersey. I told him that I wanted to train as a referee. I trained under the great Frank Cappuccino and then had to honor to train with Zach Clayton. He trained to music so referees moved without being herky-jerky. Nyob rau hauv 1978, I started officiating then-AAU boxing and worked out of the Atlantic City PAL gym, which remains a vibrant amateur boxing club. I’m still there 40 years later, serving on its Board of Directors, and I’m also its legal counsel.

 

 

 

“Ces, the boxing gods shined on me. Casinos were coming to Atlantic City in 1978 and boxing was involved at all the casinos there. I was the district attorney in Atlantic City, so after work I went to the PAL gym to workout with the kids. Muaj ib hnub, the phone rang in the gym. Nobody else was there, so I answered. It was the New Jersey Boxing Commissioner, ‘Jersey’ Joe Walcott, who asked me who was in charge. I said that, nyob rau ntawm lub sij hawm, I was in charge. He said there was a pro show that night and they were short of inspectors. He said that they need somebody to watch the hand wrapping. I told him I was well versed in hand wrapping and that was it, I was hired to work that show and they gave me the royal treatment.”

 

 

 

“Walcott’s chief second was Chief Roy Johnson, who Walcott brought into the state commission. He hired me in 1982 as a probationary referee. Ob xyoos tom qab, I was a licensed referee and, raws li lawv hais, the rest is history.”

 

 

 

Hnub no, Smoger is still a very active referee, traveling around the world to officiate, as well as co-chairman of the International Boxing Association (IBA) officials, and a valued USA Boxing Alumni Association advisor. Steve has made several appearances at Alumni Association gatherings across the country.

 

 

 

“I am honored to be the ‘unofficial’ representative of all officials who’ve made the transition from amateur to pro boxing,” Smoger commented. “I’m the only active referee (Alumni Association advisor) who made the transition from the amateur to the pro level.

 

 

 

“The accent has always been No. 1, on boxers, thiab tsis. 2, coaches. USA Boxing is the best group I’ve ever been associated with and, for me personally, I’ve seen what amateur boxing does for kids in this country. They learn under difficult circumstances, through boxing, to successfully reach different levels in life. I enjoy watching the development of youths who go through the USA Boxing program and do very well.

 

 

 

“Boxing enables boxers. My accent is on youths, to watch them grow and develop, not turn pro, to better their lives.”

 

NTAUB NTAWV:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing
pib xyaum ua boxing, boxing, USA Boxing

Keyshawn Davis is Pushing His Way to the Top Norfolk, Yuav. native is 2020 Olympic hopeful for Team USA

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Ncej puab. (Lub rau hli ntuj 8, 2018) Overcoming adversity is something many people deal with throughout their lives, and it makes that person who they are. For Keyshawn Davis, he has been overcoming adversity from the beginning, and he is now on his way to the top of the boxing world.

 

 

 

Davis began boxing when he was just nine-years-old, after his mother took him and two of his brothers to the gym. They were constantly fighting each other and fighting in school. After about an hour of watching two kids around his age spar his mother asked if they wanted to sign up. The next day Keyshawn and his two brothers were in the gym training.

 

 

 

Txij thaum ntawd los, Davis has won numerous titles and is now on his first elite high-performance squad following his win at the 2017 Teb chaws USA Boxing National Championships. Following that win, he has made Colorado Springs, Ncej puab. a second home, as he spends a great deal of his time training at the United States Olympic Training Center.

 

 

 

Training for his first year at the elite level began with one of the largest multi-nation training camps USA Boxing has ever hosted. Davis got the opportunity to spar with not only his American teammates, but boxers from Great Britain, New Zealand and Poland. The preparation led to one of his proudest moments of his young career, his first elite international tournament and title at the Strandja Tournament in Bulgaria.

 

 

 

“It was a very different experience, being that it was my first time out of the country,” stated Davis. “I really had to get used to the different environment, especially the time difference, as it threw off my sleep schedule at first.”

 

 

 

Txawm li cas los, he did not let anything distract him from reaching the top of the podium.

 

 

 

“The feeling was just so unreal,” said Davis about his gold medal performance in Bulgaria. “I told myself that this is just one gold and I need to be standing here after every tournament. It was just a great feeling.”

 

 

 

Shortly after his winning performance in Bulgaria, Davis was back in the ring representing Team USA on the USA vs. IRL Kev Ncaws Pob Ncig Northeast. Only fighting in one of the three stops of the tour, Davis made every minute of it count, as he pulled off another impressive victory in front of a large number of American fans.

 

 

 

Txawm li cas los, before the success came struggles.

 

 

 

“I am a kid from Norfolk, Yuav. that started with nothing; Just my mother and her five children,” stated Davis.

