Exclusive Preview: 2016 Induction Weekend in Vegas

Fight fans, it’s almost time for the annual Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame (NVBHOF) gala to blast off July 30 at the legendary Caesars Palace in Las Vegas!

The final countdown begins now. The star-studded action is all goin’ down in the desert! This will be the nonprofit organization’s 4th annual induction ceremony where boxing’s best are celebrated as immortals in our sport. I’ve attended every year since their 2013 inaugural show and I have to say the NVBHOF weekend is a “must” for any boxing aficionado from casual fan to hardcore veteran. There’s something for everyone and this year’s event will be another showstopper in which luminaries from all over the world will be joining forces in the Mecca of Boxing.

Here’s my special sneak peek at what attendees can expect at this yearly gathering with the champs!

The excitement will ignite on Saturday, July 30 as the Class of 2016 is ushered into the history books. This pound-for-pound group includes 11 inductees: prizefighters Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Ricardo “Finito” Lopez, Pernell Riddick Bowe, “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, Christy Martin (first female inductee), and Freddie Little; trainers Thell Torrence, Kenny Adams and the late Johnny Tocco; and journalists Tim Dahlberg and James “Smitty” Smith. There will also be six awardees receiving recognition for their achievements: “Nevada Fighter of the Year” Badou Jack, “Nevada Female Fighter of the Year” Ava Knight, “Nevada Amateur Fighter of the Year” JJ Mariano, “Nevada Prospect of the Year” Devin Haney, Muhammad Ali “Humanitarian Award” to WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, and the NVBHOF “President’s Award” to Herb Santos Jr.

“We have two popular boxing commentators to serve as co-MC’s this year, Bernardo Osuna and Crystina Poncher,” NVBHOF President Rich Marotta tells me. “They are great in front of a camera or crowd. I don’t even resent their magnificent hair!”

Additional highlights for guests will be a brand-new Autograph Show (open to ticket holders) on Friday and in what promises to be a moving moment, the only and only Sugar Ray Leonard will be in attendance to pay tribute to the late Muhammad Ali. “The Greatest’s” widow Lonnie Ali will also be there as a guest of the World Boxing Council (WBC) President Mauricio Sulaiman.

I can promise you, you won’t be disappointed with all the happenings taking place at the famed Caesars Palace which has rich history of being a part of the sweet science. Coincidentally, the storied hotel and casino located on the glittering Strip is celebrating their 50th Golden Anniversary. This is one night you don’t want to miss out on and remember, your ticket is tax-deductible as the NVBHOF is a nonprofit organization that donates and assists in boxing-related causes.

I caught up with the NVBHOF team as their event nears to hear what’s new for this year’s gala. Through the years, NVBHOF President/CEO/Founder Rich Marotta and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Michelle Corrales-Lewis have worked tirelessly to ensure a memorable boxing spectacular for all.

The two-time Hall of Famer Marotta is known worldwide during his successful career in sportscasting. The radio host gave me the scoop on his July 30 bash held for the second year in a row at Caesars.

“The partnership with Caesars was a natural because of its intertwined history with boxing. You could see they wanted to celebrate that, and for the event to be a memorable one,” he explains. “Its really fun to welcoime the boxers back here to where they fought some of their most famous battles.”

Who is he looking forward to seeing the most?

“We have a glamorous list of Inductees, but I am especially looking forward to meeting, talking to and honoring our least-known champion among the current boxing public, Freddie Little,” answers Marotta. “He was the first Nevada-resident World Champion, is 80 years old, and traveling from Houston to be inducted.”

I’ve seen the NVBHOF grow in attendance each year. Last year’s audience was the biggest thus far but Rich is planning a more intimate awards this year.

“Attendees can expect a slimmed down show this year. Our inductee list, while still glamorous, is about half the size of the previous three. We had to spend those years catching up with 120 years of Nevada boxing history!” he states.

“Now we have a more workable inductee list. So we expect the Induction Ceremony, instead of the previous 4-hour length, to be about 2 1/2 hours. Something different this year, and of course this is a one-time only situation, is that we will have a special memorial tribute to Muhammad Ali, which I think will be quite poignant.”

His Chief Operating Officer (COO) also expresses her excitement about the soirée.

