Meet & Greet, VIP Gala & Amateur Show!
The 2017 Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame (NVBHOF) weekend was chock full of activities that spanned from August 11-12 at Caesars in Las Vegas.
Here’s a look back at Friday and Saturday’s festivities leading up to the big induction awards dinner on August 12. President/CEO Michelle Corrales-Lewis and former President and Founder Rich Marotta ushered in the Class of 2017 with a full schedule of festivities including a Friday Meet & Greet with the Champs, Friday night VIP gala with special awards presented on stage and Saturday’s WBC amateur boxing show (a brand new addition this year).
Boxing fans were blown away by the heavy hitters in attendance including the newest inductees, past inductees, current champs, former fighters, special VIP guests, singers, rappers, actors, basketball players, boxing officials, famed trainers and more at the 5th Annual NVBHOF Induction Weekend.
The 2017 Inductees included Non-Nevada Resident Boxers: Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, Erik “El Terrible” Morales, Michael Spinks, Salvador Sanchez, Michael Carbajal, Lucia Rijker; Nevada Resident Boxers: Leon Spinks, Richie Sandoval, Ken Norton; Non-Boxer Category: Rafael Garcia, Debbie Munch, Mel Greb, Dr. Elias Ghanem, and Davey Pearl. Special awards will also be presented to current fighters Shawn Porter, Layla McCarter, Yarisel Ramirez, Emiliano Fernando Vargas, Kevin Newman and Latondria Jones, the WBC’s Jill Diamond and boxing veteran Jimmy Montoya.
Each and every event packed a full house of fight fans getting their chance to mingle with their boxing heroes. The NVBHOF is a nonprofit organization; the group continues to reach out and give back to the boxing community and beyond. And their massive NVBHOF bash helps raise funds for this nonprofit.
Check out my exclusive snapshots from the star-studded gathering. Tons of familiar faces spotted at the charity functions included champs/prizefighters Tommy Hearns, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Shane Mosley, Lucia Rijker, Laura Serrano, James “Quick” Tillis, Caleb Plant, Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson, Ana Julaton, Elena Reid, Dee Kelley, referee Richard Steele, ring announcer/emcee Lisa King, amateur star Joey Borrero, pro basketball player Chatilla van Grinsven, teen singing sensation Bridget Gonzalez, commentating legend Colonel Bob Sheridan, and more seen in these pics from the knockout weekend.
Congratulations to all of the 2017 awardees!
Photos by Michele Chong