Tag Archives: Michael Bentt

boxing

New York State Boxing Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2021 May 1st Induction Dinner

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New York State Boxing Hall ntawm koob meejAnnounces Class of 2021

May 1st Induction Dinner

TSHIAB YORK (Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 16, 2021) – The New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF) has announced its 29-member Class of 2121. The 10th NYSBHOF induction dinner, txhawb nqa los ntawm nplhaib 8, yuav tsumSunday afternoon (12:30-5:30 p.m. THIAB), Tej zaum 1, ntawm Russo lub Rau Bay nyob rau hauv Howard Puam, New York.

“Every year the selections get more difficult,” NYSBHOF president Bob Duffy said. “Everyone of these new inductees has been a major part of New York boxing. It’s talent like this that makes NYSBHOF so successful.”

Living boxers heading into the NYSBHOF include WBO Heavyweight World Champions and Michael Bentt (11-2, 6 Kos), also a 4-time New York Golden Gloves gold medalist, and Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs (60-6-1, 53 Kos), 3-time World light middleweight titlist Verno Phillips (42-11-1, 2 Kos), WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Donny “Golden Boy” Lalonde (42-11-1, 21 Kos), WBC World Light Heavyweight Champion Johnny “The Heat” Verderosa (41-5-1, 33 Kos), 2-time World title challenger and No. 1 ranked welterweight contender Larry “No Fear” Barnes (44-3-1, 17 Kos), and welterweight Johnny Turner (42-6-2, 32 Kos)

Posthumous participants being inducted World Lightweight Champion Al Singer (62-9-2, 26 Kos), World’s Colored Light Heavyweight Champion Kid Norfolk (88-25-7, 49 Kos), lightweight Patsy “Cannonball” Giovanelli (44-7-1, 14 Kos), World Bantamweight Champion Cannonball Eddie Martin (81-12-4, 29 Kos), World Light Heavyweight title challenger Battling Seki (60-24-4, 31 Kos), Novice New York Golden Gloves and Intercity Golden Gloves champion Solly Krieger (82-25-6 , 54 Kos), Ua Tsis. 1  world ranked middleweight contender Herbie Kronowitz (55-23-5, 10 Kos), World featherweight champion Tommy Paul (80-28-10, 26 Kos), and World Bantamweight Champion and US Olympian Lou Salica (67-17-12, 13 Kos).

Living non-participants heading into the NYSBHOF are judge Ron McNair,  promoter/manager/matchmaker Don Elbaum, journalists Ed Schuyler and Bill Verigan, author/journalist Tom Hauser, author/journalist/promoter/inspector Mike Silver, and Jill Diamond, Secretary of the World Boxing Council and International Chair or WBC Cares.

Posthumous non-participant inductees are trainer and Stillman’s gym owner Lou Stillman, promoter/manager Bill Cayton, NYC Mayor James Walker who legalized boxing in NY, publicists John Condon and Irving Rudd, journalist Richard K. Hma liab, and trainer Victor Valle.

Txhua mus kawm inductee (los yog ncaj xeeb leej xeeb ntxwv ntawm) yuav tau txais ib tug kev cai tsim siv signifying nws los yog nws induction mus rau hauv lub NYSBHOF.

Lub 2021 inductees raug xaiv los ntawm cov NYSBHOF nominating pawg neeg: Randy Gordon, Henry Hascup, Don Majeski, Ron McNair, Jim Monteverde and Neil Terens.

Tag nrho boxers yuav tsum tau mus yuav tsaug zog rau tsawg kawg peb lub xyoos yuav tsum tau tsim nyog rau NYSBHOF induction, thiab tag nrho cov inductees yuav tsum tau nyob rau hauv New York State rau ib tug tseem ceeb feem ntawm lawv boxing hauj lwm los yog thaum lub sij hawm lub prime ntawm lawv cov hauj lwm.

