This is a very personal story. As I mentioned at the end of the most recent Boxing Along The Beltway Post-Fight Wrap-Up show, I have been chosen by the District of Columbia Boxing Hall of Fame as one of the members of the hall's Induction Class of 2009!
Let me first thank the Hall of Fame for selecting me this year for this tremendous honor! I am truly blessed and thank everyone involved with the Beltway Boxing scene for their support and love.
I am a part of an outstanding class and feel truly blessed to share this honor with all of them. However, I must make special note of one person in particular -- the man I have shared a microphone with for close to 20 years -- "The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears. It has been a pleasure working with Jerome through some of the most exciting bouts in Beltway Boxing History.
Jerome and I, along with 2008 inductee Henry "Discombobulating" Jones, have traveled a lot of miles and spent a lot of time working on covering this sport. Jerome started working with the local scene filing reports for WEAA and Magic 95 radio stations in Baltimore before joining a fledging television show called Boxing Spotlight that I had the privilege to be a part of. Jerome and I have worked together ever since and the fact that Jerome and I are going into the hall together and being honored for our contributions to the local boxing scene makes this so much sweeter.
I don't have the full class of 2009 yet but here's what I know so far:
The Pro category this year features:
Former middleweight contender Andrew Council "Of War". The Lanham, MD boxer was one of the most popular competitors along the Beltway in the nineties. Council (31-8-3, 20 KO's) fought some classic world championship bouts against Keith Holmes and Bernard Hopkins and helped send former world champion Buddy McGirt into retirement with a nationally-televised ninth-round TKO on May 30, 1995 in Atlantic City, NJ.
Also going into the hall will be former six-time women's world champion the "Raging Beauty" Isra Girgrah Wynn. Wynn (28-3-2, 11 KO's)faced some of the great ladies of pro boxing during her career including Christy Martin, Tracy Byrd, Melissa Del Valle and Andrea DeShong. Wynn became a successful promoter of boxing cards with her husband, Marty.
The third pro inductee is former heavyweight competitor David "Bigfoot" Johnson. A competitor in the late 70's through the mid-80's, Johnson fought a who's who of soon-to-be heavyweight champions and contenders including Greg Page, Tony Tucker, Tim Witherspoon,James "Buster" Douglas and Renaldo Snipes.
In the amateur category will be Richard Knight and Kevin Rivers, Sr. In fact, it will be a great night for the Rivers Family because current amateur standout Kevin Rivers, Jr. will receive the Joe Balukovich award as the Outstanding Local Boxer. Rivers represented the United States at the AIBA World Championships in Milan, Italy last month.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for Friday, November 20th at Martin's Crosswinds in Greenbelt, MD -- a place that means so much to me because I called some tremendous bouts in that location.
More on this great night as info becomes available.
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11 comments:
Thats whatsup.Congrats 2 all well deserved..ARSENAL..
Long overdue but it just makes it that much sweeter.
Digital a sincere congradulations
to you and Jerome for being recognized for what you have given to the community for so long.
I will be in attendance that night
and I encourage all to be there to show appreaciation for contributions that these two men as well as the rest of the recipiants have made to the sport
of boxing.
Digital
thanks again for all your contributions,
sincerely , Scott Farmer
Gary, and Jerome,
Huge congrats on your induction.
Sitting next to you guys at ringside has been both fun and informative. Keep up the good work for another 20 years!
Brad Dudley.."The Auctioneer"
Digital & Jerome,
Can't say long overdue enough! Congratulations & looking forward to meeting the other inductees!
You have heard me sing your praises and how much you are a treasure and lifeblood to boxing here and everywhere countless times, so I will wrap it up with I love you and will see you there.
CONGRATS! 2009 DC BOXING HALL OF FAMERS!
Gary, Jerome, and Henry...congrats and thank you for your contributions to the boxing scene in this region.
Asim
"Digital",
Congrats on your induction into the D.C. Boxing H.O.F. Keep up the
great work!
Tracy L. Newman
Congratulations on a prestigious honor
Congradulations Gary well deserved and thank you for everything you do to keep this game alive.
Jake Smith
Congrats Gary and everyone else a beautiful thing is about to happen.
Digital and Jerome are truly one of the best broadcasting duos in boxing today. Both are very knowledgeable about, and enthusiastic for, the sport. They carry themselves with the utmost professionalism and class, while consistently providing unique insights into the outstanding and talented boxers who lace 'em up in one of the very best areas in the country for professional boxing - the Maryland-D.C.-Virginia corridor. Congratulations Digital, Jerome, and all of the honorees!
Digital, I remember like it was just yesterday how we came on board around the same time with Boxing Spotlight, how I went from being a Color Commentator to the Ring Announcer, bringing Fite Dr. into the fold with you. It's been -and continues to be - quite a journey and both of you deserve the honor for staying the course. We certainly have to invoke the name of our departed boxing buddy "Panama" Mike Payne for his motivation of us, and vision that we could make an impact. Thank you for helping me to keep his spirit alive!
Fellas, I will be there to share your special moment, GOD willing, and to honor my all-time favorite female fighter, Isra "The Raging Beauty" Girgrah... probably the most unsung fighting feline in history. She won more legit titles than anyone else. Period!!
I'd like to give a shout out to Andrew Council as well. His work ethic was always topnotch and now he has become a Master Trainer. That's the way to give back and keep our sport alive 'Drew.
Ok, that's it for now. Welcome on board good brothers, there's room at the inn. See you at ringside on Oct 24th for a night of Knockouts at the DC Convention Center card.. and next month at Martins Crosswind... for your own special victories. Congrats again. It's well deserved.
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