Stephen Blea: Head Coach for Denver Pokuice Brotherhood Boxing Team

NABF: JUne’s President Address

President’s Report – June

“Outstanding” best describes the recent NABF Convention at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana. Its success is directly attributed to each member and guest who attended. The hotel, shopping, meals, weather, (if one discounts a little humidity) all added to good time had by all.

The Executive Committee worked very hard to insure that each attendee was comfortable, informed, and relaxed during their stay.

The time, effort, and financial assistance of Gale Van Hoy and Rick Crocker, working on the raffle drawing and auction garnered over two thousand dollars to our treasury.

Not only can Robert Lenhardt give legal advice but he also was our Master of Ceremonies, and should possibly consider stand up comedy.

The hotel staff was extremely efficient in meeting the needs of the guests and did so in a friendly and caring manner.

We were delighted to have our Champion’s (Wilberth Uicab, Irma Sanchez, Chauncy Welliver, and former Champion, Joe Hipp) present throughout.

Having four (4) division, eight (8) time World Champion, Roy Jones Jr.attend the banquet was a special treat. Roy freely signed autographs, posed for pictures, and spent time speaking with the members.

I received numerous reports of the outstanding Seminars conducted by Duane Ford, Jay Nady, Lee Peters, as well as the hand wrap demonstration by Jimbo Stephenson.

What a welcome sight to see the return of Dickie Cole, Sam Macias, Craig Hubble,
Horace and Pat Kent, Les Bonanno, ass well as the Charming, Betty Black.

The usual large contingent of Texans, Californians, New Yorker’s, Canadians, a well as the Mid-West brigade added to the success,

A well deserved Thank You to Chris Stilson, Linda Dwyer, and Steve Wolochow for a great job in handling the membership renewals and registration duties.

Let’s not forget Carlos Baeza, who for four days took photos non-stop which are prominently displayed here on the website.
I am indebted to each of you for making this a most enjoyable convention, which clearly reflected what we are all about and that is “family’ none better then this NABF Family.

All the best,
Joe Dwyer

Hurry up and Vote for WBC Champ Mia St John!!!

http://www.americanlatino.tv/awards-athletes

Canada Cares

photo: Guhdar Ali
Ed Pearson just told us about a former boxer in Edmonton, Guhdar Ali, who is now a photographer. He arranged a fundraiser at the Stollery Childrens’ Hospital to help out the family of a little boy who had large facial tumors that could only be removed by a specialist. As a result, the child will soon have an operation.
Ed says: “There’s a picture of the child with the Canadian Belt around his waist. Maybe the child is a future champion!!”
By the way, Guhdar Ali’s pictures are very cool. He’s on Facebook folks. Here’s one of NABF VP, Ed Pearson.

Anytime someone from out community does a deed so wonderful, it helps people see the positive aspects of our sport. We love win-win!

Juan Sanchez: Our Star of the Month

Here is a short interview with our NABF, VP USA, Juan Sanchez. He is a modest man, but if you read his answers carefully, you’ll see the stuff champions are made from. He stands as an example of how someone can build and rebuild a life while serving as a guiding light to others.

Jill: Tell us about your journey to America.
Juan: I was born in Cuba the son of a lawyer. When Castro took over in 1959 I left Cuba for the U.S with my younger sister. My father, mother, and my other sister could not leave Cuba until 1961.
I attended the University of Havana, graduated with a PHD in accounting and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1954. I have also Master Degrees from Louisiana State University and the University of Miami in Coral Gables.
I have known my wife since we were 7 and 9 years old respectively and have been married for 49 years.
Jill: You had to relocate to another country, and without your parents. What did you lose and what did you gain?
Juan: I lost my way of life in a country where everything was easy for me, but I gained the confidence to fight and be self sufficient.
Jill: Your background is in finance. How did you get started in boxing?
Juan: My relationship with boxing was strictly professional at the beginning. I was the partner in a multinational CPA firm that helped the WBC to obtain their non profit status with the USA Government.
I have always liked boxing. I used to attend boxing functions in Cuba as a boy. My father used to have 2 seats at the Sports Palace and I offered to be his chauffer anytime I had a chance!
Jill: What are you passionate about?
Juan: I am passionate about my family, relatives, friends and my professional career. I love boxing but it takes a back seat to my family.

