Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa dels EUA, classe de 2018 Incorporat

COLORADO SPRINGS, Volta. (Setembre 6, 2018) – Living legend Roy Jones, Jr., universally recognized as one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers of all-time, leads a celebrated quintet of Class of 2018 inductees into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame.

La segona recepció anual del Saló de la Fama de l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa dels EUA, celebrada conjuntament amb la 2018 Campionats nacionals d'elit i juvenil de boxa dels EUA i Open de preparació i júnior, Desembre 2-8, will be held Dec. 7, a l'hotel Radisson (215 S. Temple St.) a Salk Lake City, Utah.

A més de Jones, la classe de 2018 also includes two U.S. Olympic gold medalists and world (professional) campions, Andre Ward i Claressa Escuts, així com exdirector nacional d'entrenament de boxa dels EUA Emanuel Steward i veterà oficial de boxa dels EUA Tom Cleary. Aquests dos últims seran incorporats pòstumament.

Inclou la classe charter introduïda l'any passat Muhammad Ali i Evander Holyfield, així com entrenadors veterans Roosevelt Sanders i Tom Coulter.

“I am honored to be selected for induction into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame,” Jones commented, “especially as a member of this great class with my fellow inductees.

“Amateur boxing gave me the chance to learn life skills as well as face every other possible scenario inside of the ring.”

Jones, irònicament, got into boxing at the age of 11 because of Ali. “I saw Ali vs. (Joe) Frazierand just felt as though Ali and I had the same mental concept on life,” Jones explained.

Jones went on to become one of the best amateur boxers in the world, compiling a reported 121-13 registre, including gold medal performances at the 1984 National Junior Olympics and 1986 & 1987 National Golden Gloves Tournaments.

Al 1988 Jocs Olímpics a Seül, Corea del Sud, Jones reached the championship final of the light middleweight division against Park Si-Hun, of South Korea. Jones suffered arguably the worst decision in boxing history, losing 3-2, despite outpunching his opponent, 86 a 32 landed punches, and he was forced to settle for a silver medal. Even his opponent admitted that Jones won their fight, leading the AIBA to later suspend the three judges who selected the hometown fighter as the winner.

How disgraceful was this decision? Jones was selected as the Val Barker Trophy winner as the best boxer of the 1988 Olympics and, due to controversy, the scoring system for Olympic boxing was changed, replacing the 20-point must system with electronic scoring.

“I was angered,” Jones admitted, “yet promoted to prove that I was the best fighter there, and in the world, at that time.”

Jones made his professional debut May 6, 1989, at home in Pensacola, Florida, in a scheduled eight-round bout, in which RJJ stopped Ricky Randall en la segona ronda. His long, glorious journey has produced a remarkable 66-9 (47 KOs) registre professional, highlighted by nine major world titles in four different weight classes.

En 2003, Jones defeated John Ruiz by way of a 12-round unanimous decision to become the first former world middleweight champion to become world heavyweight title holder in more than a century.

The possessor of exceptional hand and foot speed, atletisme, movement and reflexes, Jones went undefeated through his first 34 baralles com a professional, 22-3 (14) en baralles de títol mundial. Against former, present or future world champions, Jones was 19-9 (8 KOs) and included among his victims were greats such as Bernard Hopkins, James Toney, Mike McCallum,Vinnie Pazienza, Virgil Hill, Antonio Tarver i Félix Trinitat.

Avui, the 49-year-old Jones, technically speaking, is still an active fighter. He also has two promotional companies and gyms, located in Pensacola and Las Vegas, trains several pro boxers and serves as a color commentator for HBO Boxing. He recently opened gyms in South Africa.

For the past two years, Jones has hosted the “Future Stars of Boxing Tournament” in Las Vegas, showcasing some of the best amateur boxers in the world.

“Hosting the tournament in Las Vegas gives me the opportunity to give back to amateur boxing,” Jones explained. “It’s a great experience for the boxers and it reminds them that who they may have or still look up to, are watching them as well.”

Roy Jones, Jr. with one of the many amateur boxers who participated in this year’s “Future Stars of Boxing” tournament in Las Vegas (photo courtesy of RJJ Boxing Promotions)

“When USA Boxing alumni discuss their favorite fighters,” dit Chris Cugliari, Director executiu de l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa dels EUA, “Roy Jones is near the top of everyone’s list. His spectacular talent, dedication to his craft, and infectious personality make him a no-brainer to headline this year’s Hall of Fame class. He continues to give back to amateur boxing and support the next generation. Roy deserves to be celebrated for all he has accomplished, and we look forward to honoring him in December.”

Creat per defensar tota la vida, relacions mútuament beneficioses entre USA Boxing i els seus antics alumnes, –boxejadors, funcionaris, entrenadors i aficionats a la boxa — l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes connecta generacions de campions, inspirar i retornar als futurs campions de boxa d'USA Boxing, dins i fora de l'anell de.

L'Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa dels Estats Units està oberta a qualsevol persona que tingui un amor per la boxa i vulgui mantenir-se connectat amb la boxa amateur.. Els membres tenen accés a una gran varietat d'esdeveniments especials organitzats per l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes, inclosa la recepció del Saló de la Fama de la Boxing Alumni Association dels EUA.

Per unir-se a l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes, només cal registrar-se a alumni@usaboxing.org per a $40.00 quota anual de soci. Els nous socis rebran una samarreta, clauer i cartera electrònica.

Quotes of Note from other World Champions

George Foreman: “(Jones) hits like a heavyweight and moved like a lightweight.”

Montell Griffin: “Floyd (Mayweather, Jr.) was no comparison as far as speed. Roy was much faster.”

Mike McCallum: “(Jones is) the greatest fighter of all time.”

If he ever hangs-up his gloves for good, Roy Jones, Jr. will be a first ballot inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. There may never be another boxer quite like RJJ.

INFORMACIÓ:

www.usaboxing.org

Refilo: @USABoxing, USABoxingAlumni

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

SOBRE LA BOIXA A USA: La missió d'USA Boxing serà habilitar els Estats Units’ atletes i entrenadors per aconseguir una excel·lència competitiva sostinguda, desenvolupar el caràcter, donar suport a l'esport de la boxa, i promoure i fer créixer la boxa a l'estil olímpic als Estats Units. La responsabilitat d'USA Boxing no és només produir l'or olímpic, però també supervisar i governar tots els aspectes de la boxa amateur als Estats Units.