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boxa, EUA Boxa, boxa femenina

Boxing a family affair for Idaho amateur boxer Kendra Samargis

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Volta. (Octubre 26, 2020) – Idaho middleweight boxer Kendra (Reeves) Samargis‘ decision four years ago to lose weight has led her onto a path to compete in the 2020 EUA Campionat Nacional de Boxa, Desembre 5-12, at Shreveport Convention Center in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Boxing for the 26-year-old Samargis, who lives in Twin Falls, is a real family affair. She’s trained by her husband, Jason, and their two sons, Skyler Bellus (11) and Riley Marovich (8), are in USA Boxing. Skyler, de fet, has competed in several tournaments in which his mother also fought.

“I got into boxing just as a form of weight loss,” Kendra explained. “My husband had been a boxing coach for many years and he still had all of his equipment. We set it up in our garage and started training. Primer, starting out was the worst thing I had ever done. The amount of stamina, resistència, and strength that I needed to have was unreal. Slowly over time I lost tremendous weight, 73-pounds to be exact, and I came to love the sport.

“I’m always asked what it’s like to be trained by my husband. I always say I have a secret weapon, someone who is in my corner who wants me to succeed just as much as I do and supports me throughout. També, in times we’re at tournaments, I am never alone the night before a big fight and if I need a pep talk, he is right there. Ara, my sons competing with me, bé, that’s a different story. Being on the outside of the ring while my boys are competing is by far harder than any fight I have ever had. My mom-side definitely kicks in. Al final de la dia, encara que, I know how well trained they are, and I have to trust that. I don’t work their corners because that’s too close. I would throw in the towel every time. I have to be in the stands.”

Kendra and both of her sons will be competing in Shreveport this year, despite having to train during the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare for the first national tournament of the year in the United States.

“Training during the pandemic has been a blessing for me,” Kendra said. “We now own a gym in town. Així, during the times we had to close our doors, el meu marit, kids and I were able to keep up with our training regimen. I learned so much during this time. We were actually able to slow things down and work on so many things that get overlooked. We are also very lucky to live in a small town, we only had to keep our gym closed for two months and we’ve been up and running since. I could only image how hard it must be for so many people during these times. We were very blessed to have a gym to get us through.”

Actualment ocupa el núm. 10 a 152 pounds and No. 5 a 165, Kendra’s highlights thus far are winning gold medals at the 2019 Qualificació d'elit oriental i 2018 Guants d'Or Nacionals Torneig.

An aggressive boxer who throws punches in bunches, Samargis believes she’s made dramatic improvement in the past years. She admittedly changed many different parts of her game, focusing more on movement, foot and head placements.

Eventualment, she wants to capture top honors at multiple national tournaments, starting with this year’s Nationals Championship, and eventually turn pro to shoot for a world title. Per ara, encara que, she’s all in for the Nationals.

“I am my biggest competition for this year’s National Championships,” she concluded. “Every day I want to be the best version of myself and every day I wake up to the haunting possibility I could fall back into the person that I used to be. I have to go to war everyday with myself to keep this person at bay. All of the hours of training, nutrition and mental preparation helps me accomplish this. Every day I can continue to be the best version of myself, focusing only on getting better, then who I compete against won’t matter.

“I am beyond ready and excited for the National Championships this year. With the world coming to a halt this will be my first tournament of the year. I am ready to get back in the ring. Medaling will give me another national title under my belt and sharpen my resume for when I turn pro.”

INFORMACIÓ:
www.usaboxing.org
Refilo: @USABoxing, @USABoxingAlumni
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
boxa, EUA Boxa

Shreveport to Host 2020 EUA Campionat Nacional de Boxa

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Louisiana city to host USA Boxing’s Return to National Stage
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (Set. 18) – USA Boxing ha anunciat avui el 2020 USA Boxing National Championships will now take place at the Shreveport Convention Center in Shreveport, La., Desembre. 5-12.

“Hurricane Laura wreaked havoc on the city of Lake Charles and rendered their Civic Center inhospitable for this year’s National Championships. This came on top of the pandemic which already nearly wiped out the 2020 National Tournament calendar,” declarat Michael Campbell, USA Boxing Events and Operations Manager. “Our events staff immediately pivoted and was determined to replace the event with as little disruption as possible for our coaches and boxers that had been training with their goals fixed on participating in this event to end the year.”

“Shreveport stepped up quickly to provide us a great alternative within the same footprint as the planned event, therefore we could keep our same scheduled dates and remain in the great state of Louisiana. Shreveport will provide good accessibility, weather and hospitality for our members and their Convention Center will be ideal for the implementation of our #BackToBoxing protocols that are designed to ensure the safety of our boxers, entrenadors, officials and members of the community.”

“Shreveport, Bossier City, and the State of Louisiana are proud to host the 2020 National Boxing Championships in December,” dit Kelly Wells, Executive Director for the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission. “Primarily, I would like to acknowledge my unwavering respect for Lake Charles and their investment in USA Boxing, which ultimately highlights Louisiana as a destination for national, elite sporting events.”
“As they recover from the detrimental effects of Hurricane Laura, Shreveport-Bossier is excited to keep this event within our state, which is expected to bring an estimated $2 million in economic impact to the area. We’re honored to welcome approximately 1,000 athletes to Shreveport-Bossier, as well as their coaches, amics, families and other boxing enthusiasts. On behalf of the Sports Commission team and Shreveport-Bossier community, I would like to thank the USA Boxing family for entrusting us with this incredible event, as well as Lt. Governor Nungesser, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Shreveport Convention Center, Hilton Shreveport and the local boxing community. We’ll deliver nothing less than world-class hospitality in sportsman’s paradise.”
Registration for the event will open Oct. 1. The fact sheet, which will include check-in information, hotels and schedule will be released in the coming days.

Com a recordatori, due to COVID-19 and being the sole USA Boxing tournament in 2020, this year’s National Championships will be an open tournament, with a minimum bout requirement, for pee-wee to elite divisions. Boxers competing in Olympic/International Federation weight divisions in junior, youth and elite age groups will be competing for their place on Team USA’s High Performance teams. Complete selection procedures will be announced in the next few weeks. More information about High Performance can be found en aquest lloc.

This year’s championships will also have other changes to help provide a safer and easier tournament experience for our members, including staggered check-in days, set late coaches check-in hours, no general weigh-in, as well as a quota for all weight classes. All important changes and information will be released en aquest lloc.

Continue to check USABoxing.org and USA Boxing’s social media platforms for important updates on this year’s tournament.

Tournament Information
Lloc de celebració: Shreveport Convention Center
Registration Opens: Octubre. 1
Registration Closes: Novembre. 30
Early Check-in: Desembre. 5
Full Check-in: Desembre. 6
Staggered Check-in: Desembre. 7-10
First day of bouts: Desembre. 7
boxa, Jocs Olímpics, EUA Boxa

The one and only 1956 olympic gold medalist pete rademacher

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Volta. (Agost 27, 2020) - 1956 Medallista d'or olímpicPete Rademacheris the only boxer to fight for a world title in his pro debut.

Rademacher, who died this past June at the age of 91 in Sandusky, Ohio, was a native of Tieton, Washington. He had a 72-7 rècord amateur, highlighted by his gold medal performance at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia.

Rademacher started boxing during his rehabilitation for Rheumatic Fever, which he contracted while attending Castle Heights Military Academy. The gifted heavyweight captured top honors at numerous national tournaments, incloent el 1951 & 1953 National AAU Championships, 1954 All-Army Championship and Service Championships, and Olympic Trials.

In Australia, he knocked out the three opponents he faced, en ordre, Josef Nemec (Czechoslovakia) in the quarterfinals, Sud-àfricaDaan Bekker a les semifinals, and the Soviet Union’sLev Mukhin in the opening round of the championship final for the gold medal.

Rademacher was so hot after the Olympics that he publicly proclaimed that he would be able to become world heavyweight champion in his pro debut. Soon after he became the only fighter to make his pro debut in a world title fight, when he challenged defending World heavyweight championFloyd Patterson (32-1)  d'agost 22, 1957 in Seattle. Rademacher floored Patterson in the second round, però, he was dropped six times before the fight, which was refereed by Hall of FamerTommy Loughran, was halted at 2:57 of that round.

Rademacher, who was an offensive lineman on Washington State University’s football team, didn’t take many easy fights during his 5-year pro career (15-7-1, 8 KOs). His most notable pro victories were against World title challengerGeorge Chuvalo (17-3-1) and future Hall of Famer and World middleweight championBobo Olson(87-12), both by way of 10-round unanimous decisions, as well as technical knockouts overLaMar Clark (42-1) and NorwegianBuddy Thurman(32-5-1), respectivament, al 10º and ninth rounds.

Rademacher’s pro losses were to some of the best heavyweights in the world, such as Hall of FamerArchie Moore, along with world title challengersKarl Mildenberger (29-1), invicteDoug Jones (17-0) iZorro Foley (40-2-2), who had been Rademacher’s arch-rival in the amateur ranks.

Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa dels EUA 

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 del ring.

L'Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa dels EUA està oberta a qualsevol persona que tingui un amor per la boxa i vulgui mantenir-se connectat amb la boxa amateur. Els socis tenen accés a una gran varietat d'esdeveniments especials organitzats per l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes, including its annual USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception.

Per unir-se a l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes, només cal registrar-se aalumni@usaboxing.org per a $40.00 quota anual de soci. Els nous socis rebran una samarreta, key-chain and e-wallet.

INFORMACIÓ: 

www.usaboxing.org 

Refilo: @USABoxing, @USABoxingAlumni

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

boxa, EUA Boxa

USA BOXING ANNOUNCES INVOLVEMENT IN GIVING GAMES: A COLLABORATIVE FUNDRAISING EFFORT

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Following the Tokyo Games postponement, Giving Games encourages Americans to unite as one to support the athletes that bear our flag

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (Juliol 22, 2020) – USA Boxing announced today they are one of over 25 different National Governing Bodies (NGBs) taking part in in the launch of Giving Games: an effort to support and sustain U.S. sports federations and their members.

Giving Games will launch on July 24, on what would have been the Opening Ceremony in Tokyo. With the postponement of the Games, many U.S. sports and their athletes are facing extraordinary financial hardship and decision making, especially with the cancellation of most, or all, of their domestic competitions. Unlike most countries that receive government support, U.S. athletes rely heavily on the support of the community. Adding to the physical and emotional toll that a delay in competition places on their shoulders, their revenue streams, and hope for success in 2021 and the future are now under threat.

“While I have to wait another year to achieve my Olympic dreams, Giving Games is a great opportunity to inspire America to support USA Boxing and all United States athletes,” said USA Boxing Heavyweight Olympic Qualification Team Member and Giving Games AmbassadorDarius Fulghum. “Donations will not only help myself and my 2021 teammates but will help the next generation of Olympic Champions.”

“This year has been extremely difficult for all, and our hope is to not only help support our 2021 Olímpics, but help raise funds for our 1,700+ gyms that have been impacted by COVID-19 and impact the lives of so many youth that are our future Olympians,” statedMike McAtee, USA Boxing Executive Director.

All funds raised will either be a direct donation to a specific sport of the donor’s choice or general support for all sports which will be equally divided among the participating NGBs. Fans and supporters can contribute to Giving Games in the following ways:

  • Take the Giving Games quiz to find the sport that best matches you and donate,
  • Enter to win one of 10 amazing sweepstakes packages from Omaze,
  • Help set the world record for most donations made in 24 hores, o
  • Compete in the Medal of Giving by donating directly to a sport. At the conclusion of Giving Games, each sport will award a Gold, Silver, and Bronze medal to the top three donors.

     

    Donations to USA Boxing can be giving online byfer clic aquí.

     

    Giving Games will actively raise funds for athletes and their sports organizations during the original window of the Tokyo 2020 Games: Juliol 24 – Agost 9. In addition to participating in the activations listed above, fans and supporters can also text ‘GIVINGGAMES’ to 243725 or make a donation online. Details can be found atgivinggames2020.com. 

     

    Though recognized and supported by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, the National Governing Bodies are separate organizations. The Giving Games initiative is not associated with or endorsed by the USOPC or the USOPF, and funds raised through the Giving Games initiative are used to directly aid the National Governing Bodies and the athletes they support.
boxa, EUA Boxa

USA Boxing pays tribute to True Patriot Robert Carmody 1964 Medallista de bronze olímpic & Soldier killed in Vietnam

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Volta. (Maig 21, 2020) – People all across the United States will rightfully pay respect to fallen military men and women during this Memorial Day weekend. One true American Patriot that USA Boxing will remember forever is 1964 Medallista de bronze olímpicRobert “Butterball” Carmody, who was killed in action three years later at the height of the Vietnam War.