Jill: If you could, what would you change?
Juan: I would not change anything. I don’t believe you can go back and change things in life. Everything happens for a reason and that is the way God wants it. In 2001 I lost my older daughter to cancer at the age of 38. This is the hardest punch that anybody can receive and yet, if God had come to me and told me when my wife was expecting her that he was going to enter into a contract with me, and allow me to have a daughter but that he will take her after 38 years, I would sign that contract without hesitation. Those were the greatest 38 years of my life.
Jill: Your hero?
Juan: My father. I don’t consider that there are heroes in sports. A hero is a person that is willing to give his life to save another.
Jill: What brings you the most pleasure?
Juan: My family and friends. I still get together with seven couples that were my classmates (both husbands and wives) in elementary school.
I am very proud to have been the first non WASP, Latin American person to become a partner in one of the biggest Certified Public Accounting firms in the world
Jill: Tell me about your life in relations to our sport?
Juan: I don’t live for boxing, but I treasure the friends that I have acquired during my 30 year association with the WBC, and especially with the Sulaiman family, During most of my time with the WBC I have been the Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer and supervised a great number of important fights.. As for the NABF, it’s an honor and privilege to work with Joe Dwyer, Rex Walker and other members of the NABF.
Jill: What about the decline in popularity of boxing in the US?
Juan: Boxing will make a come back in the US. At this moment is experiencing a bad period because of the greed of boxers and certain promoter, but the water always levels off.
Jill: How would you like to be remembered?
Juan: As an honest, loyal and good professional.

Martinez Speaks Out Against Domestic Abuse

For Immediate Release:

MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION SERGIO MARTINEZ CALLS FOR A BOXING INITIATIVE AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

(Oxford, CA – April 20, 2010) Newly crowned world champion Sergio Martinez won the biggest fight of his career last Saturday night, a stunning and emphatic decision over Kelly Pavlik to capture the WBC and WBO world middleweight championship belts.

Now, he’s joining a fight of even greater significance.

In the wake of the tragic murder of Edwin Valero’s wife Jennifer Viera, and Valero’s subsequent suicide, Martinez is making his voice heard, taking a stand against violence against women.

“I love and respect women. Violence against women is simply unacceptable. The great number of cases, too often involving athletes, requires action.” said Martinez. “I have always confided in my mother and consider myself to be a momma’s boy; women must be respected, not abused.”

Like in the ring, where Martinez is known to back up his words, he promises that his stance against domestic violence is more than just lip service. He plans begin a campaign in the boxing community to reinforce that fighting is meant for the ring, not for the home.

“Sergio is going to petition the different sanctioning bodies and the different boxing dignitaries to make them know he is serious in this effort,” said Martinez’s advisor, Sampson Lewkowicz. “We can create a foundation that makes a world of difference to women everywhere.”

Martinez has also asked his promoter, Lou DiBella, to enlist the help of the Boxing Promoters Association in this effort.

“I am proud of Sergio for attempting to use his newfound fame to help address a terrible problem, which must be eradicated,” said DiBella.

It is the hope of Martinez that as he travels the world as a champion, he will be able to help spread this message.

“My middleweight championship gives me a voice,” said Martinez. “I will use this voice in an effort to protect women from senseless violence and abuse.”

Contact:
DiBella Entertainment – 212-947-2577

Alex Dombroff – alex@dbe1.com
Meredith Greenberg – meredith@dbe1.com

Rhonda Utley-Herring

Two weeks ago was the COMBATT Award Dinner. Many of our great boxers attended and paid tribute to the organization and the children it’s helped over the years. Joe Frazier, Mark Breland, Al Cole, Harold & Julie Lederman, Melvina & Doc Lathan are just some of the people who were there. The founder is Larry Hazard but the CEO and driving wheel is our Rhonda Utley-Herring… our NABF Star of the Month!

