Thursday, November 14, 2019, the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame will hold its 50th Annual Induction & Award at the beautiful Venetian, located at 546 River Drive, Garfield, New Jersey starting at 6:45 P.M. Tickets are priced at ONLY $90 ($95 for the use of a Credit Card) $100 at the door per person. Fourteen (14) of Boxing’s finest will be inducted in the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, and they are as follows:
Mike Borao, guided Charles Martin, to the IBF heavyweight championship in 2016, worked with former world welterweight champion Cory Spinks and Havyweight contender Jameel McCline. He also worked with Tony Thompson, Ray Austin, Monte Barrett, Mike Perez, Vinny Maddalone, Joe Hanks, Omar Sheika and BJ Flores.
Tom Casino, is among the finest action photographers in boxing history. Shooting professionally for the first time in 1984, Casino has been top level for 35 years. His work has appeared in every boxing publication, as well as every New York City newspaper, the AP, the LA Times, and USA Today.
In the history of the Boxing Writers Association of America photography contest, Casino is the only photographer to have win first place in the action-photo category for three consecutive years.
Casino has been Showtime’s principal boxing photographer since 1993.
Nelson Cuevas, boxed as an amateur compiling a record of 93 wins and only 4 losses. He won the NY Spanish Gloves in 1962 and was a semi-finalist in the NY Golden Gloves in 1962 and 1963. He had several pro fights before he began a life-long journey of training fighters all over New Jersey, New York, and beyond. He learned the cut man trade from Chickie Ferrara, cut man for Rocky Marciano, among others. Nelson became the trainer and cut man for Carlos Ortiz when he made his comeback in 1971.
Larry Hazzard, Jr., has worked as a licensed judge for over 32 years. He began his career in the amateurs and worked his way through the ranks and has had the opportunity to judge numerous world and international title bouts. He judged his first world title fight at age 24. Here’s a list of some of those bouts: Vitali Klitscko vs. Obed Sullivan, Danny Jacobs vs. Peter Quillin, Naseem Hamed vs. Jose Badilld, James Toney vs. Mike McCollum, Jermall Charlo vs. Matvey Korobv, Gervonta Davis vs. Hugo Ruiz, Fernando Vargas vs. Harward Clarke, Shane Mosley vs. Jesse Leija, Arthur Abraham vs. Khoren Gevor, Mikey Garcia vs. Robert Easter Jr., Hector Camacho vs. Gary Kirkland, Jeff Lacey vs. Says Vanderpool and Bernard Hopkins vs. William Joppy
Vinny LaManna, in 1989 received his managers license in State of NJ, first client was Ray Mercer followed by Al Cole, both World Champions. Vinny worked under Marc Roberts learning the business, from 1989 to 1991. Managed Eric and Derrick Graham Also managed Imamu Mayfield and guided him to the IBF Cruiserweight world title. Other past Fighters managed by LaManna were Julio Aquino #5 USBA, Michael Covington #3 IBF, Troy Browning #6 WBO & #12 WBC and Leo Loiacono #9 IBF intercontinental.
Lawrence Layton, has worked as a licensed professional judge in the boxing industry for over 30 years. He began his career in the Amateurs and worked his way through the ranks. He was one of the first to work in the New Jersey Correctional facilities as a referee and judge. He has been judging with the New Jersey Boxing Commission and the International Boxing Federation (“IBF”) and the World Boxing Organization for over 25 years and have judged over 22 championship fights. Here’s a list of some of his notable fights that he judged: Sergevy Kovalev Vs. Bernard Hopkins – IBF Intl. World Light Heavyweight Title, Tomasz Adamek Vs. Andrew Golota – IBF Intl. Heavyweight Title Lodz, Poland, Kemit Cintron Vs. Jessie Feliciano – IBF World Welterweight Title, Los Angeles, CA., Valdermir Pereira Vs. Eric Aiken – IBF World Featherweight Title, Boston, MA. Victor Emilio Ramirez Vs. Ovil Mckenzie – IBF World Cruiserweight Title, Buenos Aires, Argentina, George Forman Vs Shannon Briggs.
Santos Lopez, Started boxing at 18 years old and had about 20 amateur fights. Went to the Golden Gloves finals and turned professional and had 19 fights.
His biggest win was over former World champion Eddie Hopson (27-1) with a 10th round TKO. Hopson was 27-1 at the time and was the World Champion just 4 months before fighting Lopez. Lopez also beat highly regarded Troy Fletcher and Greg Torres. He fought for the USBA title on national TV Tuesday night fights with John Brown and was stopped in the 7th round due to a cut. Also fought Emanuel Augusta & Jimmy Bredahl .
Jameel McCline, started at the late age of 25 years and having no amateur experience, McCline took straight to the pro ranks taken part in four world Heavyweight title clashes with Chris Byrd, Wladimir Klitschko, Nikolai Valuev and Samuel Peter. Uniquely, each of these title bouts was for a different version of the world title. He captured several wins against notable fighters, including Alfred Cole, Michael Grant, Lance Whitaker, Shannon Briggs, Charles Shufford, Cedric Boswell, and Terry Smith but has been unable to replicate these performances in title fight situations, although the loss to Chris Byrd was by only one point in a very controversial split decision. Also losing a championship fight in which he had the champion (Sam Peter) down three times during the fight. In addition to the aforementioned title fight losses, he has lost to Greg Pickrom, Calvin Brock and was upset by the underdog Zuri Lawrencein 2005. After which, he went on a six fight win streak that led him back to a World Title fight yet another two times.
Reyes Munoz, as an Amateur won the New Jersey Golden Glove title. He turned pro in 1989 and fought until1999, his last fight was against Arturo Gatti. During his career he compiled a record of 21 wins, 4 losses with 1 no contest. His biggest win was against Troy Fletcher, who was the former Pennsylvania state bantamweight and featherweight champion.