Born in 1938, Carmody learned to fight on the streets of Brooklyn, where he lived before joining the U.S. Army in 1957, and where he took his first boxing lesson. A natural-born fighter, he was selected to represent the 11º Airborne Division, even after it was deployed to Germany, after he had earned his airborne wings, and Robert developed into a record 4-time All-Army flyweight champion.

Carmody also captured top honors at the 1962 International Military Sports Council and earned a bronze medal in 1963 at the prestigious Pan American Games. At the 1964 Assaigs olímpic de boxa, held at the famous New York’s World’s Fair, he upset flyweight favoriteMelvin Miller to earn a spot on the 1964 Equip Olímpic de Boxa dels Estats Units.

Als Jocs Olímpics, Carmody became a close friend of heavyweightJoe Frazier, the lone American to win an Olympic gold medal at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. The smallest and biggest men on the Olympic Team were buddies. Frazier, per descomptat, went on to become a Hall of Fame heavyweight champion, who was inducted into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame this past December.

“He’s the type of guy you really need,” Frazier said in a 2006 ESPN.com interview. “I had some hard times, things was rough, but he was a guy that helped you out a lot. I loved him like a brother.”

Hampered by a bruised hand, the 5’ 2”, 112-pound Carmody had a bye in the opening round, noquejatNam Singh Thapa (Nepal) en el seu primer combat, took a decision (4-1) versusOtto Babiasch (Alemanya), and lost in the semifinals by way of a questionable decision (1-4) to the eventual Olympic champion, Fernando Atzon (Itàlia).

Although he never publicly complained about the decision that may have cost him an Olympic gold medal, Carmody was visibly upset as he headed to the locker room, quanGeneral William Westmoreland hollered to him, “Good job, soldier!” Carmody, encara que, turned and reportedly yelled back, “You dumb son of a bitch!"

Després dels Jocs Olímpics, Carmody retired from amateur boxing with a 128-12 registre, returned home and rather than turn pro, he decided to stay in the U.S. Exèrcit, training a few teams at the International Military Sports Council, including the U.S. Army squad.

Strings were pulled for the 10-year military veteran, because of his imposing status as an Olympic bronze medalist, he didn’t have to go with his 199º Light Infantry Brigade when it was deployed to Vietnam. But even though he wasn’t combat trained, due to his training as a boxer, Carmody insisted on deploying with his unit on June of 1967, the day his son, Robert Carmody, Jr. was born.

A few weeks later, Staff Sergeant Carmody’s unit. D Troop of the U.S. 17º Calvary Regiment was on a routine six-man foot patrol north of Saigon. They were ambushed by Viet Cong guerillas and five of the six U.S. soldiers were killed, including Carmody, who was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star for valor. He became the first Olympic boxing medalist to die in combat.

Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa dels EUA

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 EUA està oberta a qualsevol persona que tingui un amor per la boxa i vulgui mantenir-se connectat amb la boxa amateur. Els socis tenen accés a una gran varietat d'esdeveniments especials organitzats per l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes, inclosa la seva recepció anual al Saló de la Fama de l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa dels EUA.

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

“Robert Carmody’s selflessness and character extends far beyond our sport of Olympic-style amateur boxing,” said Chris Cugliari, USA Boxing Alumni Director. “A warrior in the ring, a hero outside of the ring—he showed the world the very best of what USA Boxing has to offer, and the USA Boxing Alumni Association looks forward to keeping his legacy alive.”

“On this Memorial Day, USA Boxing wants to recognize and honor our fallen heroes who have gave their lives in defense of our country, like Robert Carmody,” stated USA Boxing Executive Director Mike McAtee. “On this Memorial Day, I think it is important to also recognize all who have served in our military, which Billy Ray Cyrus stated, ‘All gave some and some gave all.’ Thank you for your service, we will never forget.”

Olympic Bronze Medal winner to Bronze Star recipient, Robert Carmody was a fighter true and true, as well as a man of tremendous honor, and a legitimate hero.

INFORMACIÓ:

www.usaboxing.orgi

Refilo: @USABoxing, @USABoxingAlumni

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

SOBRE LA BOIXA A USA:  La missió d'USA Boxing serà permetre als atletes i entrenadors dels Estats Units assolir 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.

boxa, EUA Boxa

Born to box Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini

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(pictures courtesy of Getty Images)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Volta. (Abril 27, 2020) — As the son of a prizefighter, Incorporat al Saló de la Fama de la Boxa Internacional (“Class of 2015”) Rayo “Boom Boom” Mancini was born to box, and the Youngstown, Ohio fighter climbed to the top of the sport’s mountain, capturing the World Boxing Association (AMB) lightweight title in 1982.

Mancini’s father, la tarda Lenny “Boom Boom” Mancini, boxed professionally from 1937 a 1947, compilar una 46-12-3 (16 KOs) registre professional. Lenny was the No. 1 ranked lightweight in the world in 1941 and considered a future world champion. No obstant això, his dream was sadly shattered when he was wounded during World War II. He returned to boxing after being discharged, but his physical issues due to the wound prevented him from fulfilling his once vast potential.

El seu fill, Rayo, took the mantle and ran with it to fame, glory and notoriety as a world champion. He started boxing young and had his first fight when he was 15 at the Junior Olympics in Cleveland. Ray had thought that he would have to wait until he turned 16, because that was the minimum age to compete in the Golden Gloves.

“When I heard that I could enter (the Junior Olympics),” Mancini remembered, “I pressured my father to let me go (to Cleveland). A very close family friend was training some guys in the next town over from us and he was taking some fighters to the Junior Olympics. He said he’d take me there. I won by first fight by first-round knockout and I wound up winning the regional title. I went on to the Mid-West Regional in Detroit and fought a local kid, Sammy Fuentes, to go to the Nationals. He beat me by decision, but I gained my first real lesson about boxing and life: experience is everything. It was my sixth amateur fight and I was told that Fuentes had more than 200. It did not deter me, de fet, it made me hungrier to succeed.”

