Friday & Saturday Events with the Champs
The stars will definitely align THIS weekend as the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame (NVBHOF) hosts their “Trilogy” weekend of inductions celebrating the Class of 2020, 2021 and 2022 at Resorts World Las Vegas.
Since the COVID-19 epidemic shut down everything in 2020, the August 26 and August 27 festivities have been highly anticipated by the awardees and boxing fans around the world. There will be a total of 27 honorees at this year’s awards ceremony. And this year’s gala will be even more poignant and memorable since we have all waited three long years (due to the pandemic) since the last NVBHOF to all get together in the Las Vegas, the Mecca of boxing.
The 10th Annual Induction Gala will feature a Meet & Greet Fan Experience, a VIP Party, a WBC Green Belt Challenge amateur boxing show and the Saturday night banquet which will showcase a KO lineup of fighters and champs in attendance. Be sure to get your tickets NOW before they sell out at: www.nvbhof.com
NVBHOF Founder Rich Marotta, CEO/President Michelle Corrales-Lewis, COO/Vice President Anthony Randolph, their Board of Directors and team of volunteers have been working tirelessly to ensure a knockout weekend. With lots of activities scheduled for both Friday and Saturday, the non-profit organization will host what will surely be a memorable time for all. They are very dedicated to paying tribute those in the sweet science and also helping the youth in the community.
The NVBHOF is really looking forward to bestowing honors on the worthy recipients during this historic “Trilogy” weekend. And CEO Michelle Corrales-Lewis (widow of beloved warrior Diego Corrales) is having an extra special week. She celebrated her birthday on August 23 while still putting the final finishing touches on the NVBHOF full schedule of events. The powerhouse has a strong team surrounding her and this year’s NVBHOF fiesta will be one for the ages.
Through the years, Michelle’s enthusiasm and focus in organizing a great show has never wavered. With founder Rich Marotta’s vision and their signature style, the NVBHOF crew always delivers an incredible show that attendees have looked forward to since 2013.
And this year’s gala will be a once-in-a-lifetime evening with 27 men and women being inducted; the highlights onstage will be nonstop.
“I’m absolutely elated and honored to be able to host our live event this year, Corrales-Lewis says, “and honor our boxing family like the true legends they are.”
With names like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Andre Ward, Hector “Macho” Camacho, Roy Jones Jr., Fernando Vargas, James Toney, Israel Vazquez and more being enshrined in the NVBHOF, the excitement and emotions will all be revealed come Saturday night.
And there’s one more name that will be bittersweet for Corrales-Lewis. Her husband’s former nemesis Jose Luis Castillo will also be inducted into the Class of 2020. “Chico” Corrales and Castillo’s bout were brutal wars of attrition as both men left it all in the ring. And on August 27, Castillo will be one of the prizefighters shining in the spotlight as he accepts his induction awards with his ex-rival’s widow looking on. Michelle speaks of how much it means to the NVBHOF to be able to honor these boxers like Castillo.
“The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame takes pride in celebrating these great fighters and champions,” she tells me, “while enshrining them Into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame located in the Fight Capital of the World of Las Vegas!”
The shout outs this weekend will be “Viva Las Vegas” as the nonprofit hosts everything from a fan Meet & Greet to a VIP cocktail party to an amateur show and then culminating in the grand event–the star-studded induction and awards dinner.
I’ve been fortunate to attend the NVBHOF events since its inaugural year and can tell you that it is an amazing experience and an epic weekend for boxing aficionados. And this year, this “knockout” gathering will take place in the Rose Ballroom at the new Resorts World on the Vegas Strip.
If you’re in the Las Vegas area this weekend, don’t miss out on the NVBHOF weekend!
Congratulations to all of the “Trilogy” inductees!
CLASS OF 2020:
CLARENCE “BONES” ADAMS
FERNANDO “EL FEROZ” VARGAS
ANDRE “SOG” WARD
AZUMAH NELSON
DANNY “LITTLE RED” LOPEZ
JAMES “LIGHTS OUT” TONEY
JOSE LUIS CASTILLO
JULIAN “THE HAWK” JACKSON
MARK “TOO SHARP” JOHNSON
MIGUEL COTTO
CARLOS PADILLA
JOSE SULAIMAN
LORENZO FERTITTA
SAMMY MACIAS
CLASS OF 2021:
FLOYD “MONEY” MAYWEATHER
ROY JONES JR.
CLASS OF 2022:
KENNEDY “KING” McKINNEY
“COOL” VINCE PHILLIPS
IRAN ‘THE BLADE” BARKLEY
RAY ‘MERCILESS” MERCER
MICHAEL “SECOND TO” NUNN
ISRAEL “EL MAGNIFICO” VAZQUEZ
MIA ST. JOHN
GARY SHAW
JERRY IZENBERG
HECTOR “MACHO” CAMACHO
BOB FOSTER
2019 NVBHOF Articles: