Famous Mormons in Boxing, Karate and Body Building
| Ray Close super-middleweight champion |
Ray Close (born January 20,
1969) in Belfast, Northern Ireland fought for most of his
career in the Super Middleweight division, ending his career in the
Light Heavyweight division. Ray is an active member of the Bangor
1st Ward of the Belfast Northern Ireland Stake. |
Wikipedia | ||||||||||
 Photo: BBC Sports |
William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey (1895-1983) heavyweight champion |
He had ten brothers and sisters.
Jack chose his fighting name saying that he wasn't a very faithful
Mormon. Jack Dempsey was champion from 1919 to 1926 and was known
to extend his hand to his defeated opponent. Source: Manassa not ready to forget Dempsey By W.H. Stickney Jr. Houston TX Chronicle, 01 Aug 1999, C7 “The Manassa Mauler. ” Jack won more than 80 fights by the time he was 24 years of age Wayside Excursion: Manassa, Colorado |
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 Photo: Courtesy of the the Champ |
B.J. Flores heavyweight champion |
He served a full-time mission in Culiacan, Mexico from 1997-1999. He is 25 years old, and undefeated as a heavyweight in the professional ranks with a record of 10-0-1 (7 knock outs). He was the 2001 & 2002 U.S. National Heavyweight Champion. He competed internationally and had victories over Korea, China, France, Australia, and Germany. He was the only American to win gold at the France Four Nationals Tournament in Laval, France. He defeated the 2004 US Olympian, Devin Vargas, three different times in national tournaments. He is promoted as a professional by Main Events, Inc. and managed by Lou Mesorana. |
LDS Athlete List by Kelly Martinez, Meridian Magazine, 05 Dec 2003 |
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 Photo: Sports Illustrated, 1998 |
Gene Fullmer middleweight champion |
He captured the middleweight title in
1957 by decision from legendary champion Sugar Ray Robinson. It
was his ability to endure punishment and his tireless attack that
carried him to victory. In a rematch four months later, Sugar Ray
scored a one-punch knockout, delivering a left hook in the fifth
round that some have called "the perfect punch." Two years later,
he won the NBA middleweight title by scoring a 14th-round knockout
of Carmen Basilio. Seven successful title defenses followed. His
reign as middleweight champion ended in 1962 with a 15-round loss
against Dick Tiger. Source: Boxing Hall of Fame
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 www.smh.com.au |
While Hopoate | Former rugby league bad boy John
Hopoate threatened to breath some life back in to the seemingly
dying state of Australia's heavyweight boxing... smh.com.au
"My biggest regret out of everything was not doing fulfilling my mission work," he said. "My brother came back in July and I wish I had have done it. The Lord gave me so much, my talent and opportunities, and all He wanted was two years' service in return, but I didn't do it. That is my biggest regret, that I didn't serve the Lord." Those close to Hopoate say he gives a third of his boxing prizemoney to the church and describe his dedication to helping youth as the work of a good man. www.smh.com.au
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Hopoate makes successful start to boxingBoxing is making me a better man, says Hoppa
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Rainey RogersBoxing Bishop |
McKINNEY, Texas — It's almost not a fair fight when Rainey
Rogers gets in the ring. "He already had an advantage because he
doesn't drink or smoke," said Barney Flores, who runs the Barney
and Me gym where Rogers works out. "Part of the battle of being
in sports is being in shape." Rogers, is
bishop of the McKinney 2nd Ward in McKinney, Texas, a father of
five and owner of three championship belts.
Deseret News
Rogers’ Tale of the TapeWeight: 225Height : 6-2 Nose broken: Seven times Can he tell when it breaks now? “Pretty much,” he said. Best fight ever? Evander Holyfield vs. Buster Douglas – the second time. Notes: Has been to New Zealand, the Himalayas, Africa, Siberia and the Amazon. Rogers and wife, Tammy, are MHS graduates. They have five children. “We love McKinney,” Rogers said. “It’s a great place to raise our family.”
At 23, he quit boxing at the
suggestion of a coach who said he no longer saw the “fire” in
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Rocky R. Twitchell | Rocky is the 1991 Utah Golden Gloves Champ in the 147lbs weight Division and also fought in the" Utah Summer Games" from 1989 to 1991 obtaining a Silver Medal, 2 gold Medals and a Featured Boxer on Dave Fox's Sports Den for 2 Years ! (KUTV Channel 2 )He now teaches Martial Arts and Boxing and trains with 2 of Bruce Lee's top students, Danny Inosanto and Larry Hartsell out of Los Angeles. | ||||||||||
Body Building / Weightlifting
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