Succeed he did, despite his aggressive style that best suited the professional ranks much more than amateurs. Va guanyar 43 de 50 partits d'aficionats, capturing top honors in the 1977 Youngstown Golden Gloves and Northeastern Ohio Golden Gloves. He also won the Northeast Ohio AAU Championship and reached the quarterfinals of the 1978 National AAU Tournament.

“I lost a close decision in the semifinals of the 1978 National Golden Gloves to two-time U.S. Olímpic Davey Armstrong,” Mancini said. “I lost a decision to Anthony Fletcher als quarts de final de la 1978 National AAU Championships and once again in the championship final of the Ohio State Fair. In my last amateur fight, I lost a bad decision to defending National Champion Melvin Paul al 1979 Guants d'Or Nacionals Torneig. (Després d'això) I knew I wasn’t going to have another amateur fight and was going to turn pro.

“I had more of a pro style when I fought in the amateurs. Three rounds didn’t benefit me. I never had a four-round fight (com a professional). I started with six-rounders because, for my style, a three-round amateur or a four-round pro fight were pretty much the same for me. Six-rounders were more beneficial to me and that was proven right away.

“I knew I wouldn’t win any of the major amateur championships because of my style. En el camí, encara que, I beat some pretty good amateurs: Darryl Chambers,Memo Arreola, Tim Christianson i Mark Chieverini. My amateur career just made me even more hungry to win a World title as a pro.”



His seek and destroy style made him an instant favorite as a professional. “I had to be aggressive, as a fighter or on the playing field when I played other sports, because of my natural instincts,” Mancini explained. “I couldn’t sit back and wait for things to happen; I had to try and make things happen. I follow that thinking in my business life as well, but much like the fight game, you have to known when to attack and when to sit back and counter.”

Mancini, who some called a little Rocky Marciano because of the way he fought, turned pro October 18, 1979 in Struthers, Ohio, parada Phil Bowen en la primera ronda. Ray fought 15 times in his first year as a pro and extended his winning streak to 19, before he challenged World Boxing Council (CMB) lightweight World champion Alexis Arguello (67-5), who won by way of a 14-round technical knockout, in a fight that was dead even after 10 rondes. After the match, then future Hall of Famer Arguello was quoted as saying: “I think my heart is special, but his (Mancini) is bigger than I have. Someday he will be champion.”

Only seven months and three fights later, Mancini captured the World Boxing Association (AMB) lightweight World title way of a sensational first-round knockout of defending champion Arturo Frias (24-1). Ray dedicated that fight to his father, who was unable to become world champion, due to the wounds he suffered in World War II.

Mancini finished his pro career with a 29-5 (23 KOs), which included victories against world champions Bobby Chacon (523-5-1), Ernesto Espana (35-4), Frias and Jose Luis Ramirez (71-3), and all five of his losses were to world champions – Arguello, Hector Camacho, Greg Haughen i Livingstone Bramble (dues vegades).

“Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini demonstrated the heart of a champion throughout his career,” dit Chris Cugliari, USA Boxing Alumni Director. “Even though his in-ring success is primarily discussed at the professional level, the hunger to learn and grow as an amateur is something that inspires today’s USA Boxing champions. He is another example of a USA Boxing alumnus who experienced tremendous success resulting from experiences and lessons from his amateur days.”

Mancini is proud of his roots in Youngstown, which also produced world pro boxing champions such as Harry Arroyo, Jeff Lampkin, Greg Richardson i Kelly Pavlik.

“Growing up in Youngstown helped me tremendously as a fighter,” Mancini talked about his hometown. “We all knew what a tough town it was and is and we knew the stories of all the fighters, amateur and pro, who had left a mark before us. Growing up there, football and boxing were the two sports everybody talked about. If you left a mark in either one, people still talked about you long after you’re playing, or fight days were over. Així, to succeed in a town like Youngstown, was a tremendous accomplishment in itself.”


Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa dels EUA

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 socis tenen accés a una gran varietat d'esdeveniments especials organitzats per l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes, inclosa la seva recepció anual al Saló de la Fama de l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa 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.


The ultra-popular Mancini is one of the few boxers to have had a movie (“Heart of a Champion: The Ray Mancini Story)”), song (“Boom Boom Mancini” by Warren Zevon) and book (“The Good Son: The Life of Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini by Mark Kriegel) about him.

Avui, the 59-year-old Mancini still resides in Youngstown, and he remains involved in boxing as a color commentator for PBC on Fox. He’s also been a member of the Ohio Boxing Commission for the last three years. “I’m involved (en la boxa) as close as I want to be and can still be a fan,” admetre. “What I miss most about the fight game is challenging myself mentally and emotionally, and to be able to “get up” and challenge myself physically on a daily basis. To stand in front of another man before the fight, right in the center of the ring, and say to myself, ‘Either you’re getting carried out of here tonight or I am, but one of us is getting carried out of here tonight,’ was my mentality. I miss that challenge!”

Looking back at his boxing career, Mancini maintains that he wouldn’t change a thing. “I can’t say I would do anything different, in retrospect, because I won the World title, successfully defended it four times, made good money and retired healthy,” Mancini concluded. “People still remember and talk about my fights and I made it into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, the ultimate shrine for fighters. Així, why would I want to have done anything differently?”

INFORMACIÓ:
www.usaboxing.orgi
Refilo: @USABoxing, @USABoxingAlumni
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
boxa, EUA Boxa

A remarkable boxing journey like no other 1972 Medallista d'or olímpic “Sucre” Ray Seales

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(Ray Seales is in the front row, second in from the left)



COLORADO SPRINGS, Volta. (Abril 9, 2020) — Imagine being the lone boxer from your country to capture an Olympic gold medal, only days after the infamous Munich massacre. Now imagine also having won a remarkable 338 de 350 partits d'aficionats, having fought a trilogy as a professional with “Meravellós” Marvin Hagler, being declared legally blind in both eyes (having entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr. pickup a six-figure medical bill), regaining sight in one eye, then working as a teacher of autistic students for 17 any.

“Sucre” Ray Seales has truly lived a surreal life, per dir el menys, and he’s still involved in boxing at the age of 67, as a successful coach of amateur boxers in Indianapolis.

Born in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Island as one of eight children in a family whose father was a boxer there as a member of the U.S. Army team, Seales started boxing at the age of nine. “I have three brothers and we always beat the crap out of each other,” he spoke about his start in boxing. “Learning how to box, Per a mi, was all about fighting to be the first to eat. I had gotten hit in my left eye playing dodgeball and my uncle, who was stationed at Ft. Lewis (a Tacoma, Washington), told my mother there was a special doctor there who could help with my eye. My father was stationed all over and in 1964, quan estava jo 12, my mother moved us to Tacoma, Washington.

“I had boxing in my system. I went with my brothers to the Downtown Tacoma Boys Club, which was only one block from our home, and my mother could watch me walk from our house to the gym and back. I was the first from there to win a Golden Gloves title. I wanted to be a winner and finished with 14 (campió) jackets. I couldn’t speak English. I knew Spanish and spoke Spanish and English together. The first word I said in English was box. We used to fight three or four times a day and we built the Tacoma Boxing Club. I went on to have a 338-12 amateur record and I’ve been in boxing ever since.”

Seales developed into a champion, prenent els màxims honors a la 1971 National AAU and 1972 National Golden Gloves championships. A l'edat de 19, Seales enlisted in the U.S. Força Aèria, but his mother made some calls so Ray would be able to compete in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Alemanya.

She succeeded and the rest, com diuen, is history. And when he came home from the Olympics, he was told that there was no need for him to report to the U.S. Força Aèria, because he had done enough in terms of service as the only American boxer to win a gold medal.

La 1972 Jocs Olímpics, però, was overshadowed by the killing of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches, as well as a West German police officer at the Olympic Village by terrorists on Black September.

“I had just turned 20,” Seales remembered. “Boxing was heavy when we went there. Some of my family, my coach from Tacoma, and Tacoma teammate (and 2-time U.S. Olímpic)Davey Armstrong were in Germany. I didn’t know anything at first. I had to get the attention of my parents to let them know not to go there, because there were terrorists with sub-machine guns in the Olympic Village. I was the only American boxer left to fight.”

Seales defeated Bulgarian Angjei Anghhelov, 5-0, in the light welterweight championship to capture an Olympic gold medal, the only member of the U.S. team to do so. His teammates included Armstrong, Duane Bobick, and Olympic bronze medalists Jesse Valdez, Marvin Johnson i Ricardo Carreras.

Sugar Ray Seales’s dedication to USA Boxing is second to none,” dit Chris Cugliari, USA Boxing Alumni Director. “His pride, patriotism, and devotion to helping our next generation of champions is what makes him such an inspiring figure.”


Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa dels EUA

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 socis tenen accés a una gran varietat d'esdeveniments especials organitzats per l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes, inclosa la seva recepció anual al Saló de la Fama de l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa 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.


Seales turned pro in 1973, winning an 8-round unanimous decision over Gonzalo Rodriguez a Tacoma. “Sugarman” va guanyar el seu primer 21 baralles com a professional, until he lost a 10-round decision to 14-0 middleweight prospect and future Hall of Famer Marvin Hagler. Dos baralles més tard, Seales fought Hagler in Tacoma to a 10-round draw (99-99, 99-99, 98-96).

“Everybody wanted a shot at the Olympic gold medalist,” Seales explained.” I went to Boston and we fought in a TV studio (WNAC). It was freezing in there. I was shivering when I went into the ring, Marvin came out dripping sweat. I knew I was losing after seeing that, but I hung with him and went the distance (10 rondes). I was having management problems and three months later I fought Hagler again, only this time at home in Tacoma. I beat him but it ended in a 10-round draw. He knows I beat him!”

Seales completed his trilogy with Hagler, but it was five years later, when Hagler was 42-2-1 and avoided by most of the world’s top middleweights. “I was the USBA (United States Boxing Association) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) middleweight champion and Hagler needed to win a title to get a world title shot,” Seales noted. “I lost our third fight in the first round, but that’s the only thing shown on television in our three fights. We were two left-handers, but he switched to right-handed, and he caught me with a hook. I got paid and they bought him a world title fight.”

Seales has coached two different amateur teams in Indianapolis during the past 11 any, guanyadora 10 Golden Gloves team championships, and he’s still in charge in Indy of Team IBG.

After he retired in 1984 after suffering detached retinas in both eyes, Seales was introduced in Las Vegas to Sammy Davis, Jr. (a la imatge de sota), who paid Seales’ $100,000 medical bill for his damaged eyes. Davis had lost his left eye in a 1952 car accident



“I’m a teacher,” Seales concluded. “I see the way that so many boxers want to fight likeFloyd Mayweather. Their head is tilted, they can’t throw a jab. I teach them to have the right foot behind the left (for a right-handed boxer), and to walk in straight, not tilted or peaking. Heel toe, heel toe every time you pivot is your stance.

“My advice for the boxers who hope to compete in the 2020 Olympics is to focus on what you’re doing and listen to how to get it done. What I really want to do is to coach the USA Olympic Boxing Team 2024.”

INFORMACIÓ:
www.usaboxing.orgi
Refilo: @USABoxing, @USABoxingAlumni
Instagram: @USABoxing
boxa, EUA Boxa

RIP – NEVER FORGET!

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40º anniversary of tragic airplane crash in Poland

22 members of Team USA Boxing perished

COLORADO SPRINGS, Volta. (Març 14, 2020) – One of the darkest days in American sports history occurred 40 years ago today, when Polish Airlines flight #7 that had departed John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City crashed a half-mile from Okecie Airport in Warsaw, Polònia.
 
Tots 87 passengers died, Incloent 14 boxers and eight officials on the USA Boxing team, due to a disintegration of a turbine disc in one of the plane’s engines that ultimately failed.
 
Team USA was traveling to Poland to compete in two international amateur boxing dual events. The average age of the 14 boxers was only 20 ½, ranging from 27-year-old Walter Harris to 16-year-old Byron Payton.
 
The potential Olympic dreams of the 14 boxers were destroyed in the horrific accident. Although most of the boxers were still in their developmental stage, outside of prospective medal challenger Lemuel Steeples, each member aspired to represent the United States in the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. (The United States eventually led a boycott of the 1980 Olympics because of the Soviet-Afghan War.)
 
“I remember coming home from my boxing gym on March 14, 1980 and hearing the news of the plane crash on the evening news,” stated USA Boxing Executive Director Mike McAtee.
 
