Hall-of-Fame Induction Would Be Final Accolade On Impressive Career of Ray Mercer‏

Inside the squared circle Ray “Merciless” Mercer has accomplished things that most fighters dream of but will never see come into fruition. In addition to winning a Gold Medal at the 1988 Olympics, Mercer has held the WBO and NABF Heavyweight titles, and has gone to battle with countless future hall of famers.

This past weekend Mercer was a special guest to the inductee ceremony at the International Boxing Hall of Fame—a place the fighters hopes he will be returning to soon to see his name join the legacy of so many who have contributed to the sweet science.

“This past weekend was awesome; being there and seeing Tommy Hearns, Al Bernstein, Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson, Michael Katz, Michael Buffer and Freddie Roach get inducted into the hall of fame. It was one of the best experiences of my life,” said Mercer.

“Getting inducted into the Hall of Fame would complete my career,” said Mercer. I’ve won the Gold Medal and heavyweight championship, but that would truly be great. It would make my parents, friends and fans all over proud.”

Retired from the gloved sport since 2008, Mercer has been actively working with Find A Dream—a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that reaches out to community children and provides them a healthy channel to find and work towards fulfilling a dream—the boxer has been working hard to spread awareness about the importance of providing a sanction for inner city kids to work toward a positive goal.

In recent months Find A Dream has been focusing on putting together an all-star team to help spread awareness throughout the country and help enrich the lives of inner city youth by providing them with boxing, martial arts, computer and educational programs. They recently have secured a building for their newest facility which they will be opening up shortly in South Carolina, and are focusing their efforts on opening up several other locations.

Mercer shares company with an elite team at Find A Dream, UFC legend and Hall-of-Famer Dan “The Beast” Severn, cruiserweight boxer Bobby Czyz, heavyweight KO artist Don Steele and actor Quinton Aaron, amongst several others.

In 2012 Find A Dream is striving to continue to expand and impact the lives of children throughout various communities. Find A Dream plans to spread their word through boxing and MMA events, car shows, cook-offs, concerts and more in hopes of reaching out to communities and bringing awareness of the necessity to work towards enriching the lives of our youths.

Find A Dream is a nonprofit organization unlike any other. We have partnered with professionals to deliver on our promise of positive change in young lives. Our communities become stronger when our youth is mentored through people of character with a true interest in pouring constructive, character-building activities and input into their lives.

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Sugar Ray Leonard & Tommy "Hitman" Hearns Roundtable Quotes

SUGAR RAY LEONARD, Seven-Time World Champion

On Mayweather vs. Mosley

"I see this fight as rather intriguing. I know a lot of people are leaning toward Floyd Mayweather Jr.

"Most of the time fights don't live up to expectations. But fights like this, with Mosley and Mayweather, are highly anticipated. I truly believe that this fight here, these two guys will indeed live up to expectations, because whether they say it or not, it is about bragging rights. Yeah it's about the money. Everyone wants the money, but for the guy who wins, it's bragging rights.

"I have yet to see him (Mayweather) hurt, knocked down or whatever. On the other hand I see Sugar Shane Mosley as a guy who could penetrate his impeccable defense. I had a premonition the other night and I saw a knockout by someone. I am not a guru, I am not a psychic, but I did see a knockout."

On Leonard vs. Hearns

"I remember that time so vividly in my mind. It was a fight for the undisputed welterweight crown. I trained very very hard. This fight was very special because Tommy's dominance in the division was just amazing in the way he just annihilated people. He didn't just knock guys out. He flattened guys. I guess I wasn't concerned about his punching. But at one point I recall, he hit me with a good shot, with a right hand, and I realized I could take a shot. That's why I became more aggressive.

"It was a fight of survival. Tommy brought the best out of me and I brought the best out of him. It was one of the fights that took me to the limit. It required every ounce of me physical, mentally, psychologically, and spiritually. It took all of those factors to beat Tommy Hearns.

"This happened to be a decade, an era, where guys like Ali, Frazier, Hearns, and myself surfaced. It was just meant to be."

Thoughts on the fantasy match-up of Hearns vs. Mayweather

"Tommy is a freak of nature for a welterweight. He's big, strong, powerful, has a big heart, and I don't think anyone could beat Tommy Hearns...except me.

"I don't see Mayweather-Mosley matching our fight. It's a fight that's been talked about for decades. I think it will be a great one though."

On Mayweather calling himself the best

"For Mayweather to make that statement, fighters have to believe they are bigger and better than anyone."

On the state of boxing and the history of the sport

"There is no comparison at all. Back in the day, fights were highly anticipated. There were more personalities. There were more superstars in boxing.

"It bothers me that we don't have an American heavyweight champion. To me it is a dark period right now. Boxing is a resilient sport. The amateur foundation has diminished significantly. Amateur boxers are going to be champions years later, and there needs to be more support and sponsorships for the amateur programs.