Larry Hazard may have been the dreamer, but Rhonda was the dream maker. She is the CEO of COMBATT. “As the CEO, I have to keep all the wheels turning for a smooth ride. I write all of the grants and plan all of the activities . Larry Hazard does a wonderful job in legitimizing our organization and working daily with the children, mentoring, tutoring and training them for adulthood. He also supervises all of the staff & volunteers on a daily bases. Together, we’ve been able to help many youth and their families overcome some of their many challenges. Our most accomplished student, Ms. Tabatha Younger, has been in our program since our inception. She graduated from high school two years ago an honor student for three years. Tabatha also received scholarships from boxing organizations for her accomplishments both inside and outside of the ring.”

Rhonda grew up with thoughts of becoming a dentist – that changed after she took an internship at a dentist’s office. Rhonda admits she was not a boxing fan; but in 1980 she entered the boxing industry in an intern position at the New Jersey Office of the State Athletic Commissioner as part of the governor’s summer program initiative for college students. She began her initiation into the sport of boxing with one of New Jersey’s greatest boxing champions, Jersey Joe Walcott, who was the state athletic commissioner at that time. In 1985, Rhonda was hired full-time as a MIS technician by then commissioner, Larry Hazard, Sr., who groomed Rhonda to become a boxing administrator and taught her most of what she knows about boxing. Rhonda was proud to be a part of the historic meeting that led to the plan often referred to as the “Association of Boxing Commissions Unified Championship Rules”. She is also the first female as well as African American elected official to the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC).

.After leaving the commission, Utley-Herring was tapped to head the amateur boxing organization, Community Organization Making Better Alternatives Today for Tomorrow, Inc., (C.O.M.B.A.T.T.), which Utley-Herring co-founded in 1996 and incorporated in 2002. Under Rhonda’s leadership as CEO of the non-profit organization, C.O.M.B.A.T.T. has expanded its social services provided for boxers to three cities, Newark, Irvington and Jersey City, NJ.

She is the founder of the Frederick Douglass Achievement Award, which is an academic youth scholarship. Other organizational leadership positions formerly held by Rhonda include, president and vice president of the Trenton State Psychiatric Hospital Board of Trustees (11 years membership and seven years as an officer), president of the Visiting Nurses Association Community Services Board of Directors, president of the La Debu Debutantes Alumni Association, fund development chairperson of the National Urban League Young Professionals and a founding member, treasurer (and member) of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church and member of the Mercer County Black Business Association. Current affiliations/memberships include, National Consortium of Certified Public Managers, Greenway Wetlands Preservation Society, New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee (2004), Rider College Alumni Association, Rutgers University Alumni Association, and the NAACP.

Rhonda currently resides in Trenton, NJ. Daughter of the late Alcine and the late Shirley K. Utley, Jr. She enjoys attending and watching all combative sports, professional football, reading, creative and screen writing, community service, shopping, traveling, theater, movies, backgammon, music, “ladies’ day of spa treatments” with her best friends, Roxanne and Carolyn, and spending quality time with her precious pet French poodle, Colbie.

We are very proud to have Rhonda as a friend of the NABF and a pivotal part of the boxing community. Where others talk-the-talk, Rhonda walks-the-walk. We thank her for all she does for our sport and the youth who are lucky enough to have her as their guiding light.

NABF CONVENTION

A Nuestros Amigos Que Hablan Español:

Si ustedes tienen alguna pregunta, nuestro Presidente, Joe Dwyer, ha organizado que Benjamín y Monique Rendón los ayuden. Ellos traducirán toda la información pertinente. Sepan que hay muchos miembros del personal del hotel que también hablan Español.
Estamos entregados al hecho de que ustedes la pasen bien y disfruten y tenemos muchas ganas de verlos en Nueva Orleans!!

NABF AWARDS 2009

New York, April 9 – President Joe Dwyer has announced the winners of the NABF’s yearly awards, to be presented at the organization’s annual convention which will take place from June 9-12, 2010, at the Royal Sonesta in the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana.

“We had a great year, and all of the recognition accorded to the winners is hard-earned and well-deserved,” said Dwyer, who refers to the NABF as the Triple A of professional boxing.

“As good of a year as we’ve had, we are not going to rest on our laurels,” he continued. “There is a lot of good boxing in store for the future.”