“As an aspiring Olympic-style boxer I was shocked and felt a sense of loss like every American boxer, coach and official. Today we are reminded that life is precious, and every day is a blessing. On behalf of USA Boxing’s Board of Directors, 48,000 boxejadors, coaches and officials and the national office staff we remember the 1980 USA Boxing Team Members and Staff. Please keep them, their families and the worldwide Olympic-style boxing family in your thoughts and prayers.”
 
“Down But Not Out… Lost But Not Forgotten”

USA Boxing Head Coach Billy Walsh remembers the crash to this day. “I remember it well, as I was a 16-year-old dreaming of the Olympics,” said Walsh. “It was massive news in Europe, a big tragedy with some of the world’s best boxers and staff wiped out. We lost a generation of great fighters, and most importantly loved ones.”
 
Patricia Chavis was only seven years old when she learned her father, Sgt. Elliott Chavis, had perished in the crash. She was playing outdoors with friends when she noticed a lot of people crying as they entered and left her home. Her mother called her inside, sat her down with people watching, and said that her father wasn’t coming back because he had been killed in a plane crash.
 
“She asked me if I understood and I did, because we had recently lost my great grandmother and paternal grandfather,” an emotional Patricia explained. “I went back outside and told my friends. They were a little older and they didn’t understand why I hadn’t stayed inside with family. It didn’t really hit me that my dad wasn’t coming home until my teenage years. I remember sitting in bed and writing letters to him.
 
“Every year still affects me every March. We usually have a family dinner with my mom and grandchildren. They listen to stories about a man they never met. He’s buried in South Carolina and we’ve laid flowers on his grave. Every year on March 14º it brings back memories and we celebrate his life.”
 
Sgt. Chavis, who died at the age of 25, was stationed at Ft. Bragg (N.C.), where he learned to box. Ell era un membre de la 118º Military Police Company and during his boxing career, the light heavyweight was All-Army and All-Southeastern.
 
“My parents married young,” Patricia continued. “My mom told me he was always athletic. He played football and was a pole vaulter on the track team in high school. But I didn’t know anything about his boxing until we went to a reunion at Ft. Bragg. Around the 30º anniversary I got in touch with some of his Army buddies when I saw on Facebook that they were having a reunion. I went there with my mom and listened to stories they told me about his boxing career. I found it so interesting because I hadn’t known about that. There are quite a few memorials I’ve seen on Facebook and I try to get in touch with other family members (of her father’s teammates who died in the crash). We’ll never forget!”
 
Below is a complete list of the 1980 U.S. Boxing Delegation who died in the aforementioned plane crash in Warsaw:
 
 
La 1980 United States Boxing Delegation to Warsaw, Polònia, Març 14, 1980
 
BOXERS

Kelvin Anderson                    
        Heavyweight Hartford, Connecticut
Elliott ChavisLight Heavyweight U.S. Exèrcit / Pall. Bragg, NC
Walter HarrisLight Heavyweight San Francisco, TAL COM
Andrea McCoyDe pes mitjà
         Nou Bedford, Massachusetts
Byron PaytonLight Middleweight Troup, TX
Chuck RobinsonLight Middleweight Port Townsend, Washington
Paul PalominoWelter
         Westminster, TAL COM
Lemuel SteeplesLight Welterweight St. Louis, MO
Byron Linsay
             Light Welterweight San Diego, TAL COM
Gary Tyrone ClaytonLleuger
          Filadèlfia, Pennsilvània
Jerome StewartPes gall
      U.S. Marina / Norfolk, Virginia
George PimentelPes mosca
           Elmhurst, Nova York
Lonnie YoungPes mosca
            Filadèlfia, Pennsilvània
David RodriguezLight Flyweight
   Pomona, TAL COM

OFFICIALS

Joseph F. Bland
       Team Manager High Point, NC
Col. Bernard CallahanReferee/Judge
      Carlisle, Pennsilvània
Thomas “Sarge” JohnsonHead Coach
  Indianàpolis, IN
John Radison
             Referee/Judge
      St. Louis, MO
Junior Robles
           Assistant Coach National City, TAL COM
Steve Smigiel
             Interpreter
           Boca Raton, Florida
Delores Wesson
       Team Assistant
  Ocean Springs, EM
Dr. Ray Wesson
        Team Physician Ocean Springs, EM
            

Anar awww.USABoxing.org to watch a short video tribute
 
Memorial messages and letters of condolence were sent from friends and boxing organizations from around the world, including U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, Executive Director Col. F. Don Miller, Montana AAU, Oklahoma Boxing Association, Amateur Basketball Association of the USA, Salina Boxing Team, South Texas AAU, U.S. Força Aèria, U.S. Diving, U.S. Swimming, Wisconsin AAU, Wrestling Division of AAU, National AAU Boxing Committee, National AAU, Florida Boxing Commission, Hawaii AAU, U.S. Soccer Federation, Jacksonville (Florida) Sports and Entertainment Commission, Georgia Amateur Boxing Association, WSOC Television, Alleghany Mountain Association, U.S. Centre d'entrenament olímpic, Mack Truck, Inc, Southwestern AAU Boxing Commission, U.S. Olympic Committee, West Nally Group, Charlotte Motor Speedway, AAU Regional Coordinator, Council of Social Work Education, National Rifle Association of America, and Davidson County Department Boxing Team,
 
Also from the Greek Boxing Federation, Mexican Boxing Federation, New Zealand Boxing Association, Canadian Amateur Boxing Association, Nova Scotia Branch of Canadian Amateur Boxing Commission, Ontario Boxing Association, Ambassador of Poland, Polish Boxing Association, AIPS Boxing Commission, Canadian Amateur Boxing Association, Heretaunga Boxing Club of New Zealand, International Bobsled and Tobogganing Federation, Italian Boxing Federation, LOT Polish Airlines, La Crosse Amateur Boxing Club, Polish Olympic Committee, AIBA, Champion D’Afrique Magazine, African AIBA Board and Tunisian Boxing Federation, Venezuelan Boxing Federation, German Amateur Boxing Federation, Amateur Boxing Federation of England, Israel Sports Federation, Portuguese Amateur Boxing Federation, Romanian Boxing Federation, Rotunda A.B.C., Amateur Boxing Federation of Thailand, National Advertising Benevolent Society, Turkey Boxing Federation, AIBA France, El Salvador Boxing Federation, German Democratic Republic Boxing Association, Danish Amateur Boxing Union, Guatemalan Amateur Sports Federtion, Israel Olympic Committee, Oceana Boxing Federation, Nigeria Boxing Association, Old Actonian Association Amateur Boxing Club, Seychelles Amateur Boxing Federation, Council of Ministers of Cuba, Hungarian Boxing Federation, Norwegian Amateur Boxing Association, International Amateur Boxing Association, Claridad, Peru Amateur Boxing Association, Dominican Republic Department of Education, Health and Recreation, Panamanian Boxing Federation, Head of the Cuban Interests Section.
 
En 1984 a statue was dedicated to the USA Boxing Team members who died in Warsaw was placed on the training grounds in Colorado Springs. Names of the 23 members of Team USA are inscribed on the memorial.
 
INFORMACIÓ:
www.usaboxing.org
Refilo: @USABoxing, @USABoxingAlumni
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing

boxa, EUA Boxa

One of the best all-time…. 1988 Olympic silver medalist Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Volta. (Març 9, 2020) – By any standards, U.S. Olympian and former unified World heavyweight champion Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe is inarguably one of the all-time greatest boxers, aficionats i professionals.

Born and raised in the infamous Brownsville section of Brooklyn, Nova York, which also produced fellow World heavyweight championsMike Tyson iShannon Briggs, Bowe started boxing at 13 in the Bedford-Stuyvesant Boxing Association Gym.

“I wanted to do everythingMuhammad Ali did,” Bowe explained why he got into boxing. “He was my idol. I wanted to join the Marines, but I fell in love with boxing and stayed with it. I forgot about the Marines.”

Bowe developed his craft and became an outstanding boxer, compilar una 104-18 rècord amateur, highlighted by his controversial silver-medal winning performance at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Corea del Sud.

A four-time New York Golden Gloves champion, Bowe also captured top honors at the 1986 Campionats del món júnior, along with a bronze medal at the 1987 Jocs Panamericans, despite fighting in his final match with a fractured hand he hid from his coaches.

Bowe had a rivalry withRobert Salters, with whom he split four matches, but he defeated Salters, 3-2, als EUA. Box-Offs to qualify for the 1988 USA Boxing Olympic Team. His Olympic teammates includedRoy Jones, Jr., Ray Mercer, Kennedy McKinney iAndrew Maynard.

Controversary surrounded his Olympic championship fight against future World heavyweight champion, Canadian super heavyweight Lennox Lewis, who returned home with the Olympic gold medal. During his fight with Lewis, Bowe was deducted a point for a “ghost” head butt that never happened, and the referee gave Bowe a pair of disputed standing-eight counts, the last of which resulted in the stoppage of the fight in Lewis’ favor.

“That fight never should have been stopped,” Bowe commented. “I’m still happy about winning a silver medal. I still have it. And then I turned pro. My mother had 13 kids and I wanted to make my mother happy. I wanted to buy her a house. That’s what inspired me to box.”

“Bowe’s success as an amateur and professional has made him a household name amongst USA Boxing Alumni,", Va dirChris Cugliari, USA Boxing Alumni Association Director. “His combination of power and skill, along with his legendary battles with other USA Boxing Alumni at the pro ranks, establishes him as one of the greatest fighters that USA Boxing has ever produced.”

Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa dels EUA

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 EUA està oberta a qualsevol persona que tingui un amor per la boxa i vulgui mantenir-se connectat amb la boxa amateur. Els socis tenen accés a una gran varietat d'esdeveniments especials organitzats per l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes, inclosa la seva recepció anual al Saló de la Fama de l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa dels EUA.

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

With legendary trainerEddie Futch en el seu cantó, Bowe became the first truly unified World heavyweight champion, winning the title belt for all four recognized major sanctioning bodies: CMB, AMB, IBF i WBO.

Bowe retired with an amazing 43-1 (33 KOs) pro record. He had a 5-1 (4 KOs) mark in world title fights, 7-1 (5 KOs) versus past world heavyweight champions such asEvander Holyfield (dues vegades), Pinklon Thomas, A Tony Tubbs, Bruce Seldon, Michael Dokes iHerbie Hyde.

Bowe later avenged his lone pro loss to Holyfield, winning two of three fights with the “Real Deal.”

“I’m very happy with my pro career,” Bowe added. “I beat Holyfield two times and I think it should have been three. I’m not a sore loser, but I was the World heavyweight champion. How did he win that fight? The challenger needs to take the belt from the champion, and he didn’t do that. I thought I won by a point, at worst, maybe it should have been a draw, but I shouldn’t have lost the fight. I did become the first to ever knockout Holyfield. My pro career wasn’t too bad. I kept working hard and became two-time World heavyweight champion.”

Ara 51 and living in Maryland, Bowe has some advice for the American boxers trying to qualify for the 2020 Team USA Boxing Olympic Team.

“Just don’t think about it,” stressed Bowe, sounding like a Nike commercial. “Just do it! It worked for me. I showed up and didn’t think about it. And always finish strong.”

Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2015, left his mark in amateur and pro boxing. Nobody can ever take that away from the big guy from Brownsville.

INFORMACIÓ:

www.usaboxing.orgi

Refilo: @USABoxing, @USABoxingAlumni

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

SOBRE LA BOIXA A USA:  La missió d'USA Boxing serà permetre als atletes i entrenadors dels Estats Units assolir 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.

boxa, Jocs Olímpics, EUA Boxa

1988 El medallista d'or olímpic "Merciless" Ray Mercer fa una ullada a la seva experiència olímpica

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Volta. (Febrer 11, 2020) – Trenta-dos anys després de conquerir una medalla d'or olímpica, "Despietat" Ray Mercer recorda amb afecte la seva experiència olímpica com si fos el mes passat. Mercer, que és l'únic campió nord-americà de pes pesat que elimina tots els seus oponents olímpics, es va convertir en campió mundial de pes pesat com a professional pel nostre "doble de pes pesat".

