Charles Hank Henry Needs Prayers & Cards

DEAR BUTCH & MARYANN,
HANK HAS BEEN GETTING CARDS AND PICTURES ON A DAILY BASIS. JIM & I BOTH KNOW THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU KINDNESS & CONCERN FOR HANK. HE WAS THRILLED TO GET THE CERTIFICATE INTO THE WORLD BOXING COUNCIL AS A HONORARY MEMBER. IT LITERALLY BROUGHT TEARS TO HIS EYE’S. ALL HE KEEPS SAYING IS THAT HE WANTS PEOPLE TO REMEMBER HIM AS SOMEONE WITH A TALENT, NOT A BUM. WE HAVE HAD GOOD DAYS AND OF COURSE BAD DAYS, BUT WE ARE GETTING ALOT OF SUPPORT FROM HOSPICE, DAY NURSES AND THE CHAPLIN. WE ARE
ALSO TRYING TO GET HELP FROM THE VETERANS ASSOC. TO HELP WITH HIS NEEDS.
PLEASE KEEP ALL THE PRAYERS AND CARDS COMING, I REALIZE IT’S ALOT TO ASK BUT HE LOOKS FORWARD TO THEM, AND TRUST ME HE IS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THEM ALL. MY ONLY WISH IS THAT HE COULD HAVE FULFILLED HIS DREAM AND CORNERED AT LEAST (1) PROFESSIONAL FIGHT. WE CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR MAKING WHAT LITTLE TIME HE HAS TO LIVE HAVE QUALITY & HAPPINESS GIVEN TO HIM BY HIS EXTENDED FAMILY.

REGARDS,

JIM & ANDREA HENRY

XXXXXXXX
Our team cutman Hank is very ill with Cancer, he recently relocated from Vegas to Georgia to live with his family. I am asking all the boxers & the boxing community if they would send Hank a card, this would lift his spirits and make him so happy. I am trying to flood Hank with get well wishes, I want him to know we are all thinking about him. Hank is also a Viet Nam War Hero.

Charles Hank Henry
468 Copper Creek Circle
Pooler, Georgia 31322
Thank you so much,
Mary Ann & Butch / infinity boxing LLC

Charles Hank Henry Needs Prayers & Cards

DEAR BUTCH & MARYANN,
HANK HAS BEEN GETTING CARDS AND PICTURES ON A DAILY BASIS. JIM & I BOTH KNOW THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU KINDNESS & CONCERN FOR HANK. HE WAS THRILLED TO GET THE CERTIFICATE INTO THE WORLD BOXING COUNCIL AS A HONORARY MEMBER. IT LITERALLY BROUGHT TEARS TO HIS EYE’S. ALL HE KEEPS SAYING IS THAT HE WANTS PEOPLE TO REMEMBER HIM AS SOMEONE WITH A TALENT, NOT A BUM. WE HAVE HAD GOOD DAYS AND OF COURSE BAD DAYS, BUT WE ARE GETTING ALOT OF SUPPORT FROM HOSPICE, DAY NURSES AND THE CHAPLIN. WE ARE
ALSO TRYING TO GET HELP FROM THE VETERANS ASSOC. TO HELP WITH HIS NEEDS.
PLEASE KEEP ALL THE PRAYERS AND CARDS COMING, I REALIZE IT’S ALOT TO ASK BUT HE LOOKS FORWARD TO THEM, AND TRUST ME HE IS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THEM ALL. MY ONLY WISH IS THAT HE COULD HAVE FULFILLED HIS DREAM AND CORNERED AT LEAST (1) PROFESSIONAL FIGHT. WE CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR MAKING WHAT LITTLE TIME HE HAS TO LIVE HAVE QUALITY & HAPPINESS GIVEN TO HIM BY HIS EXTENDED FAMILY.

REGARDS,

JIM & ANDREA HENRY

XXXXXXXX
Our team cutman Hank is very ill with Cancer, he recently relocated from Vegas to Georgia to live with his family. I am asking all the boxers & the boxing community if they would send Hank a card, this would lift his spirits and make him so happy. I am trying to flood Hank with get well wishes, I want him to know we are all thinking about him. Hank is also a Viet Nam War Hero.

Charles Hank Henry
468 Copper Creek Circle
Pooler, Georgia 31322
Thank you so much,
Mary Ann & Butch / infinity boxing LLC

Joe Calzaghe’s a legend but Howard Winstone was Wales’ best ever

Sep 16 2009 by Martin Williams, Daily Post

JOE CALZAGHE will probably go down as the greatest Welsh fighter of all time, but for me Howard Winstone deserves that accolade.