Carl Riskus, first amateur fight was in April, 1969 and he fought amateur for many years after with over 100 bouts, winning multiple tournaments. He turned professional in 1982 and fought up until 1993 in the Welterweight and Super Welterweight Divisions. Early in his professional career, Carl was referenced as “The Pittsburgh Kid” after Billy Conn, being from Pittsburgh and winning his first 15 bouts. Carl earned a professional record of 19-4-0 with eight KO’s under his belt and even challenged the likes of Lupe Aquino (53-9-2) in 1985, before retiring from the ring. The majority of Carl’s professional bouts were fought at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ. It would be accurate to say, Carl was a crowd pleaser.
Peter Wood, A former New York City Golden Gloves finalist in 1971, Wood was selected to represent America in international competition in Montreal, Canada. In 1976, he was asked to represent America in the Maccabean Games held in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Peter is the author of Confessions of a Fighter—Battling Through the Golden Gloves and A Clenched Fist—The Making of a Golden Gloves Champion, two memoirs published by Ringside Books.
Wood’s writing credits also include a guest column in The New York Times, and articles in Commonweal, America, Ring, Boxing Illustrated, Westchester Magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Proof, Boxing.com and TheSweetScience.com.
POSTHUMOUSLY:
Mike Hall, trained and/or served as a cutman for numerous former fighters such as Pleasantville super-featherweight Ernest Bing, heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe, Wildwood heavyweight contender James Broad, super-bantamweight and super-featherweight champ Tracy Harris Patterson, heavyweight champ Ray Mercer, light-heavyweight and cruiserweight champ Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Rossman, Pleasantville middleweight contender Kevin Watts, and countless others.
Lenny Hedinger, began his career with the New Jersey Boxing Commission in 1986 when he was appointed by Gov. Thomas Kean as a member of the NJ State Commission for the Study of Benefits for Professional Boxers. Len was then appointed as an Inspector for the NJSACB for well over 25 years during which time he became the Official Scorekeeper for the Commission at all Boxing events where he performed his duties flawlessly.
At the time of his passing in 2016, Lenny was a Board Member of the NJSACB, having been nominated to that post by Gov. Christie in 2011. In total, Lenny was a member of the NJ Boxing Community as an Official or board member with the NJSACB for over 30 years and was loved and respected by everyone who came in contact with him. He was a tremendous Ambassador for the sport of Boxing and was extremely passionate in his support of it.
Greg Torres, was our Amateur Boxer of the Year back in 1992. He turned pro the next year and complied a record of 15 wins with Only 2 losses.
His biggest wins were against future Featherweight Champion of the World, Derrick Gainer and in his last fight against the former 2 time Super Bantamweight Champion of the World, Kennedy McKinney. Just 4-1/2 months later at the age of 28, Greg died from injuries sustained in a car crash.
Shakur Stevenson, who won a Silver Medal in the 2016 Olympic Games. As a Pro he is 12-0 and is the WBO’s #1 contender in the Featherweight Class.
Stevenson had a very successful career at the Youth Level, winning the 2014 AIBA Youth World Championships and 2014 Summer Youth Olympics. In 2015 he won the Senior U.S. Olympic Trials, thus qualifying for the U.S. boxing team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In Rio, Stevenson won a silver medal, and was the highest-medaling male for the USA (Claressa Shields won gold on the women’s side).
As a Pro he holds the following titles:
* IBF Inter-Continental featherweight title
* WBC Continental Americas featherweight title
* WBO NABO featherweight title
On Saturday October 26, 2019, Shakur Stevenson captured the WBO Featherweight Title Championship, out boxing his opponent easily with skill. Congratulations Shakur Stevenson job well done.
Senior Amateur, 108 pound National Golden Glove Champion, Anthony Johns, who now trains with his father at Rosario’s Aspira Gym in Newark, and is the sixth national champ since Dan Doyle & Jose Rosario took over the NJ Gloves, and 13th overall. He has an exemplary record as an amateur boxer, winning the New Jersey Golden Gloves Championship four times, the New Jersey Diamond Gloves Championship four times, and finishing third in the 2018 National Golden Gloves before winning the National title in 2019.
Junior Olympic Amateur, National Female Champion Kaheil Mishoe-Elliott, who is the first female to win this award. She is the First Junior female to win the Gold at the USA National Eastern Qualifier – 2013-15 National Jr. Women’s Golden Gloves 3x Gold 2x Silver, 2015 & 2017 USA Jr Prep Olympic National-Silver, 2018 USA Jr Prep Olympic National-Bronze, 2018 USA Jr Olympic Nationals-Champion. 2018 USA Boxing Elite & Youth National Championships and Junior Open. Her brother Kah-Shad Elliott, won the award back in 2015 and there both trained by their father Ahman Elliott who was our 2018 Coach of the Year.
Amateur Official Mark Hoskins who has been an Amateur Official since the beginning of 2014 and has judged and refereed most of the shows in New Jersey ever since. He also has served as an official in several regional Tournaments. He is one of the more exceptional and experience officials in the region.
Amateur Coach of the Year Roger Chance who first became a member as an Athlete back in 2010. At the beginning of 2014, be became a coach and as coached his daughter and sons to many State, Regional and National Titles. His son Emmanuel Chance won the 2017 Junior Olympic Boxer of the Year.
“2019 Man of the Year” boxing judge Jim Kinney, was an Amateur Official close to 30 years, where he judged and refereed and was Our Amateur Official of the Year back in 2014, before stepping up to the pro ranks. Over the last several years we could count on him to go to New York or Pennsylvania to write up stories on several of our honorees. He even paid for several of there family members so they could attend our Induction Ceremonies.