Per a Mercer, tot va començar a Alemanya, on els seus EUA. La unitat de l'exèrcit estava basada. Es va oferir l'oportunitat d'evitar un exercici de camp de 30 dies, Mercer va acceptar una oferta per servir com a soci de sparring per al campió de boxa de pes pesat del càrrec. Tot i no haver posat mai abans un parell de guants, Mercer era un aprenent ràpid i naturalment fort, i es va convertir ràpidament en el 1985 U.S. Campió de pes pesat de l'exèrcit i entre serveis.

El programa d'esportistes de classe mundial (WCAP), en què els atletes qualificats tenen l'oportunitat d'entrenar a temps complet per als Jocs Olímpics, no existia aleshores, ni les regles de classificació olímpica d'avui. Mercer va derrotar el futur campió mundial de pes pesatTommy Morrison a la ronda inicial de la 1988 Trials Olímpics i un altre futur campió mundial de pes pesat, Michael Bentt (5-0) a la final del campionat. A la 1988 Box-offs Olímpics dels EUA al famós Caesars Pala

ce a Las Vegas, Mercer va guanyar una decisió dividida (3-2) sobre Bentt, però Mercer ja s'havia classificat per lluitar als Jocs Olímpics en ser els EUA. Campió de les Forces Armades.

"Quan jo estava a l'exèrcit, Vaig haver de guanyar al servei, mantenir les coses, i aneu al següent pas," Va recordar Mercer. "Vaig haver de vèncer alguns bons lluitadors en el meu camí als Jocs Olímpics, i estava en la millor forma de la meva vida. Hi havia més disciplina als aficionats que als professionals. L'últim any abans dels Jocs Olímpics, Vaig deixar la meva unitat de casa, va viatjar molt per lluitar, i em vaig quedar a casa del meu entrenador en comptes de viure a la caserna.

Mercer va fer història al 1988 Jocs Olímpics a Seül, Corea del Sud, quan es va convertir i segueix sent l'únic campió olímpic de pes pesat dels Estats Units que va noquejar als quatre oponents:  Rudolf Gavenciak (Txecoslovàquia – RSC3), Luigi Gaudiano(Itàlia – KO1), Arnond Vasnderlyde (Països Baixos – RSC2) iBon Hyun Man (Corea del Sud - KO1).

"Sabia que havia d'eliminar a Corea del Sud a la final,Mercer va admetre: "Només volia fer el que podia per ser el medallista d'or olímpic. No crec que hagi fet servir un cop.

"Guanyar la medalla d'or olímpica va suposar alguns canvis importants per a mi. Em vaig convertir en una celebritat, un nom familiar, i em va permetre guanyar diners com a professional. El millor que em va passar mai va ser guanyar la medalla d'or olímpica, fins i tot més que guanyar el títol mundial com a professional. Res comparat amb convertir-se en un medallista d'or olímpic. Vaig complir el meu somni. Mai havia somiat amb ser professional, fins que vaig guanyar la medalla d'or.

"Va ser molt important guanyar aquesta medalla d'or. Vaig lluitar amb el cor; no hi havia diners implicats, celebrat amb tanta força aquella nit (després de guanyar la medalla d'or) que vaig perdre la meva medalla durant unes hores. El meu somni s'havia fet realitat, em tremolaven les mans, i vaig perdre la meva medalla. Quina nit!"

Mercer ofereix als membres de la 2020 Equip de qualificació olímpica de boxa dels EUA un consell, "Seguir lluitant, segueix el teu somni i fes aquest darrer pas".

Mercer, que va néixer a Jacksonville, Florida, va fer el seu molt esperat debut professional a 1989, paradaJesse McGhee en la tercera ronda de la seva lluita a Atlantic City. "Merciless" va guanyar el seu primer 18 baralles com a professional, inclòs un nocaut a la novena rondaFrancisco Damiani, seguit d'una defensa reeixida contra Morrison, que va ser aturat a la cinquena ronda.

Durant els seus 19 anys de carrera professional, Mercer va compilar a 36-7-1 (26 KOs) registre, derrotant quatre campions del món a Damiani, Morrison, Tim Witherspoon iOssie Ocasio.  Cinc de les vuit derrotes de la seva carrera van ser davant dels campions del món: Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko,Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield iShannon Briggs. 

"Ray representa tot el que fa que USA Boxing estigui orgullós,", Va dirChris Cugliari, Director de l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa dels EUA. "Com a veterà de l'exèrcit, Medallista d'or olímpic, i campió del món de pes pesat, ha demostrat l'excel·lència i la professionalitat que reflecteixen el millor del que USA Boxing té per oferir".

Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa dels EUA

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 EUA està oberta a qualsevol persona que tingui un amor per la boxa i vulgui mantenir-se connectat amb la boxa amateur. Els socis tenen accés a una gran varietat d'esdeveniments especials organitzats per l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes, inclosa la seva recepció anual al Saló de la Fama de l'Associació d'Antics Alumnes de Boxa dels EUA.

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

L'excel·lent carrera de boxa amateur de Mercer també va incloure un clàssic enfrontament contra el gran cubà i tres vegades medallista d'or olímpic., Félix Savón, a EUA vs. Partit dual de Cuba, en què Mercer va trontollar dues vegades a Savon, que va sobreviure sense patir danys addicionals només perquè l'àrbitre cubà va fer una intervenció dubtosa que va donar temps al seu compatriota per recuperar-se i un polèmic 2-1 victòria.

"I em va donar un compte de vuit sense motiu,", va afegir Mercer. "Vaig vèncer a aquest tipus i ell ho sap. Encara estem en contacte tot i que no parla anglès. Té un amic traductor i estem en contacte a Facebook. Ens agradem."

Avui, Mercer està fundant una organització benèfica a casa seva a Carolina del Nord, que inclourà clíniques de boxa gratuïtes, però, més important, retornar a la comunitat i ensenyar als joves, sobretot els que pateixen bullying, les habilitats que necessitaran per sortir al món real.

Ray Mercer ha assolit el zenit dues vegades en boxa com a medallista d'or olímpic i campió mundial de pes pesat com a professional. No massa cutre per a algú que mai va voler boxejar.

"La boxa em va salvar la vida,", va concloure Mercer. "No puc imaginar la meva vida sense boxa, segur que no seria el mateix.

INFORMACIÓ:

www.usaboxing.orgi

Refilo: @USABoxing, @USABoxingAlumni

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

SOBRE LA BOIXA A USA:  La missió d'USA Boxing serà permetre als atletes i entrenadors dels Estats Units assolir 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.