Awards at holiday fundraiser honors boxing’s best!
Now that the holidays are almost over…Did YOU get everything on your Christmas wish list?
Well, the “Santa Claus Crew” from the World Boxing Council (WBC) and WBCares made sure some of boxing’s biggest luminaries received an extra special gift during the yuletide season.
Hosted by Rudy Tellez and Miguel Salazar, a Christmas Toy Drive and Awards Ceremony was recently held at Rudy’s Baja Grill in Los Angeles, where over 40 standouts in the fight game were honored.
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, two-time WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Israel Vazquez, WBC Super Featherweight Champ Gabe Ruelas, female WBC titlist Carina Moreno were all in attendance. Also arriving at the fiesta were Cleto Reyes gloves master Alberto Reyes, boxing
manager Steve Feder, fighters Chika Nakamura and Katarina De La Cruz, and one special visitor from far, far away–Santa Claus himself.
And the grande finale of the event was the presentation of a one-of-a- kind WBC belt that was given to trainer Freddie Roach.
After his pro debut in 1978, Roach built a record of 39-13 with 15 KOs before easing into his role as one of the most prolific trainers ever at his world-renowned Wild Card Boxing Club. After retiring from the ring, he has gone on to train over 25 world champions, including Israel Vazquez, Amir Khan and of course, his most famous and successful protégé Manny Pacquiao.
Roach has no doubt received a boatload of honors and awards through the years. During his 30 years of a legendary career, he is already a repeat winner of “Trainer of the Year,” and a recipient of the WBC’s Legends of Boxing 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award. Roach’s trajectory to the top (and staying at the top) shows no signs of slowing down now.
So to celebrate Christmas, what do you get for a guy who’s had fame and fortune come his way several times over? What did you give a coach who’s trained countless champs and contenders, and continues to train tomorrow’s next big superstars of the ring?
What on Earth could one get him for the holidays? No lump of coal for the Hall of Fame trainer.
What gift would really surprise him?
Hmmmm, let’s see…How ’bout something that’s red and green and shiny all over?
Oh yeah, did I mention this little trinket comes in green, bright green–just in time for Christmas!
Yep, how about a special world title belt from the WBC? One size fits all.
The newest green leather strap has the two widely-recognized photos of Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis flanking the gold and red WBC medallion–but there’s also two new faces on this belt that really caught the trainer’s attention. To the left of “The Greatest’s” picture is the bespectacled Roach himself smiling back from this particular belt; to the right of the “Brown Bomber’s” mug is Freddie’s beloved trainer and mentor Eddie Futch.
“Eddie Futch was his mentor,” explains Tellez. “He got tears in his eyes when he saw the belt! I was very happy for Freddie.”
After dedicating over 30 years in the sweet science, this Christmas present was a fitting honor for the world famous trainer, who is battling Parkinson’s disease.
“It was an honor to present Freddie with this belt,” Tellez, founder of the Alhambra Boxing Club, tells me. “Jose and Mauricio Sulaiman have made this special WBC belt just for him.”
And the Irishman from Massachusetts’ definitely shined in that glorious hue of emerald green.
“I was so happy for Freddie,” relays Tellez. “Everything was so beautiful and wonderful.”
As guests enjoyed a Mexican Fajitas buffet, sounds from a zesty Mariachi band performing on stage entertained the crowd. A prize raffle was also held during the day. Event sponsors included the WBC Legends of Boxing Museum, Salazar y 3 Campeones, Rudy’s Baja Grill, All Star Boxing, Wild Card Boxing Club, Standing Eight Management, Alhambra Boxing Club, and the Burbank Body Shop.
Igor Frank, a boxing journalist and one of the day’s sponsors, said, “Seeing Freddie Roach receive his belt was an exciting day for boxing fans.” He was also impressed with popular slugger Israel Vazquez, who remains humble and generous. During the event, “El Magnifico” raffled off a jacket to raise more money for the charity toy drive.
“Israel Vazquez is the epitome of a humble champion. Because of him, boxing will flourish,” Frank comments. “Seeing him honored, then seeing him raffle off his own jacket was great. And hopefully this will help raise money for more toys for the kids.”
While the awards ceremony was the main event, the co-feature was the toy drive to benefit the area’s underprivileged children. Guests were asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the festivities.
The WBC Vice Chairman Tellez says the toys were given out at two events following their fundraiser and awards luncheon.
“It was all for a good cause,” he states a few days after the party. “On Tuesday we went to Salazar Park to deliver some of the toys, and right now we’re going to a Baldwin Park church to deliver more toys.”
Tellez, also a mouthpiece doctor, gives credit where credit is due. He makes sure to tell me that Teri Marquez, WBC Legends of Boxing Secretary, was very instrumental in assisting the organization as well as “MVP” Miguel Salazar, photographer and Wild Card fixture.
“Miguel Salazar is the one who is responsible for all of this,” praises Tellez. “He had this idea, and it was such a great, great time!”
Called up to the podium by emcee Jim FitGerald to receive their special certificates of appreciation and letters from the WBC were Roach, Vazquez, Moreno, Thompson Boxing Promotions’ Ken Thompson, Carina Moreno’s manager Dr. Joe Noriega, former California State
Athletic Commission’s Dean Lohuis and Joe Borrielli, official Rudy Jordan, just to mention a few of the honorees.
Another boxing trainer, Gil Nieves, was glad to witness the honors. “Freddie was so happy,” said Nieves, who works with his young fighters at Wild Card. And just like Vazquez, the humble and generous Roach even gave a gift of his own to the WBCares charity. “Freddie gave a $1,000 donation to help the children!” Nieves added.
Looks like Santa and the WBC made sure Freddie Roach, a few of his boxing peers and lots of children had an even brighter Christmas.
And as this year quickly comes to an end, I hope YOU got everything you wanted for the holidays.
Happy New Year!
Photos by Raymond Rodriguez
Calling the CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES: I thought (read?) not too long ago that Freddie Roach would be given or awarded a special award (or was it a special recognition as a SPECIAL FILIPINO CITIZEN) for all the magic that he did on our very own Manny Pacquiao? What all he did to Manny is simply beyond quantification. Unwittingly, he engineered the putting of the Philippines into the world consciousness everything that is PINOY or FILIPINO. UNWITTINGLY or UNINTENTIONALLY, he has become a unwitting PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR OF GOODWILL to the whole world.
[Of course, the same honors goes to BOB ARUM].
Now the world knows where Baguio City is; Gen. Santos City; “MANILA ICE” (check the Wikipedia); and so forth and so on.
MABUHAY KA FREDDIE!!! It would not be a surprise to me if eventually the Philippine Government will really give you a very special GIFT from the grateful Filipino people.
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