And in one of the proudest days in this country’s boxing history, the former featherweight champ, who passed away in 2000, was inducted into the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) Hall of Fame last Thursday.

Winstone, from Merthyr Tydfil, got the posthumous accolade 41 years after he was crowned WBC Featherweight Champion.

To mark the decision, Howard Winstone Jnr and Welsh Ex-Boxers’ Association Secretary Don James were presented with a medallion and certificate of induction in Winstone’s honour at the association’s annual convention.

Fighters past and present, including current British and Commonwealth champion Nathan Cleverly, ex-WBC world number one Glenn Catley and up-and-coming Merthyr fighter Ryan Evans, were just some of the names at the convention at Pontypridd’s Rhydyfelin Non-Political Club.

Howard Winstone Jr said: “The WBC is the most prestigious championship in boxing. This is the highest honour any boxer can get.”

The battler must be held in high regard because he joins an elite list of fighters to have been inducted, including former opponent Vincente Saldivar.

Neil McEvoy who supported the induction and helped from behind the scenes, told Ringside View: “Howard Winstone now takes his rightful place among all the all time greats. Boxing is engrained in Welsh culture, history and folklore.

“I will now lobby for Jimmy Wilde, Jim Driscoll and our Joe Calzaghe to get the same honour.

“Wales is a small nation but we are among the most successful nations in the world when it comes to boxing, no country can boast so many great champions from such a small cohort.

“Boxing is the Welsh number one sport if you just measure by success.”

So what about Winstone’s career? I’m too young to have seen him live but have had the privilege of watching footage of the great man in action and was stunned by his skill and speed.

Born in 1939, he racked up an impressive record of 61-6 (KO 27) after winning a gold medal at the British Empire games in Cardiff as an amateur in 1958.

And what an amateur career – 83 wins from 86 contests.

After turning professional in 1959 it was not long before he took on Terry Spinks for the British Featherweight title, stopping him in the 10th.

In 1963 he took the European Featherweight title from Italy’s Alberto Serti with an impressive 14th-round stoppage in Cardiff, before taking on Mexican Saldivar in 1965 in the first of three unsuccessful, yet epic, attempts to win the WBA and WBC world titles.

However, the Merthyr man did eventually win the WBC title when Saldivar vacated in 1968. He outclassed Japanese fighter Mitsuori Seki at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

It was to be another masterful performance of boxing as he controlled the action and wore down his opponent, who had to be pulled out with a bad cut in the ninth round with Winstone well on top.

Winstone, like Wilde and eventually Calzaghe, will be remember fondly by Welsh sports fans for many decades to come.

Children’s Aid Society

From: McLeod, Scott
Subject: THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TIME WITH US
To: “Jason Belinkie” , “jdiamond@neverhitalady.com”
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2009, 5:32 PM

Jason & Jill -

On behalf of The Children’s Aid Society and the youth from the Next Generation Center and the LINC program, I wanted to extend our sincerest thanks to you and to all of the athletes and individuals that traveled out this past Friday (in the rain!) to speak to our kids. It is a rare occasion that people with the background and accomplishments of your athletes and guest speakers choose to venture out to the South Bronx to talk to & motivate our kids about their own potential and path to success. I would also like to mention the truly unexpected way that each of the speakers spent time interacting with both the kids and staff members following the presentation. It was in that time that we were able to see each of the kids open up and engage with the speakers and sharing their own stories and experiences.….and it was during that part that the real lasting impact was made.

Our thanks to Athletes for Hope & WBC World Boxing Cares for all of the great work and time spent helping to make this event a reality. Please pass along our thanks to the speakers for giving of their time. We hope to work with you again in the near future.

Best,

Scott

Just some of the Girls (and a guy… and a dog)!

Dr Walkun, Alicia Ashley, Jill Emery, Ann Saccurato,Chikla Nakamura, Fire, Jill Diamond, Mia St John, Francisco Mendez, Sparkle Lee, Belinda Laraquente

Obama Day of Service

In conjunction with the Obama Administration and Athletes for Hope, WBC World Boxing Cares spent the afternoon at Children’s Aid Society, South Bronx, with Juvenile Offenders who were transitioning back to society.  They were an almost  shy but attentive audience.  The boxers really gave of themselves and I believe that we made a difference in these youngster’s lives. At the end of the event, we signed pictures and let them take the wonderful give-aways the Reyes family has repeatedly donated, and some great wristbands Alain designed.  Afterward, we hung out with the teens. This is a difficult day, 9/11 — Hopefully, we replaced some of the  madness with kindness. A good time was had by all!

We thank: Brian Adams, Ann Saccurato, Sparkle Lee, Whitney Steiner, Jill Emery, Spider, Sean Connolly, Alica Ashley and Amadeus for giving their time and they wisdom.

