Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame MEET & GREET!

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Exclusive Photos: Champs at Caesars

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The 4th Annual Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame (NVBHOF) Induction weekend got off to a bang with a special “Meet & Greet” event hosted by the NVBHOF. This Friday gathering was held in the Palace Ballroom level located in the one and only Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Fighters and fans flocked to the Mecca of Boxing to take part in this 2016 Meet & Greet with over 45 champs, boxers, 2016 inductees, trainers, cornerman and luminaries of the sport joining the festivities. For over five hours, attendees were treated to an impressive lineup including Hasim Rahman, Ricardo “Finito” Lopez, Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, Riddick Bowe, Jessie Vargas, Terry Norris, Shawn Porter, Badou Jack, Joel Casamayor, Zab Judah, Paulie Ayala, Stevie Forbes, Kevin Kelley, Ishe Smith, James “Quick” Tillis, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Mike McCallum, Christy Martin, Laura Serrano, Ava Knight, Ana Julaton, Paul Banke, Verno Phillips, Devin Haney, JJ Mariano, Bones Adams, Richard Steele, James “Smitty” Smith, Thell Torrence, Dewey Cooper, Rafael Garcia, Colonel Bob Sheridan and many, many more.

NVBHOF President and Founder Rich Marotta and COO Michelle Corrales-Lewis welcomed all the champs into town for this prestigious affair in which 11 inductees were crowned as the 2016 Class of Inductees.

teamvargasMany of the prizefighters took time from their busy schedules to participate in the event. Local belt holder Jessie Vargas got a lot of attention as talk began to swirl of his upcoming fight against Manny Pacquiao. Looks like the hometown hero will be facing Pacman in November. Always humble, Vargas and his team posed for countless photos with the boxing fans, staying for hours in the ballroom area as well wishers stopped by to say hello to the champ.

And it was a veritable reunion of sorts for many of the boxers and special guests who got the chance to reconnect after many years. Friday’s kickoff event was a knockout day with a steady stream of spectators entering the Meet & Greet zone.

There was a complimentary photo booth for the champions and fans sponsored by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and President Mauricio Sulaiman. The booth offered everyone a golden opportunity to hoist up a shiny belt as the flashbulbs clicked. The popular photo booth was manned by the X Factor Photo Booth team (Raymond Spencer and Paul Hernandez) and was located right next to the WBC booth (helmed by Nancy Rodriguez) with souvenirs for the attendees. Fans could purchase commemorative shirts and jackets (Eddie Sanchez and Fermintation Guerrero), mini belts, hats and more.

It was a blast seeing everyone and also making new acquaintances with some out-of-town guests and first-time attendees who loved seeing all the festivities take place.

Since 2013, the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame has owned the town with their splashy–and classy–Induction Gala and Awards Ceremony.

There were many loyal returnees supporting the weekend bash coinciding with Caesars’ 50th Anniversary.

Sculptor and boxing trainer Steve Harpst’s bronze awards were presented to the 11 inductees on stage at the gala. Harpst and the famed sportscaster Rich Marotta go way back and the artist is happy to see Rich’s organization reach such dazzling heights of success in a relatively short amount of time. Steve is honored to be attending the inductions for the fourth year in a row.

There was a ton of support for the nonprofit NVBHOF with vendors lining the hallways showcasing their wares including gloves, shirts, posters, and more. Sponsor Hovo Ayranjyan’s exhibit featured the boxing gloves that were Saturday’s centerpieces. The white glove had a portrait of the fighting inductees by painter John Barge III, who was also at the Friday bash. Hovo and his father’s company (Nazo Boxing) is known for their quality sports equipment and custom souvenir gloves seen at many high-profile fights. This is Hovo’s second year joining forces with the NVBHOF and he says they’re always a pleasure to work with. The glove centerpiece was flanked by a red floral arrangement which made for an eye-catching display.

Rick Nieto (iboxcollectibles) also had a booth at the Meet & Greet. Rick’s white mini boxing rings were given to the 11 inductees on Saturday night as well. I also visited with the guys at the Heavyweight Champs Cigars booth. I had a blast chatting with Chico Sherwood, the Oklahoma entrepreneur who’s line of cigars feature heavyweights Riddick Bowe, James Toney, Lamon Brewster, Chris Byrd and Ray Mercer. “Big Daddy” Bowe took time to autograph the premium cigars for the lucky attendees who made a purchase at the booth.

All the fighters said they enjoyed spending time with their fellow champs and meeting their fans.

And the fans told me this was one event not to be missed. The chance to get coveted autographs, shake the hands of their favorite fighter, and take epic selfies with their heroes were all priceless moments provided by the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame!

WBC Photo Booth Video:

Photos by Michele Chong

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