NYSBHOF

HOOB ntawm 2012: Carmen Basilio, Mike McCallum, Mike Tyson, Jake LaMotta, Riddick Bowe, Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, Emile Griffith, “Sugar” Ray Robinson, Noob Tunney, Benny Leonard, Tony Canzoneri, Harold Lederman, Steve Acunto, Jimmy Glenn, Gil Clancy, Ray Arcel, Leej Fleischer, Bill Gallo thiab Arthur Mercante, Sr.

HOOB ntawm 2013: Jack Dempsey, Johnny Dundee, Sandy Saddler, Maxie Rosenbloom, Joey Archer, Iran Barkley, Mark Breland, Bobby Cassidy, Doug Jones, Junior Jones, James “Buddy” McGirt, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Bob Arum, Shelly Finkel, Tony Graziano, Larry ua lag luam, Teddy Brenner, Mike Jacobs, Txhab Rickard thiab Don Dunphy.

HOOB NTAWM 2014:  Floyd Patterson, Tracy Harris Patterson, Billy Backus, Kevin Kelley, Juan LaPorte, Gerry Cooney, Mustafa Hamsho, Howard Davis, Jr., Lou Ambers, Jack Britton, Terry McGovern, Teddy Atlas, Lou DiBella, Steve Farhood, Noob Moore, Angelo Prospero, Whitey Bimstein, Cus D'Amato, William Muldoon thiab Tom O'Rourke.

HOOB NTAWM 2015: Xa-u Mamby, Joey Giamba, Johnny Persol, Harold Weston, Lonnie Bradley, Paul Berlenbach, Billy Graham, Frankie Genaro, Bob Miller, Tommy Ryan, Jimmy Slattery, Bob Duffy, Mike Katz, Tommy Gallagher, Bruce Silverglade, Charley Goldman, Jimmy Johnston, Cedric Kushner, Harry Markson, Damon Runyon, and Al Weill.

HOOB NTAWM 2016:  Aaron Davis, Charles Murray, Vilomar Fernandez, Edwin Viruet, Hector “Macho” Camacho, Rocky Graziano, Rocky Kansas, Joe Lynch, Joe Miceli, Ed Brophy, Joe DeGuardia, Randy Gordon, Dennis Rappaport, Howie Albert, Freddie Brown, Howard Cosell, Ruby Goldstein, and Jimmy Jacobs.

HOOB NTAWM 2017:  Gaspar Ortega, Renaldo “Mr.” Snipes, Doug DeWitt, “The Bronx Bomber” Alex Ramos, Dick Tsov, Jose Torres, “Nonpareil” Jack Dempsey, Don Majeski, Ron Katz, Stan Hoffman, Bobby Bartels, Hank Kaplan, Al Gavin, Arthur Donovan, and Dan Parker.

HOOB NTAWM 2018:  Lou “Honey Boy” Del Valle, Jake Rodriguez, Terrence Alli, “Baby” Joe Mesi, Kid Qhob noom xim kasfes, James J. “Gentleman Jim” Corbett, Jack McAuliffe, Billy Costello, Melio Bettina Ralph “Tiger” Jones, Charley Norkus, Dave Anderson, Pete Brodsky, Tshuaj ntsuab Goldman, Bobby Goodman, Melvina Lathan, Ron Scott Stevens, Johnnie Addie, Johnny Bos, Murray Goodman, Bert Randolph Sugar and Sam Taub.

No class of 2019 due to COVID-19 restrictions

HOOB NTAWM 2020: Jorge Ahumada, Alfredo Escalera, Freddie Liberatore, Dennis Milton; Lou Savarese and Merqui Sosa, Soldier Bartfield, Steve Belloise, Jimmy Goodrich, Tami Mauriello, Davey Moore, Freddie “The Welsh Wizard” Welch, Don Ackerman, Bobby Cassidy, Jr., Rick Glaser, Jack Lub, Max Kellerman, Dr. William Lathan, Julie Lederman, Ron Lipton, Kevin Rooney, Dan Daniel, Bobby Gleason, Flash Gordan, A.J. Liebling, Tony Mazzarella and manager Dan Morgan.

