Celebration at the 2012 Ceremony
The 2012 California Boxing Hall of Fame (CBHOF) Induction Ceremony recently took place at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City.
The SoCal gala ushered in the Class of 2012 including new inductees Sergio Martinez, Jim Lampley, Tony “The Tiger” Lopez, Rudy Hernandez, Norman “Bumpy” Parra, Adrian Arreola, Fritz Werner, Jesse Burnett, James Kinchen, Al Stankie, Rudy Tellez, Burke Emery, Bobby DePhilippis, Lucia Rijker, Pete Vital, Georgie Garcia and Randy De La O. Posthumous Honorees include Rocky Marciano, Joe Frazier, Floyd Patterson, Vic Ponce, Bobo Olson, Charley Norkus, Kid Gavilan and Rudy Ayon.
Many champions and contenders from the boxing world joined the sold-out group convening at the awards show.
Joining the nominees and seen in the crowd were prizefighters Lamon Brewster, Carlos Palomino, Paul Gonzales, Bobby Chacon, Danny “Little Red” Lopez, Mando Muniz, Rafael Ruelas, Art Frias, Ruben Navarro, Trino Savala, promoter Ken Thompson, trainers John Bray, Vince Parra, Jesse Reid, Sonny Shapiro, officials Jack Reiss, Gwen Adair, Monique Rendon, Joseph Borrielli, Zac Young, Daniel Sandoval, timekeeper Willie Arriola, Hollenbeck and L.A. Inner-City Games’ Danny Hernandez, HBO’s Tony Walker, WBC Supervisor Dr. Joe Noriega, actors Rance Howard, Clint Howard, Golden State Boxer’s Association Bill Dempsey Young, Larry Montalvo, and many more.
This year also featured a special display by the Cleto Reyes glove manufacturers. Team Cleto Reyes’ Alberto Reyes, Elizabeth Reyes, Guillermo Moreno, Kiriat Moreno , Lockwood’s Industries’ Mike Serrano and others let boxing fans experience the famed leather gloves.
The event’s official emcee was ring announcer Jim FitzGerald. The induction ceremonies showcased moving speeches, humorous anecdotes and stories from the past by the new Hall of Famers.
There was a “Trainer of the Year” award presented by Don Fraser and Ken Thompson (Thompson Boxing Promotions) to boxing coach Danny Zamora. The Santa Fe Springs trainer had a large fan base of family members cheering him on as he accepted his award.
Boxing judge/referee Gwen Adair surprised President Don Fraser with a “Lifetime Outstanding Achievement,” presenting the fight veteran with a “Prizefighter” bronze statue by artist/trainer Steve Harpst.
During the ceremony, there was also live music by the Denise Fraser Band (Denise Fraser on drums, Karen Hernandez on keyboard, Lou Schoch on bass). The band played tunes as each inductee was introduced and brought up to the stage. The Class of 2012 received city proclamations and framed certificates upon entering the Hall of Fame.
The speeches were varied in length and remembrances but the crowd responded to each and every honoree. Military man Fritz Werner (boxing official) lent a strong voice during his time at the microphone as his military bearing supported a heartfelt speech that resonated loud and clear. The lone female inductee, Lucia Rijker, told of her struggles as a woman in the sport and also mentioned one of her mentors, the late Emanuel Steward (who at the time was still in the hospital).
And many of these awardees have spent decades in the sport.
Rudy Tellez, a mouthpiece doctor and WBC Supervisor, has spent several decades working in the sweet science–getting his start at the storied Main Street Gym. He thanked all of his peers seated near the stage as well as the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) Jose Sulaiman and Mauricio Sulaiman.
The day was a memorable one for the boxing aficionados who came from various cities and states to take in the festivities. Their families stood by, beaming with pride.
I’ve attended several of these banquets through the years and the one constant I hear throughout the day is how nice it is for everyone to be able to catch up with boxing pals they hadn’t seen in a while. The awards bash is always a reunion of sorts; while walking through the venue you always run into people you know but hadn’t seen in years.
Indianapolis heavyweight “Relentless” Lamon Brewster attended the banquet for the very first time. The former champ has lived in California for a few years now. The boxer and his wife Juana had a great time at the CBHOF luncheon reconnecting with familiar faces from the past. Fans gathered around the slugger, remembering him from his TKO victory over Wladimir Klitschko.
All of the boxers posed for photos and signed autographs for their fans.
It was a day to honor some well-deserved members of the boxing community who have ties to the California fight scene, both past and present. Documenting the day was the 2012 Souvenir Journal, the official program toasting this year’s inductees.
Making the event a success was the 2012 CBHOF Staff including President Don Fraser, Vice President Rick Farris, Advertising Director Ray Maynez, Box Office Manager Norma Silvani, Awards Chairman Rick Resnick, Legal Advisor Ken Green and Selection Committee of Frank Baltazar, Gwen Adair, Rick Resnick, Don Fraser, Larry Montalvo, Elsa Montalvo and Rick Farris.
Congratulations again to the 2012 California Boxing Hall of Fame!
Photos by Michele Chong