“Attendees can expect another great addition to our event that includes a Meet & Greet for all ticket holders that will take place on Friday from 11am-5pm,” Michelle Corrales-Lewis shares. “We have a great induction class that includes our first-ever female fighter, Christy Martin, and of course we have special surprises and a magnificent signature boxing themed desert to compliment our dinner.”

Marotta is the NVBHOF President but he also gives a huge shout out to Michelle Corrales-Lewis. The Nevada resident was married to the late Diego “Chico” Corrales; the couple had two children together. Early on, Michelle’s involvement grew as the NVBHOF blossomed. She has served as Event Coordinator, Vice President and COO. The busy mother of five balances her home life and work life as she and her husband Ryan Lewis also have worked in the music business. But with the gala quickly nearing, the brunette’s laser-like focus has been on boxing, which Marotta acknowledges.

“On a personal level, I have been happy to be the founder and President of the NVBHOF,” President Marotta conveys to me. “However, Michelle Corrales-Lewis has taken on the bulk of the everyday work and is now the main force in directing it to a new level. She is an incredibly capable woman, without whom, the NVBHOF would not be flourishing the way it is.”

“I’m looking forward to a fun induction weekend that the fans can enjoy,” Michelle says. “I personally like honoring the Inductee’s and reassuring them that they aren’t forgotten and their legacy will live on forever.”

The champs will live on. And the Caesars property and the sport of boxing has been a one-two punch.

“Caesars has been wonderful to work with and provides us with a beautiful landscape that’s rich in boxing history,” Corrales-Lewis raves. “Our partnership is certainly a step in the right direction for the much needed support that the NVBHOF truly needs to fulfill our mission of making a difference in the sport and one day having a physical home for the Hall where we can provide a interactive attraction for boxing fans to enjoy daily.”

And while the venue is always a sell-out, first-class banquets such as this takes a lot of money, work and effort to organize and host. Sponsorship and support is always needed, so please lend yours to the NVBHOF buy purchasing tickets now before it sells out.

Michelle confirms: “Sponsorship is always a struggle and hard to come by, we are in desperate need of sponsorship and support.”

The dynamo is an expert multi-tasker and both she and Marotta are appreciative for all the current support from the NVBHOF Board of Directors, champions, sponsors, media, volunteers, friends, family and fans. I always enjoy chatting with her and the petite brunette has really become an unstoppable force in the field.

“I want to thank you for always giving the NVBHOF a voice,” Corrales-Lewis tells me. “And a special thank you to the fans and companies who continue to support us by attending our events and celebrating the sport of boxing with us. Your generosity helps us make a difference.”

Get your ticket now and join the festivities with the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. Each year has been unique from red-carpet moments to a VIP gifting suite to a rare memorabilia pop-up museum that was installed last year. The NVBHOF gala is where you can mingle and meet the champions, witness emotional speeches from hardscrabble veterans that never show emotion to seeing former rivals shake and hands and embrace. Besides the 10 living inductees scheduled to attend, there will also be a ton of boxers lending their support.

In past years, I’ve seen superstars Roberto Duran, Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Julio Cesar Chavez, Lennox Lewis, Marvin Hagler, Marco Antonio Barrera, Felix “Tito” Trinidad, Larry Holmes, Don King and more all there in person. Popular local champs and Nevada sluggers and trainers seen through the years have included Jessie Vargas, Leon Spinks, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Shawn Porter, Mike McCallum, Zab Judah, Layla McCarter, Livingstone Bramble, Wayne McCullough, Laura Serrano, Joey Gilbert, Kevin Kelley, Dee Kelley, Elena Reid, referees Richard Steele, Kenny Bayless, Joe Cortez, rockstar Vince Neil and countless others. You never know who you’ll be bumping fists with!

There will also be photo ops galore and plenty of chances for coveted autographs. And for you selfie addicts, you might even get an opportunity to score a fun selfie with your favorite fighter. Hashtag #score!

DON’T MISS IT.

www.nvbhof.com (For tickets, sponsorship info and more)
$300, $175 (Dinner & Ceremony), $75 (Ceremony Only)
All donations tax-deductable.

Photos by Michele Chong