Daim pib no yog luv nqi ntawm $125.00 ib tug neeg laus thiab $60.00 rau cov me nyuam (nyob rau hauv 16) thiab muaj xws li ib tug tag nrho brunch thiab cocktail teev raws li qhov nkag, pib thaum 12:30 p.m. THIAB, raws li zoo raws li noj hmo (prime tav, fish, or poultry) thiab qhib bar thoob plaws hauv lub hnub. Tickets are available to purchase by contacting NYSBHOF president Bob Duffy at 516.313.2304 los yogdepcomish@aol.com. Tawm rau lub NYSBHOF kev pab cuam no muaj nyob rau, xws li los ntawm $80.00 rau $200.00, los ntawm kev hu Duffy. Go online atwww.nyboxinghof.org los yogwww.Ring8ny.com rau cov lus qhia ntxiv txog lub New York lub xeev Boxing Hall ntawm koob meej.

HAIS TXOG NPLHAIB 8: Tsim nyob rau hauv 1954 los ntawm ib tug ex-prizefighter, Jack Grebelsky, Nplhaib 8 ua lub yim chaw hauj lwm ntawm dab tsi yog ces hu ua tus National qub tub rog boxers Association – li no, NPLHAIB8 – thiab hnub no lub koom haum motto tseem: Boxers Pab boxers.

NPLHAIB 8 yog tag nrho cog lus rau txhawb tsawg hmoo neeg nyob rau hauv lub boxing zej zog uas tej zaum yuav pab nyob rau hauv cov nqe lus ntawm kev them nqi xauj tsev, cov nqi kho mob, los yog txawm justifiable xav tau.

Mus online rauwww.Ring8ny.com yog xav paub ntxiv txog NPLHAIB 8, qhov loj tshaj plaws pab pawg neeg ntawm nws zoo nyob rau hauv lub tebchaws United States nrog ntau tshaj 350 neeg. Txhua xyoo ua tswv cuab dues tsuas yog $30.00, thiab txhua tus mej zeej muaj cai mus rau ib tug buffet noj hmo tom NPLHAIB 8 txhua hli rooj sib tham, tsis suav Lub Xya hli ntuj Lub yim hli ntuj thiab. Tag nrho cov active boxers, pib xyaum ua thiab kev, muaj cai mus rau ib tug complimentary NPLHAIB 8 txhua xyoo ua tswv cuab. Guests ntawm nplhaib 8 cov mej zeej yuav txais tos ntawm ib tug nqi xwb $7.00 rau ib tug neeg.

NTAUB NTAWV:

www.nyboxinghof.org

boxing, Olympics, USA Boxing

1988 Olympic gold medalist “Merciless” Ray Mercer Looks back at his Olympic experience

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Ncej puab. (Lub ob hlis ntuj 11, 2020) – Thirty-two years after he captured an Olympic gold medal, “Merciless” Ray Mercer fondly remembers his Olympic experience like it was last month. Mercer, who is the only American heavyweight champion to knock out all of his Olympic opponents, went on to become world heavyweight champion as a professional for our “heavyweight double.”

For Mercer, it all started in Germany, where his U.S. Army unit was based. Offered a chance to avoid a 30-day field exercise, Mercer accepted an offer to serve as a sparring partner for the post’s heavyweight boxing champion. Despite never having put on a pair of gloves before, Mercer was a quick learner who was naturally strong, and he rapidly developed into the 1985 U.S. Army and Inter-service heavyweight champion.

The World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), in which qualified athletes have an opportunity to train fulltime for the Olympics, didn’t exist back then, nor the Olympic qualifier rules of today. Mercer defeated future world heavyweight championTommy Morrison in the opening round of the 1988 Olympic Trials and another future world heavyweight titlist, Michael Bentt (5-0) in the championship final. At the 1988 USA Olympic Box-offs at famed Caesars Pala

ce in Las Vegas, Mercer won a split decision (3-2) over Bentt, but Mercer had already qualified to fight in the Olympic Games by being the U.S. Armed Forces champion.