 

 

 

“As life went on, I kept getting better in the ring, but outside the ring was horrible, from anger problems to getting sent to a mental institution,” continued Davis. “I would’ve never thought I would be in the position I am today, so I thank God that he blessed me with all my supporters; from my sisters, Shanice and Shantel Davis, also my brothers, Keon and Kelvin Davis, and of course my mother, Wanda Davis. Without them I wouldn’t be here today. I am a walking miracle and I just want to show the world what Keyshawn Davis really can do.”

 

 

 

Helping Keyshawn get past his struggles has been his coach who has been there from the beginning, Kay Korma, raws li zoo raws li 2016 Olympic silver medalist Shakur Stevenson.

“Last year when I was put in the mental home, they were both right there pushing me to get back on track,” Davis stated. “They never gave up on me or doubted me. They always knew what I was capable of, even though I was in a bad place.”

 

 

 

Another source of motivation and help came from another teammate, Troy Isley, who has been there by his side getting to experience Keyshawn’s first year as an elite with him.

 

 

 

“Troy has been a huge help for me during my first year on the elite high-performance squad,” mentioned Davis. “He has been telling me what foods I might need on a trip to help me maintain weight.”

 

 

 

When Davis went to Bulgaria for his first international tournament, Troy was there representing Team USA with him. “He told me how he felt his first time fighting internationally, and I just took all his information and used it to my advantage.”

 

 

 

Now the goal is to continue training and being successful at the international level. He has hopes of becoming an Olympic Champion in 2020 and being able to give back to his family.

 

 

 

“My biggest motivation is just to give my family a better life.”

 

 

 

With one gold under his belt, Davis will look for his second international title at the 2018 Chemistry Cup later this month. You can continue to follow his journey to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics through social media via Instagram (@keyshawndavis1) or SnapChat (@key4999).

 

NTAUB NTAWV:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

pib xyaum ua boxing, boxing, USA Boxing

Finale of 2018 Youth Continental Championships is Golden for Team USA

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO (Tej zaum 31, 2018) – The final night of the 2018 Youth Continental Championships saw the American delegation collect seven gold medals and three silvers, making their final medal count 11 golds, three silvers and one bronze at the week-long tournament that took place at the Hotel Elegante in Colorado Springs, Ncej puab.

 

 

 

Two highlights of the championships included light heavyweight Alexis Espino (Las Vegas, Nev.) and heavyweight David Stevens (Nyeem ntawv, Pa.) winning their second international title of 2018 by first-round knockouts. Espino took the gold over Puerto Rico’s Jancarmelo Nieves, while Stevens collected the title with his knockout against Andrews Salgado of Chile.

 

 

 

 

The final two females to box, bantamweight Heaven Garcia (El Monte, California.) and lightweight Isamary Aquino (San Antonio, Texas), defeated Emilia Dermott of Canada and Jennifer Yazmin Carrillo of Mexico, respectfully, to add two gold medals to the four the women’s team won on Thursday.

 

 

 

 

The final three gold medals were picked up by lightweight Harley Mederos (New York, N.Y.), light welterweight Otha Jones III (Toledo, Ohio) and super heavyweight Drake Banks (Homosassa, Fla.). The trio defeated their opponents by unanimous decisions to give Team USA the top team of the tournament.

 

 

 

 

This week’s tournament brought 14 different countries to Olympic City USA looking to qualify to the Youth Olympic Games and Youth World Championships, both taking place later this year. Team USA was led by Junior and Youth National Team Head Coach Augie Sanchez (Las Vegas, Nev.), with Timothy Back (Cincinnati, Ohio), Nora Lopez (Richmond, Texas), Eliza Olson (Redwood City, California.) and Chadrick Wigle (Colorado Springs, Colo.) served as assistant coaches throughout the week.

 

 

 

 

Click here for complete results. https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Boxing/Youth-Continental-Championships

 

 

NTAUB NTAWV:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

 

pib xyaum ua boxing, boxing

Sharahya-Taina Moreu to make USA Boxing Women’s Elite debut at home in Albuquerque

Cia ib saib
2018 Western Elite Qualifier and Regional Open Championships
Hiav txwv. 6-10 at Albuquerque Convention Center

COLORADO SPRINGS, Ncej puab. (Lub peb hlis ntuj 1, 2018) – High school senior Sharahya-Taina Moreu, one of the top youth amateur boxers in the world, will make her USA Boxing in the Women’s Elite Division at home in Albuquerque, Lub peb hlis ntuj 6-10, nyob rau ntawm lub 2018 USA Boxing Western Elite Qualifier and Regional Open Championships.

