Boxing
Former amateur national champion, professional boxer and current manager and trainer John Bray is being elected into the California Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2009. John began his amateur boxing career in 1980 and eventually would win seven national titles with an outstanding record of 124-12. Bray had his most notable win as an amateur winning his second gold medal at the 1991 U.S. Olympic Festival in Los Angeles against Melvin Foster. John would receive his gold medal alongside future world champions Oscar De la Hoya and Raul Marquez.
Bray turned professional in 1992 and ended his career with a final record of 15-3-2. John had the opportunity to be mentored by historic trainers such as Angelo Dundee, Lou Duva, George Benton, Tommy Brooks, Joe Goosen and Richie Giachetti. After retirement John served as sparring partners for Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, and Mike McCallum. Bray then suffered a near fatal stroke in 1999 and walked away from boxing with the notion that he would never return.
John did return to boxing and started training fighters. He eventually led Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero to his first IBF world featherweight championship, Miguel Espino to the WBC CABOFE middleweight championship and Art Simonian to the USBA junior featherweight championship. Last year John was chosen to serve as a trainer for the “Contender TV Series” and also founded the John Bray Boxing Foundation, a non-profit organization steered towards keeping at-risk youth off the streets while creating a safe haven for them to pursue their dreams.
When asked about his feelings on the election, John stated that, “I’m very humbled to be in the position that I’m currently in. To be elected into the California Boxing Hall of Fame is truly an honor and the biggest achievement in my boxing career. I’m very surprised that I was elected because I’m only 38 years old. About ten years ago I had a stroke and never thought I would be training boxers let alone functioning at a normal level. I have been truly blessed by GOD and appreciate all the support throughout the years from everyone in the boxing community and my family. I also want to note that I’m being inducted alongside some very good friends of mine; Alex “the Bronx Bomber” Ramos and PJ Goosen along with my long-time friend and mentor Ken Greene who I’ve known for years. They all have contributed significantly to the boxing community.”
Bray also went on to note the following, “I want to thank Don Fraser and the California Boxing Hall of Fame, my family and friends, Jerry Gonzalez for all his hard work with public relations and helping me establish the Foundation, as well as the boxing community as a whole. Being inducted is truly an honor, but at the same time, I’m using it as a motivating factor to work harder and to continue producing champions.
The induction ceremony is scheduled to place on Saturday, September 26, 2009 in the Crystal Ballroom at Stevens Restaurant located in the City of Commerce . Tickets for the induction ceremony can be purchased by contacting Don Fraser with the California Boxing Hall of Fame at 818-761-4887
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