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Looking back to the beginning of the SJC Boxing program in Ft.
Myers, Florida, it is hard to imagine the progress which has been made
in such a relatively short time.
On March 23, 1992, an organizational meeting was called to gauge the interest in the community concerning amateur boxing. Surprisingly, twenty three potential members attended--boxers, coaches, sponsors, and officials.
During 1993 and 1994, the SJC Amateur Boxing Team boasted twenty-eight state gold medalists, six regional, one national champion, and numerous "Outstanding team" trophies. Three fighters were selected as outstanding boxers of various tournaments, two won awards as "Outstanding Youth of Lee County," and one, "Outstanding Citizen of Cape Coral." Amateur shows were promoted regularly with teams from all over the country participating.
In 1995, our good friend and fellow amateur coach, Larry Willis, was given an opportunity to run a new program with P.A.L. of Ft. Myers. The Cape Coral police department also set up a program, as did Marc Hager and Bob Alexander, in Punta Gorda.
Secure in the knowledge that the amateurs would be in good hands, SJC Boxing turned its attention primarily toward professional boxing. Some of our amateurs turned pro, while others moved here to begin or continue their professional careers.
In October 1995, we promoted our first professional show in Florida. We began our tradition of honoring an all-time great at these shows. Our first guests were Carmen Basilio and Hank Kaplan. Freddie Pendleton and Winky Wright were also in attendance. The SJC boxers were sensational that night, and twelve more local shows followed over the next three years Subsequent guests included Gene Fullmer, Emanuel Steward and Danell Nicholson, Christy Martin, Beau Jack, Kid Gavilan, Angelo Dundee, Aaron Pryor, Jose Torres, Gerry Cooney, Johnny Saxton, and Curtis Cokes.
We promoted the first casino boxing in the state of Florida (at the Seminole Indian Casino, Immokalee), and the first broadcast of boxing live on the Internet, on May 23, 1997. Several SJC boxers have moved into the ratings of various organizations, and some have won titles. The combined record of our current team is 135-31-10 with 74 KO's. We have fought in places such as Scotland, Germany, Denmark, Australia, the Bahamas, New York, and Las Vegas, which is the spiritual home of gambling, but also a boxing mecca.
On a personal note, I have the greatest boxing wife in the business, Mary Lynn. She has become an accomplished cornerperson and helps tremendously with whatever she does. I have one of the best trainers in the business with Carmen Richards, and I now do a segment each week on a national radio talk show,(Smitty's Sport Talk) via telephone, from Las Vegas.
As we look back, I want to say a sincere thank you to those who have made all these things possible, and as we look forward to continued success, future major world titles, and great financial rewards, I can assure you, you will not be forgotten along the way.
MARY LYNN AT RINGSIDE
After a thirty-four year "courtship," Steve and I were married at our home in Ft. Myers in June, 1996. Up to this point, my involvement in SJC Boxing had been to fly down from Illinois for the shows in Punta Gorda and Immokolee. I would get all dressed up and help Dr. Danny Tufariello run the promotion while Steve was running the corner.
It was all very exciting and glamorous; quite a change from my day job as a high school English teacher. The month after our marriage, Steve was able to finagle a plane ticket for me to New York as a cornerperson for Felika Correa's fight against Arturo Gatti in Madison Square Garden.
For my debut, the only instruction I remember getting was to make sure I didn't drop Felika's mouthpiece in the spit bucket. A more pressing personal concern was to not fall off the corner steps while on national T.V. My debut, and what turned out to be Felika's last fight that evening, were eclipsed by the "riot" that followed Golota's disqualification for low blows against Bowe.
Since then, I have worked innumerable corners with Steve and Carmen, and am proud to say I have yet to drop a mouthpiece or fall off the steps.
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