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(Left Photo from left to right: Swanson along with Amateur Boxer of the Year Kristin McMurtree, boxing judge & inductee Dave Moretti, former heavyweight & inductee Billy Tompkins & Buffalo Veterans Boxing Association President Bob Caico; Right Photo: Swanson with her family)
BROOKLYN (September 26, 2016) – The Buffalo Veteran Boxers Association inducted Swanson Communications President Kelly Swanson into the Ring 44 Buffalo Boxing Hall of Fame on Friday, September 23 as part of its 20th class.
Swanson, along with five other new inductees, including Dave Moretti, Billy Tompkins, Dummy Burns, Stan Myka and Pete Tamalonis were honored at the organization’s annual dinner and awards ceremony at Ilio Dipaolo Restaurant in Blasdell, NY
“It is such an honor to be recognized by my hometown for my work in boxing over the last 20 years,” said Swanson, a North Buffalo-native who has worked in boxing for over two decades, representing some of the sport’s biggest names including Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins and Riddick Bowe. “I am proud to be from the Queen City and thrilled to join an incredible class of inductees.
“Boxing is a sport of opportunity and it has opened so many doors for me. I have been privileged to with some of the best fighters and work on some of the biggest events the sport has witnessed over the course of these 20 years. I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love boxing and I look forward to continuing to publicize and promote fighters and events for many years to come.”
“Congratulations to Kelly for her honor,” said Mayweather. “We’ve been together for a long time, more than 10 years, and I am happy she is being recognized for all of her great work.”
“There’s no woman in this game that has accomplished as much as Kelly,” said Hopkins. “She’s the top as far as publicists go and everyone knows it. I’ve been with her for 10 plus years and she always did her best and took her job seriously. She has no problem telling any fighter – from a prospect to a champion – how she feels and what she believes will make them succeed. This honor is well deserved.”
Swanson not only works in boxing, but stays involved in the sport in her off time as well. She works out at the famed Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, blocks from her New York City office. She is also a board member for the gym’s “Give a Kid a Dream” program, which offers children from disadvantaged backgrounds a place to develop themselves physically and mentally through boxing.
“I have worked for Kelly for over eight years and I’m still learning,” said Lisa Milner Goldberg, Vice President of Swanson Communications. “I constantly find myself in awe of the ideas she dreams up, her creativity and her loyalty to her clients. She is very deserving of this recognition, especially because she is so proud of her hometown.”