"Fear is an intricate part of my makeup but not fear in the way you define it. When I fought, it wasn't fear per se, it was concern. You want fear because that's what going to make you react to anticipated punches. There is a balancing act but fear is a thing you have to deal with. "

TOMMY "HITMAN" HEARNS, Six-Time World Champion

On Mayweather vs. Mosley

"Mayweather will try to dominate with slick punches. He may do well. Shane is going to try to test and see if Mayweather can take a shot. We have to see if he can. Shane has the ability to punch and Floyd will have to be smart and slick.

"This is going to be a very good fight. I think it is going to be a very competitive fight. It is going to be a chess match.

"I think Mayweather should do well with that style. I think Shane is going to try to test that and see how well he can get that shot in.

"I don't see it being the same as me and Ray. We set the standard and it's going to be tough to top what we did. I am proud to know Ray Leonard. Ray brought the best out of me and I think I brought the best out of him. It's going to be a great fight this Saturday night, but don't look for the same thing as happened in our fight. That was a different era.

"Shane has the ability to punch, and I think Mayweather is going to have to watch out for that."

On Leonard vs. Hearns

"As far as me and Ray Leonard, our fight was so huge that no one knew what the outcome would be.

"Ray said he has never danced before. I know he danced a few times when we fought.

"I believe in giving the fans what they paid to see. It wasn't about holding back or saving something for tomorrow or the next time. This is a moment. This is what you have to give them right now. You have to give your best

"Knowing his ability, I had to learn how to do things with my hands up and my hands down. I just kept making it that much easier for me.

"That was something that was meant to be. It wasn't something that we planned. The public wanted to see the match ups. You had to take on the next upcoming opponent. We weren't able to pick and choose who we wanted to fight. We didn't duck anybody even though we wanted to. That is what made our era so important."

Thoughts on the fantasy match-up of Leonard vs. Mayweather

"I think that Floyd would have been too small for us. We were big welterweights. Floyd is a small guy. I am not saying because he is small he wouldn't be able to do it, but it would have been very difficult. I think Ray knows more about that than I do."

On Mayweather calling himself the best

"The confidence thing is fine with me. It is good for him to have a great deal of confidence. There shouldn't be anything Shane can do to bring him down."

See you at the Fights.
Thank You for your time.
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US Olympic Alternate Danny O’Connor; Now a true professional boxer

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.– With his successful pro debut now behind him, 2008 U.S. Olympic first alternate Danny O’Connor is hoping to stay busy as well as further adjust to fighting longer rounds with smaller gloves and no headgear.

In front of a large crowd of his enthusiastic fans and escorted into the ring by a Irish bagpipe player, O’Connor turned in an impressive performance against on September 17 in Manchester (NH), using a devastating body attack en route to stopping Jose Guerrido at 1:55 of the second round, when Guerrido’s trainer – former two-time world champion Aaron Davis – threw in the towel.

“It turned out to be like me and my coaches envisioned it,” O’Connor reflected. “All of the hard training paid off. I felt good in the ring. I was a little too anxious going for the early knockout and didn’t show all of the ability I have. I’m a big body puncher. I love banging the body because it slows down the opponent and leaves open holes for my shots. That’s what happened.

“I did feel a lot of pressure fighting in front of so many of my fans and family, as well as Leon (Margules, Seminole Warriors Boxing executive director) coming up from Florida to watch me fight for the first time. But I’ve always fought well under pressure and I settled right down. It’s going to take a little while to get used to fighting with smaller gloves, but I liked fighting without head gear, and didn’t really get into the longer rounds. Punching felt different with 8-ounce gloves, but it’s something I’ll quickly adapt to. I did feel naked fighting without a shirt. I like fighting as a professional better than as an amateur.”

The 23-year-old O’Connor, fighting out of Framingham (MA), won this year’s US Future Stars National Championship, in which he was named Most Outstanding Boxer, as well as the National Golden Gloves Tournament, both in the 141-pound light welterweight division. Danny’s most notable victory as an amateur was a dominating victory, 23-3, against eventual 2008 Olympic Gold medalist Felix Diaz, of the Dominican Republic, on May 29 in a USA-Dominican Republic dual meet in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

“I really couldn’t have asked for a better result,” O’Connor’s co-manager (with Rob Valle) and head trainer David Keefe remarked. “He wasn’t hurt at all and threw some great body shots, which will serve him well as he moved up. I’m also very happy with the promotional pick we made with Leon and Seminole Warriors Boxing.”

Among the celebrities watching O’Connor’s pro debut were legendary boxers Roberto Duran and Tommy Hearns, who won the same National Golden Gloves light welterweight title in 1977 as Danny did this year, Hall of Fame trainer Angelo Dundee, and members of he pop group “Boys Like Girls.” Keefe’s brother John for the is a drummer for gold-record selling “Boys Like Girls” and the band has supported Danny.

For more information about Danny O’Connor go to www.dannyoconnorboxing.com.

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