The 18-year-old Moreu, who plans to attend community college next year, yog ib tug 2016 USA Boxing National Champion, in addition to a four-time Native American and 2014 Gene Lewis champion. She was a silver medalist at the 2015 Junior/Youth Open and 2014/2015 Junior Olympic championships.

Boxing, her father/coach, Yoruba Moreu, lub lig Johnny Tapia helped her overcome the life-changing tragedy of her mother’s death in an automobile accident, forging a new path for her as a role model and 2020 Olympic hopeful. “I was only eight when my mother died,” Moreu remembered. “I was laying on her when the car-rolled and she was thrown through the back window. I was the first out of the card and on the freeway asking for help.

“I’m a better person because of that accident, tab sis yog. Thaum xub thawj, I was regretful and angry, getting in fights and on a bad path. I got into boxing, took anger management, and became motivated. I didn’t realize that I’d become a role model until girls started asking me for advice. They do look up to me and some of them I now coach.”
Moreu started boxing at the age of 12 and Tapia, lub tsib-lub sij hawm, peb faib lub ntiaj teb champion, in addition to the 1983 thiab 1985 Teb chaws Golden hnab looj tes champion, had a tremendous impact on Sharahya-Taina that will remain in her heart and soul for life.
“We became like family,” Moreu said. “Thaum xub thawj, he didn’t like girls boxing, so he worked me real hard. I was a good basketball player and he kept telling me to go play basketball. But he became a big person in my life, Kuv xav hais tias, because I had lost my mother at such a young age. He helped me in and out of the ring in so many ways. Johnny Tapia was the nicest, most humble man I’ve ever met. We became family until the gym fell apart. He only coached me about eight months, but he taught me that boxing defines you as a person, nyob rau hauv thiab tawm ntawm lub nplhaib. I feel safe in the ring. I’m a better person because of Johnny and boxing.”

Style-ntse, Sharahya-Taina preys on her opponents’ mistakes, adjusting in the ring the same as, she says, “Just like in life.” At 5′ 10″, Moreu has a distinct height and reach advantage over most of her middleweight opponents, using those attributes, her speed and stiff jab to relentlessly pile up points.

She strongly believes that, because of Claressa Shields‘ gold-medal performances in the 2012 thiab 2016 Olympics, the doors are open wider for women in boxing. “I saw an American woman do what Clarissa did and become a dominant force in boxing,” Moreu remarked. “(2016 U.S. Olympian and three-time USA Boxing National Champion)) Mikaela Mayer (3-0, 2 KOs as a pro) has helped a lot, heev. She signed with a good promoter (Sab saum toj nyob qib). Boxing is slowly getting better for woman, maybe not equal to men, but there are more girls boxing today than ever before and that’s a good sign.”

Fighting at home in the Western Qualifier has a special meaning for Moreu. “I thought fighting in Albuquerque would be a lot of pressure,” she admitted, “but there’s not much pressure on me because of all the support I’m receiving. It’s easy here. Albuquerque isn’t like a big city but it’s becoming a fight town.

“I like to travel and meet different people. Xyoo tas los, I represented to United States in India at the Youth Championships, and I saw another part of the world, how people trained and had different life styles. I’m turning 19 nyob rau hauv Tej zaum, so this is my first-time boxing in an Elite tournament, and it’s great doing it in my hometown.

Moreu also credits her father for a large amount of her success in the ring and life. “He’s been a single parent, but he’s always been there doing his best for me as a father and coach,” Sharahya-Taina noted. “Most people don’t know that he’s Puerto Rican, my mother a Native American (Pueblo).”

Like most young, elite athletes, Sharahya-Taina has a dream. “2020 in the Olympics,” she concluded. “I want to establish myself as an amateur and eventually go pro and have a good career.”

NTAUB NTAWV:
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
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pib xyaum ua boxing, boxing

Vito Mielnicki, Jr wins United States Junior National Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah

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Nutley, NJ (Kaum Ob Hlis Ntuj 11, 2017)–This past week in Salt Lake City, Utah, Vito Mielnicki, Jr. captured the United States Junior National championship in the 145-pound division.
Mielnicki of Roseland, New Jersey moved up an unprecedented 10 weight classes where he competed at 106-pounds at the 2017 kev sib tw, and defeated the number-two seed, Adam Calixto of Tampa, Florida in the semifinals. In the finals, Mielnicki defeated top seeded Obed Bartee-El of Huntsville, Alabama.
With the title, Mielnicki gained a spot in the 2018 United States Junior National Team, Where he will be heading to train with teammates on February 4th at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado to get ready for international competition.

Mielnicki is trained by Ahmad Elliot and Willie Moses, as well as strength and conditioning coach Fred Caruso.
Mielnicki is the son of the GH3 Promotions CEO Vito Mielnicki.