Huge Vegas Weekend Will Be a Knockout
Boxing fans, the 6th Annual Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame (NVBHOF) is just around the corner!
Be sure to get your tickets NOW before all the events sell out (www.nvbhof.com). I’ve been fortunate to have attended the awards every year since its inception in 2013 (founded by Hall of Fame sportscaster Rich Marotta) and have witnessed the star-studded galas firsthand. Each year has been action-packed with once-in-a-lifetime memories for the inductees, celebrities and boxing fans alike.
NVBHOF CEO Michelle Corrales-Lewis and the NVBHOF Board of Directors have a full slate of exciting events planned for the 2018 festivities. This year’s bash will include two days of activities taking place August 17-18 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas!
The esteemed Class of 2018 include boxers/champions Shane Mosley, Laila Ali, Kevin Kelley, Earnie Shavers, Chris Byrd, Alexis Arguello, Aaron Pryor, Henry Armstrong, Don Miner and in the non-boxer category: Senator Harry Reid, Todd duBoef, Jerry Roth, Jack “Doc” Kearns and Bill Miller. There will be additional awards as well including Male Fighter of the Year Terence “Bud” Crawford.
Fight fans can purchase tickets to the highly-anticipated Meet & Greet Fan Experience on Friday and also secure their seats at the glamorous Induction Gala (Dinner and Award Ceremony) to take place Saturday night in the Augustus Ballroom of the legendary Caesars.
There will also be an amateur boxing show (WBC Green Belt Challenge) on Saturday, August 18. Last year’s amateur show was a big hit with lots of local talent shining in the spotlight and this year’s installation promises to be another banner event.
Now is your chance to buy your tickets to the Meet & Greet and the Induction Gala before it sells out! Each show has been chock full of celeb sightings, wall to wall champions, boxing memorabilia, and photo ops galore. Check out some of my snapshots from last year’s weekend of fun–and the events all for a great cause.
Yes, the best part of fans, sponsors and vendors supporting the NVBHOF is that it is a NONPROFIT organization that assists those in the community and beyond.
Besides all the epic selfies you can take with the boxing champs, what else can you look forward to?
I asked Michelle Corrales-Lewis her thoughts on the upcoming events and what fans can expect?
“The fans can expect a fun-filled weekend of events starting with our Meet & Greet Fan Experience on Friday 12-4, (all “Super” ticket holders will enjoys a VIP reception later that evening from 7:30-9:30),” she comments. “And on Saturday our amateur Green Belt Challenge that starts at 11AM will showcase several nationally-ranked amateurs and of course the gala and induction later Saturday evening.”
Besides the 2018 living inductees, there’s a knockout group of current and former sluggers showcased on the the big Meet & Greet flier including Evander Holyfield, Shawn Porter, Badou Jack, Jessie Vargas, Brandon Rios, Chad Dawson, Joel Casamayor, Christy Martin, Maricela Cornejo, Jose Benavidez, David Benavidez, Leon Spinks, Michael Spinks, Mike McCallum, Lamon Brewster, Ray Mercer, Michael Carbajal, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Angel Manfredy, Ava Knight, Elena Reid, and many more.
The 2018 NVBHOF weekend looks to be a pound-for-pound good time you don’t want to miss.
And while some of the inductees are no longer with us, I expect there will be many poignant and bittersweet moment sandwiched between the joyous speeches. NVBHOF President Michelle Corrales-Lewis shares a sneak peek at a special moment in store.
“I can’t express enough how each year of inductees are equally special to me but this year I’m excited that we can come together and celebrate the pardoning of Mr. Jack Johnson amongst the boxing community with a room full of Champions and Legends,” the former wife of beloved champion the late Diego Corrales says. “Many people don’t realize that this has been many many years in the making, several petitions were signed, trips to Washington DC by and different government officials at different times all worked in this glorious event.
This was a huge victory!” Corrales-Lewis expresses. “It demonstrates what the boxing community can achieve by coming together.”
It will be a glorious two days of boxing history coming to life on August 17 and 18–DON’T MISS IT!
To purchase 2018 Tickets: Click Here.
2017 Photos by Michele Chong
2018 Posters courtesy of NVBHOF