SJC Boxing

Happy birthday today, July 7, to Jeff Gibson, a former world heavyweight Kickboxing Champion. Jeff saw a great opportunity in South Florida while visiting Palm Beach for a seminar in 1999 and shortly after moved there.

Jeff is an 8th degree black belt, 5X national karate champion, 2X golden glove boxing champion and an inductee into the International Karate Hall of Fame. He has been involved in both martial arts and boxing as a student, instructor, business operator, and promoter. He has had the opportunity to work with and produce many world champions.

Jeff founded Elite Promotions in 2000 and has promoted many great events on Florida’s east coast ever since. More than 40 fighters who fought on his events were or ended up becoming a world champion. He even promoted an all-female card packed with world champions. Fighters from Don King, Lou Duva, Tuto Zabala Jr. and the late Howard Davis Jr. all had success with their fighters fighting on his shows. Romanian born Lucien Bute, who fought out of Canada, referred to Jeff as his first American promoter.

Jeff was inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Happy birthday my friend and many more.

As I think about Emanuel Steward, who would have been 82 today, I find it interesting that two guys who would go on to become great friends for over 40 years would share such a remarkable occurrence just a few years before they met.

In 1963, at the age of 18, Emanuel won the National Golden Gloves Championship in Chicago. In 1965, at the age of 18, Steve Canton won a European Championship in London.

Their stances, after scoring knockdowns, is identical from the opposite angle.

Note that Emanuel is in a three-roped ring. 1963 is the last year for that and they changed to the four-roped ring. In our gym is a 16' three-roped certified ring which is the oldest ring still in use in the world.

Missing you, especially today, when I would be calling you for your birthday.

Today would have been Emanuel Steward's 82nd birthday. We were friends for over 40 years and for over 30 years I would call him on his birthday (July 7) and he would call me on mine (July 11). He was two years older.

Sadly, he passed away from colon cancer on October 25, 2012. He was 68.

Emanuel had called to say goodbye but didn't want me to tell anyone. He didn't want the "parade of emotions, the tributes, 'the bothering over me.'" He just wanted to go quietly and peacefully when the time came. It came much too soon.

That day I hung a picture of Emanuel and I in the gym and everyday I go there I look at that picture. I miss him terribly as many others do. He touched people that way.

In my book, Tributes, Memories & Observation of the Sweet Science, I have a chapter on him. It was the last chapter I wrote for the book and the hardest one to write. It was written on the 1st anniversary of his death. It is called, Emanuel Steward: Everybody's Best Friend - and he was! Rest in peace my friend!

Happy birthday today to Clarence “Bones” Adams, born on July 6, 1974 in Henderson, Kentucky. “Bones” was a blue-collar type fighter with good skills and technique to go along with a big heart. He took up boxing at age five after his father took him to a boxing gym so he could learn to defend himself. I first met him when his father took him to a show I was promoting in Owensboro, Kentucky in 1979.

After compiling an outstanding amateur record of 176-4, Adams turned pro at the very tender age of 15. For three years he fought most of his bouts in the Midwest and Southern U.S., compiling a record of 26-0-1 with 15 KO’s. While the wins were over obscure opposition, it was good enough to land him a world title shot.

A very young 18-year old Adams challenged a very experienced and future hall of famer Orlando Canizales for the IBF Bantamweight title. The fight was close and in the 11th round, after a hard right by Canizales, as well as an Adams point deduction for holding behind the head, “Bones’” father and trainer Clarence Sr. unexpectedly stepped on the ring apron, stopping the fight. The cause of the stoppage was a broken jaw.

“Bones” continued to press on and went on an impressive win streak over the next seven years. He went 12-0-2 from 1994-1999 and finally got another crack at a world title, this time against bantamweight champion Nestor Garza. He won a convincing 12 round unanimous decision. After 10 years, Clarence “Bones” Adams was finally a world champion.

His final professional record stands at 44-7-4 with 20 KO’s. He always embraced his underdog role and remains another unsung hero who never truly got the respect or the big paydays that he truly deserved.

Happy birthday and many more!

Wishing a very special birthday #18 today to Florida State Champion Braydon Stewart. May all your wishes come true. Happy birthday!

Happy birthday, and many more, to former boxer and long-time friend, Ray Gunn, who was born on this day, July 5, 1961.

Happy birthday today, July 5, to former SJC amateur standout Kevin Bailey. Hope your day is as special as you are my friend.

Former welterweight champ Johnny Saxton was born 96 years ago on this day, July 4. Thinking of you on your birthday. Rest in peace my friend. Miss you.

Vinnie Vecchione would have been 81 today, but he passed away from a heart attack at the much too young age of 64 on this day, July 2, in 2009. He was a character and is sorely missed. He was the manager of "Hurricane" Peter McNeeley. Rest in peace my friend.

Happy birthday today to boxing trainer, friend and FBHOF Class of 2024 Inductee Sherman Henson. May you have many more happy and healthy ones.

On this date, July 1 in 2009, we lost Alexis Arguello. He was one of the true greats and was an exceptional, caring person, admired and respected throughout the world. Seventeen years have passed and much has changed. His memory will never fade. Rest in peace, my friend. Miss you.