Boys, Bats, and Belts!

Today at the Pacquaio vs Cotto Press Conference at Yankee Stadium, NYC… all drooled over the Diamond Belt!

SPECTACULAR NIGHT OF FEMALE AMATEUR BOXING ALONG WITH ANNUAL COAT DRIVE

Contact: Cha Ross-Estes, Publicist
Phone: 202-255-3797
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC, September 9- Female Amateur boxers will showcase high energy fights in the “ROAD TO LONDON” Series. Women in Support Together (W.I.S.T.) will host their First Annual Coat Drive. Attendees are encouraged to bring their new or gently used coat and deposit them in the “Knock Out” drop box. All coats collected during the drive will be donated and distributed to men, women and children at homeless shelters, and centers for battered women across the metropolitan area.

“The Road to London” series are our signature events, however W.I.S.T.’s goals are to direct their attention to the many needs of our community. With temperatures getting colder everyday and more people without constant shelter, we are delighted to be able to assist as many as we can,” comments Wanda Bruce, President of Women in Support Together.

Women in Support Togethers most recent event was held at Rosecroft Raceway in August and was a huge success with the attendance well over 550 cheering boxing fans. Ask anyone who attended and they’ll be sure to tell you the 13 fights were some of the best female boxing entertainment in the area. Legendary Gary “Digital” Williams will emcee this hard-hitting boxing event at Rosecroft Raceway, 6336 Rosecroft Drive, Ft. Washington, MD 20744 at 6:00 p.m.

The show is sanctioned by Potomac Valley Association, USA Boxing. Doors open at 5pm with the first Bout at 6pm. Tickets are on sale now and are affordably priced at $40 for VIP, $20 for general admission and $10 for children under 8.

For more information, please visit the Women in Support Together’s website at www.fightlady.org or call 202-255-3797.

Salvador in the sky with Diamonds!

Howard Winstone inducted into WBC Hall of Fame

David Walker

WBC Goodwill Ambassador presenting the Awards

Harry Winstone’s family & Glenn Catley

In 1968 Howard Winstone fulfilled a lifelong ambition when he was crowned WBC Featherweight Champion of the world, now 41 years later the WBC have bestowed upon Winstone another accolade. On Sunday (6^th September) Howard Winstone was Inducted into the WBC Hall of Fame, being only the second British fighter to have received this prestigious honour, the first being John H Stracey.

Winstone joins an elite list of Champions who have been inducted, including his former opponent Vincente Saldivar. A certificate and medal was presented to Howard Winstone Jr. and lifelong Winstone friend Don James at the Welsh Ex-Boxers annual meeting. Presenting the awards were WBC representative David Walker, former WBC Super-Middleweight Champion Glenn Catley and Cardiff Council’s Neil McEvoy. Glenn asked the WBC if he could attend and be a part of the ceremony because Howard was such a hero of his when growing up.

It was an emotional event and his son Howard Winstone Jr thanked WBC President Jose Sulaiman for such a great honour not only for his family but all the UK, he want on to say the WBC is the most prestigious championship in Boxing this is the highest honour any boxer can get ever. Neil McEvoy who supported the induction and helped from behind the scenes said Howard Winstone now takes his rightful place among all the all time greats. Boxing is engrained in Welsh culture, history and folk lore. I will now lobby for Jimmy Wilde, Jim Driscoll and our Joe Calzaghe to get the same honour. Wales is a small nation but we are among the most successful nations in the World when it comes to boxing, no country can boast so many great champions from such a small cohort. Boxing is the Welsh Number one sport if you just measure by success.

The Certificate was personally signed by WBC President Jose Sulaiman, who became a massive fan of Howard Winstone (who passed away in 2000) ever since he saw him fight in 1968 in Mexico against Vincente Saldivar. The WBC are also now officially backing the film which follows the life of Howard Winstone called RISEN, which is being produced by Burn Hand Film Productions. The WBC are backing the World Premiere to be held in Wales at the Night of Champions 2010, the world of Boxing’s greatest and most prestigious awards ceremony.

Many great names were in attendance at the welsh Ex boxers annual meeting to watch the award ceremony including former British and Empire Champion Eddie Avoth, reigning British and Commonwealth Champion Nathan Cleverly, reigning Welsh featherweight Champion Dai Davies, former Welsh ABA Champions Kevin and son Darren Hayde and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Jamie Arthur to name a few. John H Stracey couldn’t attend but sent a message saying he was proud to have Howard as a friend. Howard was John’s boyhood hero and he still misses him now.

all photos: Felix Coles