“When I was in the Army, I had to win in the service, maintain things, and go to the next step,” Mercer remembered. “I had to beat some good fighters on my way to the Olympics, and I was in the best shape of my life. There was more discipline in the amateurs than the professional ranks. The final year before the Olympics, I left my home unit, traveled a lot to fight, and stayed in my trainer’s house instead of living in the barracks.

Mercer made history at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Kauslim, when he became and remains the only Olympic heavyweight champion from the United States to knockout all four of his opponents:  Rudolf Gavenciak (Czechoslovakia – RSC3), Luigi Gaudiano(Italy – KO1), Arnond Vasnderlyde (Netherlands – RSC2) thiabBaik Hyun-Man (South Korean – KO1).

“I knew I had to knockout the South Korean in the final,” Mercer admitted. “I just wanted to do what I could to be the Olympic gold medalist. I don’t think I used a jab.

“Winning the Olympic gold medal resulted in some big-time changes for me. I became a celebrity, a household name, and it allowed me to make money as a professional. The best thing that ever happened to me was winning the Olympic gold medal, even more than winning the world title as a pro. Nothing compared to becoming an Olympic gold medalist. I accomplished my dream. I had never dreamed of going pro, until after I won the gold medal.

“It was really important to win that gold medal. I fought with my heart; no money was involved, celebrated so hard that night (after winning the gold medal) that I lost my medal for a few hours. My dream had come true, my hands were shaking, and I lost my medal. What a night!"

Mercer offers members of the 2020 USA Boxing Olympic Qualification Team one bit of advice, “Keep fighting, follow your dream and take that last step.”

Mercer, who was born in Jacksonville, Florida, made his much-anticipated pro debut in 1989, siv ceev xwmphemJesse McGhee in the third round of their fight in Atlantic City. “Merciless” won his first 18 pro sib ntaus, including a ninth-round knockout ofFrancisco Damiani, followed by a successful defense against Morrison, who was stopped in the fifth round.

During his 19-year pro career, Mercer compiled a 36-7-1 (26 Kos) cov ntaub ntawv, defeating four world champions in Damiani, Morrison, Tim Witherspoon thiabOssie Ocasio.  Five of his eight career losses were to world champions: Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko,Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield thiabShannon Briggs. 

“Ray represents everything that makes USA Boxing proud,"Hais tiasChris Cugliari, USA Boxing Alumni Association Director. “As an Army veteran, Olympic kub medalist, and heavyweight champion of the world, he has demonstrated excellence and professionalism that reflects the best of what USA Boxing has to offer.”

USA Boxing Alumni Association

Created to champion lifelong, mutually beneficial relationships 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 atalumni@usaboxing.org for a $40.00 per year membership fee. New members will receive a T-shirt, keychain and e-wallet.

Mercer’s outstanding amateur boxing career also included a classic match-up against Cuban great and three-time Olympic gold medalist, Felix Savon, at USA vs. Cuba dual match, in which Mercer twice staggered Savon, who survived without suffering additional damage only because the Cuban referee made a questionable intervention that gave his fellow countryman time to recover and a controversial 2-1 yeej.

“And he gave me a standing eight-count for no reason,” Mercer added. “I beat that guy and he knows it. We’re still in touch even though he doesn’t speak English. He has a friend translate and we’re in touch on Facebook. We like each other.”

Hnub no, Mercer is founding a charity at home in North Carolina, which will include free boxing clinics, tab sis, more importantly, give back to the community and teach youths, especially those who are bullied, the skills they’ll need to go out into the real world.

Ray Mercer has reached the zenith twice in boxing as an Olympic gold medalist and world heavyweight champion as a professional. Not too shabby for somebody who never really wanted to box.

“Boxing saved my life,” Mercer concluded. “I can’t imagine my life without boxing, it certainly wouldn’t be the same.

NTAUB NTAWV:

www.usaboxing.orgi

Twitter: @USABoxing, @USABoxingAlumni

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.