This year’s recipients are:

Fight of the Year

Johnathan Banks TKO 6 Travis “Freight Train” Walker: The hard-punching Walker, 34-4-1 (28 KOS), outweighed Banks, now 24-1 (17 KOS), by 20 pounds when they squared off for the vacant heavyweight title in Germany in March. The fight was filled with many ebbs and flows, but when the dust settled it was Banks whose hand was raised in victory. The bout was promoted by K2 Promotions, as the lead-in to the Wladimir Klitschko-Eddie Chambers world heavyweight title bout.

Fighter of the Year

Wilbert Uicab, 27-5-1 (16 KOS), of Mexico has already made 5 defenses of the NABF flyweight title that he won in January 2009. Although his last bout, against Anthony Villarreal in February 2010, was ruled a no contest because of an accidental clash of heads, it is expected that the always busy Uicab will be back with a vengeance in the very near future.

Most Dramatic Fight

Willie Lee W 10 Alex Bunema: Lee or Bunema are never in dull fights, but their August 2009 thriller for the vacant light middleweight crown exceeded all expectations. Both well-traveled warhorses were hurt and looked as if they could have been stopped on several occasions. In a fight that could have gone either way, the Mississippi-based Lee, now 17-6 (11 KOS), eked out a spilt decision over Bunema, now 31-7-2 (17 KOS), a native of the Congo who fights out of Tennessee.

Prospect of the Year

Vanes Martirosyan: Less than one month after stopping Willie Lee in three rounds to win the vacant NABF light middleweight title, the 23-year-old Martirosyan, a 2004 Olympian, enthusiastically embarked on the biggest challenge of his career. He squared off against the rugged and resilient former world champion Kassim Ouma of Uganda. In a seesaw battle of wills, Martirosyan, now 27-0 (17 KOS), outworked the crafty Ouma, now 26-7-1 16 KOS), and secured his spot as a legitimate top-10 contender.

Female Fighter of the Year

Irma Sanchez: The 22-year-old flyweight from Mexico turned professional in August 2006, but has already won multiple titles, including the vacant NABF crown from Susana Morales in October 2010. Since that sterling victory, she has fought twice more, picking up the WBC female youth title along the way. With a record of 17-3-1 (5 KOS), she is all-action, all the time.

Female Promoter of the Year

Hector Garcia: Having promoted his very first card just four years ago in a venue with a capacity of 100 people, Garcia has moved forward at a breakneck pace. He has made boxing a thriving sport in Guadalajara, Mexico, which was the site of many of the 11 female championship bouts and 40 male title bouts that he has promoted.

Matchmaker of the Year

Bobby Goodman: The Hall of Fame matchmaker has decades of experience in developing future champions. Long considered one of the few matchmakers by which all others should be compared, Goodman works for Square Ring Inc., which promoted numerous NABF contests over the past year

Promoter of the Year

Square Ring, Inc.: With John Wirt as its CEO, Square Ring kept the career of the legendary Roy Jones Jr. alive in 2009. Promoting fights between Jones and Omar Sheika and Jeff Lacy, led to much bigger bouts for Jones against local hero Danny Green in Australia and a long-awaited grudge match against Bernard Hopkins. On the undercard of Jones-Hopkins were two highly competitive NABF title fights, featuring super featherweights Jason Litzau vs. Rocky Juarez and light heavyweights Ismayl Sillakh vs. Daniel Judah.

President’s Award

Gale Van Hoy: One of the original members of the NABF, Van Hoy’s long and meritorious contributions to the organization are tremendous. Each year he runs a memorabilia auction that raises funds for the NABF treasury. Whenever he is asked, and even when he isn’t, Van Hoy is quick to assist in any endeavor that will enhance the reputation of boxing in general, and the NABF in particular.

FEMALE DIVISION:
Irma Sanchez – Fighter of the Year
Hector Garcia – Promoter

NABF AWARDS, 2009

* Boxing

Fighter of the Year-Wilbert Uicab,Mexico

Prospect of the Year- Vanes Martirosyan,- USA

Promoter of the Year- Square Ring Inc. ( John Wirt, C.E.O.)

Matchmaker of the Year- Bob Goodman, Square Ring Inc.

Fight of the Year- Jonathan Banks/ Travis Walker (K2 Promotions)

Most Dramatic Fight-Willie Lee/Alex Bunema (Rumble Time Promotions)

President’s Award- Gale Van Hoy

Female Fighter – Irma Sanchez

Promoter (Female Division) – Hector Garcia