Champs Represent at Kingdom Day Parade!
It was a knockout day for a group of boxing champs all gathering to honor Dr. Martin Luther King and Henry Armstrong at the 2018 Kingdom Day Parade.
Here’s my special recap and snapshots from the day in which the fighters rode a float (decked with a boxing ring) as the huge crowds lined the Los Angeles sidewalks to catch a glimpse of all the festivities.
Edward (grandson of Henry Armstrong) and wife Kimberly Scott invited a KO crew of pro fighters, amateur boxers, trainers and members of the boxing community to take part in this yearly event held on MLK Day (January 15). This year’s theme was “When They Go Low, We Go High” and the boxing team of float riders and parade walkers were outfitted in special “The Only One” shirts (by Eduardo De La Cruz) celebrating the legacy of boxing legend Henry Armstrong. All donations for the shirts benefit the nonprofit Henry Armstrong Foundation which helps the youth, assists the homeless, etc.
Joining the Scotts were champions, Olympians, prizefighters and VIP guests including Timothy Bradley, Henry Tillman, J’Marie Moore (daughter of Archie “The Mongoose” Moore), Ronny Rios, Alexis Rocha, Paul Banke, Walter Sarnoi, David Mijares, Aaron McKenna, Chris Zavala, Donald Brown, Jared Wells, James Brock, the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) Mo Noor, Jill Diamond, Nancy Rodriguez, Nazia Noor, emcee and ring announcer Jim FitzGerald, trainer/sculptor Steve Harpst, boxing official Sharon Sands, Pitch Ink’s Rachel Charles, Supreme Boxing and Instant Boxing’s Albert and Lina Baker, entertainers Larry and Marsha Covin, and more.
The morning began with a buffet breakfast at the Delicious Southern Cuisine Restaurant and the afternoon continued as the parade route got underway. The parade goers responded with exuberant cheers as the boxing float glided by the fans. The champions waved and pumped their fists as the excited attendees called out their names.
Walking alongside the float was a team from the Burbank Boxing Club (BBC). For the third year in a row, BBC Founder and Head Trainer brought a group of amateurs (Toni, Oscar, Ace, Miguel, Amy and Joanna) and pro boxer Angel Silva that hit the mitts, shadowboxed and jumped rope along MLK Boulevard and Crenshaw to the delight of the crowd.
All of the participants expressed how much they enjoyed being out in the community and honoring both Dr. King and Henry Armstrong. And there was also special awards to Timmy Bradley, J’Marie Moore, rapper Skee-Lo and Chuck Harris. Edward Scott spoke from his heart on how much he values everyones support, positivity and love in paying tribute to his beloved grandfather.
And this year’s bash was a commemorative one as the Henry Armstrong Foundation states:
“IN ADDITION TO HONORING DR. KING’S LEGACY THIS YEAR, WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 80th ANNIVERSARY OF “THE ONLY BOXER IN HISTORY TO HOLD 3 UNDISPUTED WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 3 DIFFERENT DIVISIONS SIMULTAMEOUSLY WITHIN 10 MONTHS ON AUGUST 17,1938, AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, WORLD CHAMPION HENRY ARMSTRONG.”
The Kingdom Day Parade was fun and festive as always. Cementing the legacy of Henry Armstrong, the 2018 team represented the sweet science with class and dignity befitting a true champion.
Photos courtesy of Michele Chong