Announcer plans Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame
When Rich Marotta moved to Reno from Southern California in 2005, he assumed Nevada had a boxing hall of fame. When he found out it didn’t exist, he decided to do something about it.
Marotta, a longtime boxing television analyst, has formed the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, and the first class will be announced in December.
“I couldn’t believe that Nevada, which has such a rich boxing history, didn’t have a hall of fame,” Marotta said. “This is a way to honor the people who contributed to make boxing what it is in the state.”
Voting will be conducted by a panel of directors, which includes referee Richard Steele, boxer Wayne McCullough, former Review-Journal boxing writer Kevin Iole, longtime radio talk show host Dave Cokin and local Spanish radio talk show host Alvaro Puentes.
Initially, there will be seven categories – boxers (Nevada resident and non-Nevada resident), non-boxer participants (trainers and managers), officials (referees and judges), media, executives (commission members), promotions (promoters, matchmakers, ring announcers, publicists) and special contributors.
The hall plans an annual dinner ceremony starting in August in Las Vegas and will also hand out state awards for Nevada Fight of the Year, Nevada Fighter of the Year, Top Female Fighter, Prospect of the Year and Best Amateur Fighter.
“Normally, I wouldn’t be in favor of having yet another hall of fame,” Marotta said. “But when you think about the history of boxing in Nevada, not just in Las Vegas, it’s so rich, you almost have to have one.”
Marotta is putting up the money to start the hall of fame, and he’s hoping to generate enough interest to be able to solicit donations and sponsorships to offset the costs.
A building to house the hall is a long-term project. For now, recognition will come from the awards dinner and the website – nvbhof.com.
But Marotta also wants to give back to the state and is hoping his nonprofit, charitable organization will be able to donate funds to the club boxing teams at UNLV and UNR.
■ PACQUIAO ARRIVES – Manny Pacquiao is in Los Angeles and will begin his six-week training camp Monday to prepare for his Dec. 8 fight with Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden.
Pacquiao usually begins his training in the Philippines. But for this fourth meeting with Marquez, Pacquiao opted to do all his training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
Pacquiao arrived in Los Angeles late Saturday, and he will remain there until fight week, when he will stay at Mandalay Bay, which is customary when he fights in Las Vegas.
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said fewer than 1,000 tickets remain available for the fight.
■ CHAVEZ NOT ON AGENDA – Former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s disciplinary hearing before the Nevada Athletic Commission will have to wait after Chavez’s attorney said he needed more time.
Chavez tested positive for marijuana metabolites after his Sept. 15 decision loss to Sergio Martinez at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The NAC meets Tuesday, and Chavez is not on the agenda. Executive director Keith Kizer said he expected Chavez, who remains under temporary suspension, to have his case heard in December.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.