National Boxing Hall of Fame Celebrates Contenders and Champs

National Boxing Hall of Fame Celebrates Contenders and Champs

COMMERCE, Ca.-A bevy of champions and contenders from the past met to celebrate each other and the birthday of Andy “the Hawk” Price and give Eva Jones Young an honorary WBC belt on Saturday.

Jones Young was a former world champion before the WBC sanctioned women fighters.

From New York to Mexico City the National Boxing Hall of Fame gathered at Stevens Steakhouse in Commerce, to honor each other and maintain the sport of boxing. Founded in the early 2000’s the members arrived early.

From Kansas City arrived Sumya Anani and from Mexico City several former champions stood present as the president of the organization Bill Young and wife Linda Young hosted the event.

Among those attending were Dee Collier, Frankie Duarte, Art Frias, Yaqui Lopez, Mando Muniz, Zach Padilla, Carlos Palomino, Rocky Popeli, Daniel Ponce De Leon, Gregory Puente, Gabe Ruelas, Rafael Ruelas, Paul Vaden, Mike Weaver, Tracy Weaver, Floyd Weaver, Lloyd Weaver, Israel Vazquez, Alan Santana, Danny “Lil Red” Lopez, Herman “Kid” Montes, and representatives from the WBC such as Nancy Rodriguez and Rudy Tellez.

Jones Young traveled from Indiana to receive her honor. The South Bend resident fought from super flyweight to welterweight during her career that spanned from 1996 to 2009. She won three world titles along the way and was honored by the WBC on Saturday.

Bill Young, no relation to Eva Young Jones, is the son of late great referee Dick Young. He said the organization aims to honor the sport’s greats, past and present and even the future. And especially those fighters that didn’t quite win that championship but represent the guts of the sport.

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