George Foreman, Mark Breland, Joe Frazier, Al Mitchell & Ray Rodgers
Lifetime Achievement Award to Sen. John McCain
Dec. 13 reception at Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Colorado Springs, LAP. (November 4, 2019) – Olympic gold-medalists“Big” George Foreman, Mark Breland iyo“Smokin’” Joe Frazier head the Class of 2019 into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame, Habeenka Jimcaha, December 13, at Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The HOF reception is being held in conjunction with the 2020 Olympic Trials and 2019 National Championships. Dec. 7-15, at Lake Charles Civic Center. The finals Olympic Trials will be held Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Hall of Fame broadcasterAl Bernstein from Showtime Sports will serve as the event’s emcee for the third year in a row.
USA Boxing Alumni Association’s third class also includes decorated coachesAl MitchelliyoRay Rodgers.
Sen. John McCain will be posthumously presented a special Lifetime Achievement Award. A fearless boxer for three years at the U.S. Naval Academy, Sen. McCain managed his battalion’s boxing team to the brigade championship.
Sen. McCain was the architect of the ground-breaking Muhammad Ali Act, pushed for the pardoning ofJack Johnson, and worked with the Cleveland Clinic on the forefront of brain trauma studies leading to more safety measures for boxers.
“My father had a passion for boxing,” his daughterMegan McCain said. “He loved it for the thrill of achievement, the nobility of struggle, and the dignity of men bloodied but unbowed. His love for boxing and his love for America had a lot in common. That’s why he worked tirelessly to protect and elevate the sport – making it an arena of integrity for fans and fighters alike.
“That’s also why I am honored to join the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame to accept their Lifetime Achievement Award on his behalf.”
Foreman (ee: 76-5, 68 KOs, hiwaayadda: 22-4) was also a three-time World Heavyweight Champion as a pro, in addition to famously winning a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, as well as at the National AAU Championships. A resident of Houston, Texas, his victims included Frazier (laba jeer), Ken Norton, Dwight Muhammad Qawi iyoMichael Moorer.
Considered one of the greatest amateur boxers of all-time, Breland (ee: 35-3-1, 25 KOs), hiwaayadda: 110-1) was a gold medalist at the 1984 Olympic Games in Las Angeles and 1982 World Championships. The Brooklyn native was a two-time World Welterweight Champion as a pro. His most notable victories were versusSteve Little, Rafael Pineda iyoLloyd Honeyghan.
The late Frazier (ee: 32-4-1, 27 KOs, hiwaayadda: 38-2), representing Philadelphia, captured a gold medal at the 1964 Olympics in Japan and he was a three-time World Heavyweight Champion as a professional. Frazier’s hit list includedMuhammad Ali, Jimmy Ellis (laba jeer),Bob Foster iyoOscar Bonavena (laba jeer).
Mitchell has been in boxing for more than 60 sano, first as a boxer, but he’s much better known as a world-class boxing coach. He has been the boxing coach at N. Michigan University for decades, in addition to being head coach of the 1996 Laga xoreeyo. Kooxda Olympic, and technical advisor for the 2004 iyo 2012 Laga xoreeyo. Olympic squads. He was selected as the 1994 USA Boxing Coach of the Year and among the 800-plus national amateur champions he has worked with areMike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather iyoVernon Forrest. He currently trains 2016 Laga xoreeyo. Olympian and world title contenderMikaela Mayer, who will be in attendance supporting her coach.
A legend in Arkansas boxing, Rodgers has been an outstanding coach and extraordinary cut-man, who has been in the corner of world champions such asWayne McCullough, Jermain Taylor, Iran Barkley iyoTommy Morrison. Ray’s decades of service through coaching and mentorship for the youth of Arkansas have established him as a role model and inspiration for amateur boxing coaches everywhere.
“This year’s USA Boxing Alumni Hall of Fame class, as well as Senator McCain, represent the very best of Olympic style boxing, gudaha iyo dibedda ee giraanta labada,"commentedChris Cugliari, USA Boxing Alumni Association Executive Director. “Their decades worth of service representing themselves inspire us to give back and support current and future generations of champions. The USA Boxing Alumni Association looks forward to an exciting and memorable evening as we honor these champions of our sport.”
Confirmed special guests include 1988 Guulaystay billado dahab ahAndrew Maynard, three-time National AAU Coach of the Year (1972-76-77) Joe Clough, 1984 Guulaystay billado dahab ahFrank Tateiyo WalaalkiisThomas, 1972 Cayaaraha olombikadaTim Dement, 2002 Golden horyaalka Gacmo QarankaJaidon Codringtion, 1980 Olympic QualifierJackie Beard, 1981 Junior OlympicsGlen Modicue, four-time National championEric Kelly, 1988 Eastern Olympic Qualifier championJohn Scully, Obie Beard, Mark Lanton iyoStephens brothers –Donald, Anthony iyoJerry.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE USA BOXING ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Created to champion a lifelong, mutually beneficial relations between USA Boxing and its alumni, –diinta, officials, coaches and boxing fans — The Alumni Association connects generations of champions, inspiring and giving back to USA Boxing’s future boxing champions, gudaha iyo dibedda ee giraanta.
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 atalumni@usaboxing.org for a $40.00 per year membership fee. New members will receive a T-shirt, keychain and e-wallet.
CLASS OF 2017: The charter class was headed byMuhammad Ali iyoEvander Holyfield, in addition to veteran coachesRoosevelt Sanders iyoTom Coulter.
CLASS OF 2018: Laga xoreeyo. Olympic Team medalists and world (professional) championsRoy Jones, Jr., Andre Ward iyoClaressa Shields, as well as former USA Boxing National Director of CoachingEmanuel Steward and veteran USA Boxing officialTom Cleary.
MACLUUMAADKA:
Twitter: @USABoxing, @USABoxingAlumni
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing