Founder/Commentator Shares His Thoughts!
The special “Trilogy” Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame (NVBHOF) weekend is ready for the celebration to begin!
The NVBHOF will be honoring three years of inductees (since everything was shut down during the pandemic).
Starting Friday, August 26 and Saturday, August 27, founder and former President Rich Marotta and CEO and current President Michelle Corrales-Lewis and their Board of Directors will host a knockout schedule of events including a Fan Meet & Greet, VIP Party, a WBC Green Belt Challenge and the “Trilogy” awards ceremony inducting the 2020, 2021 and 2022 honorees.
The awards dinner just sold out but tickets are still available for Friday’s Meet & Greet and VIP Party (nvbhof.com). Grab them before those sell out too!
Boxing veteran Rich Marotta has spent decades covering the sweet science. He shared his thoughts about the upcoming “Trilogy” weekend. The Reno resident really knows the boxing business and the ins and outs of the sweet science.
He is in the Sportscaster Hall of Fame, the California Boxing Hall of Fame, and is an Emmy award winner. Marotta founded the NVBHOF and hosted the inaugural gala in 2013. Still busy working and covering live fights, he was ringside just last Saturday night delivering commentary for the Thompson Boxing Promotions’ Path to Glory show (where the shocking knockout by Ruben “Ace” Torres went viral).
I’ve known Rich for many years now. His colleagues will agree he is always professional, insightful and gives 100%. He remains one of the best in the biz.
And his knowledge about the fight game is incredible. I can recall during the 2019 VIP NVBHOF gathering, Rich introduced about 30-35 inductees, current boxers, champs, former pros and world titlists. Without cue cards or a Teleprompter, he introduced each person with a personal anecdote, fight facts, history, fun trivia and/or entertaining tidbits that made each guest shine in the spotlight. And he did it spur of the moment just from his memory! We were all very impressed.
Still humble after all the years, Marotta chooses to let the boxing legends receive everyone’s full attention.
Since this is such an epic weekend with superstars Floyd Mayweather Jr., Roy Jones Jr. and more being inducted it will certainly be a spectacular night with 27 inductees. But there’s also so many behind-the-scenes stories that will also occur this weekend.
And it’s these poignant moments that are the once-in-a-lifetime. Marotta shares his thoughts and sentiments on just a few of the evocative meetings that will transpire during the NVBHOF happenings.
Michele Chong: Hi Rich! Can you tell me what you’re personally looking forward to this weekend?
Rich Marotta: We have a big weekend coming up August 26-27, filled with four major activities, including the Saturday night Induction Gala. It is our first Induction Weekend in three years because of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are also featuring a Friday afternoon Fan Meet and Greet, a Friday night VIP Party, a Saturday morning amateur boxing card, and, of course, the Induction Dinner Saturday night, all at Resorts World on the strip.
We are working hard at creating something special for the sport and the boxing community. In addition to all the Inductees and local champs on hand, many other fighters are flying in to be part of the festivities including Evander Holyfield, Winky Wright, Vinny Paz, Lamon Brewster, Christy Martin and more.
Personally I think Michael Nunn returning to Vegas, the scene of his greatest triumphs, after having served a 17 year prison stretch is compelling. Michael fought two of the other guys who are also being inducted the same night, defeating Iran Barkley, losing to James Toney. It’s funny how a lot of these Inductees paths all seem to cross. Toney also beat Barkley but lost to Roy Jones.
Jose Luis Castillo is returning to Vegas after having fought maybe the greatest fight in championship boxing history against Diego Corrales. And while Diego is not here, his wife MIchelle, ironically, is now President of the NVBHOF.
Julian Jackson, one of the hardest punchers in boxing history, who fought 18 times in Nevada, is flying in from the Virgin Islands for his induction. Miguel Cotto is flying in from Puerto Rico and others are making long trips in.
Being the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, there are inductees right here in Vegas too. Bones Adams and Fernando Vargas are both going in, and referee Carlos Padilla who refereed “The Thrilla in Manila” Ali-Frazier, and “The Brawl in Montreal” Sugar Ray Leonard-Roberto Duran, is also a Vegas resident.
The great writer Jerry Izenberg will be an inductee. Jerry has been living in, and writing from nearby Henderson, for many years now. The Reno Gazette Journal just did a lovely front page sports section story on the NVBHOF in general and Reno resident, former commissioner Sammy Macias being inducted.
MC: Thanks again for your time. And congrats to all of the inductees!
So there you have it. In Rich Marotta’s own words.
Boxing fans, don’t miss out on this very special “Trilogy” Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame!!