RIO GRANDE VALLEY BOXING HALL OF FAME HONORS PUGILISTS

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Boxing and Wrestling played a role in Rio Grande Valley and Matamoros sports history since early in the 20th Century. The soldiers at Fort Brown were battling each other, and in Matamoros, the sport blossomed at about the same time.

The popularity of the sport had so many adherents and was admired so much by the troops that special training officers were brought in to teach the finer points of boxing. Civilian promoters could organize matches within the military reservation.
Although by the 1920s and beyond there was no lack of facilities as Brownsville, Harlingen, Weslaco and McAllen also built arenas. A few boxing programs were staged, but the main attraction then was wrestling.

In the Middle of the 1920s, boxing in Texas was deemed illegal by the legislature and the pugilistic sport took an unexpected black eye. It was inevitable that the popular sport goes, again, south of the border where no law prevented hosting boxing events.

By 1933, the sport would no longer have to hide in the shadows of the law.
Anti-boxing laws prevented the sport for almost ten years to openly present itself within in the boundaries of the state of Texas. Legalized boxing came back in a big way and it was eminently clear that the sport had an enthusiastic audience.

On September of 1933 Brownsville glorified boxing by hosting “Ringside by the Rio Grande.” At the opening bell local boxers took their bows at the new Veterans Arena located on Elizabeth St.

Golden Gloves era…

Golden Gloves, the premier organization of amateur boxing, was born in 1923. Arch Ward, a Chicago editor, organized a tournament to help youth and to promote amateur competition. It was not until 1937 that Texas held its first official Golden Gloves tournament.

By 1939, Rio Grande Valley high school boxers were entering the ring with hopes of securing a Golden Gloves title.

Summer boxing clubs were being formed throughout the region as well. By the 1950s, many high schools and Texas Southmost College had noteworthy teams. As timed progressed into the modern era, boxing continued to produce emerging headliners, with bountiful crop of of kids searching to claim that elusive championship belt. 

Today, the Valley is also proud of our professional boxers that are punching their way into the national spotlight – and in doing so, placing the Rio Grande Valley on the world boxing map.

Rio Grande Valley Hall of Fame…

The RGV is deeply rooted with boxing history. So it is only fitting to recognize that extraordinary individuals that have contributed to the sport. 

A few of months ago, Tom Lindsey, from San Benito, had a dream of forming an organization to recognize outstanding individuals in the sport. Soon after the seed was planted, and once all the intangible were in place – it became a reality.

The first annual RGV Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies will take place on November 17, 2019 at the McAllen Radisson Hotel, 2721 South 10th Street. 

Taking the stage as the first historical group of inductees include: Dr. Benjamin A. Salinas M.D. (Pharr), Alfredo “Chicken” Gomez (Brownsville, in the photo at right), Herberto “Beto” Carr (Mercedes), Tomas Barrientes (Mercedes), and Andrew Maynard (a native of Maryland that has lived in Harlingen for more than 30 years)

A tribute is due to the ring notables of the past, and thank you, to the pugilist battlers of today – for creating a renewed interest in boxing.

For ticket information you can contact Tom Lindsey at 740.352.7298 and/or write us an email to: rgvboxinghalloffame@gmail.com

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