Eli Dixon honored as Man of the Year.

When Eli Dixon was born no one knew that Muhammad Ali would become his lifelong idol. Dixon was born in Cleveland on May 18, 1966. He graduated from Shaw High School in 1985 in East Cleveland. Dixon earned an athletic scholarship to Tennessee State University in football and baseball. Later, he attended Cleveland State University to study X-Ray technology.

Dixon’s career began as a boxer at the East Cleveland P.A.L. Boxing Club with Hank Smiley and Johnnie Duncan as his trainers. Dixon won the Cleveland Golden Gloves Championship in the heavyweight division in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, and 1989.He fought in five National Golden Gloves Tournaments of Champions. In 1988, Dixon won the Indiana Black Expo Championship and the National P.A.L. Tournament. Dixon fought his way onto the U.S.A. Boxing team, and was ranked the #2 amateur heavyweight in the country.

Dixon represented the United States as a member of the U.S.A. Boxing team in Ireland, the U.S.S.R., and Canada. In 1988, he won the Canadian Cup and the Sarge Johnson Award. He won a Silver Medal at the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1989 in Oklahoma. During that same year, while competing on the U.S. Boxing team against Russia at Trump Palace in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Dixon won a Silver Medal. He won a Bronze Medal at the U.S. Championships in 1989.

Dixon turned professional and compiled a record of 26-8 (23) KO’s and he fought for the WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight championship Title on October 11, 1997 at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, Yorkshire (United Kingdom). Dixon fought such world boxing champions as Wladimir Klischko, WBC Champion Jimmy Thunder, and WBA Champion James “Bone Crusher” Smith. Another outstanding achievement in Dixon’s career came on April 14, 1988, when he fought WBC Contender Andrew Golota, who was ranked #2 in the world.

Dixon is the proud father of Caij, Eris and Briyana, and along with his fiancée, Sonya, stepsons, Bruce and Brandon: and stepdaughters, Tiyonna and Kelle, and granddaughter, Morgan.. He is an entrepreneur and superintendent of the Stratton House Condominiums and is owner/operator of S & E Janitorial Services. Eli Dixon was inducted into the Ohio State Former Boxers and Associates, Inc. Hall of Fame in 2013. According to Dixon, he is anticipating opening a boxing gym in Beachwood or Bedford Heights to give young people a place to train so that , “he can coach the next world champion.” Dixon is being honored as `Man of the Year.”

Tony Rencic will be hon­ored by the Ohio State Former Boxers and Associates, Inc. with a Life Time Achievement Award at the associa­tion’s Hall of Fame Awards Dinner. Born, on October 26, 1926 in McCombs West Virginia, Rencic enlist­ed in the United States Navy at 16 years old.

Norman Cooney will be honored by the Ohio State Former Boxers and As­sociates, Inc. with a Life Time Achievement Award at the association’s Hall of Fame Awards Dinner. Cooney views the achievement to be a great honor. “It is a great honor. One of the most auspicious days of my life,” Cooney said. One of the activities Cooney enjoys includes transporting puppies from puppy mills to Canada or Penn­syvania where they will enjoy a better life.

Cooney worked at Foster Wheeler Construction Company for 15 years. He retired in 1989.He volunteers his time at local hospitals as well as being involved in the VFW and American Legion. Cooney has served five years in active duty with the U.S. Air Force where he received a Purple Heart Medal. He also served 27 years in the Air National Guard. Cooney also enjoys helping out with pee wee baseball leagues and football. As a member of the Italian American Club and the Irish American Club, Cooney serves as secretary for each organization.

Cooney, who is 83, began his boxing career at St. Ignatius High School and CYO High Chair Boxing Tournament. He won the tournament for the 90 pound division; 112 pound division; and the 126 pound division. While attending Cathedral Latin High School, Cooney continued his boxing career winning the 147 pound division and 160 pound division Intramural Championship at the school. Cooney has a total of 87 amateur fights and he won the Cleveland Golden Gloves in 1947 and 1950.

While attending Boston College, he continued his boxing career and he had 14 Intercollegiate bouts, winning all the bouts. During his profes­sional boxing career, Cooney fought the famous welterweight Chuck Davey. As a professional boxer, Cooney fought 17 fights, winning 15 fights, 1 draw and 1 fight no contest. During Cooney’s boxing career, he was trained by the renonwned trainer Johnny Papke and Lou Parker. After many years of work­ing at Foster Wheeler Construction Company, he retired from the company in 1989. Cooney is a widower and he was married to his wife, Marguerite, for 39 years. He has three children including two sons Michael and Richard who are deceased; and a daughter, Cynthia. He enjoys biking and walk­ing in his spare time.

George Kruichuk will be hon­ored by the Ohio State Former Boxers and Associates, Inc. with a Life Time Achievement Award at the association’s Hall of Fame Awards Dinner.

Having been a member of the Ohio State Boxers and Associates for more than 20 years, Kruichuk was a Golden Gloves semi-finalist in the wel­ter weight class in 1952. He lost by de­cision in 1950 against Golden Gloves and 1952 Oympic Flyweight Champion Nate Brooks. He also lost to Mickey Mars during the tournament. In addition to boxing, Kruichuk has enjoyed being involved with amateur wrestling in the 115 pound division and the 120 pound division. Kruichuk was employed with POC Distributors between 1951 and 1962 and for Beverage Distributors from 1962 until his retirement in 1989.

The former boxer said that in 1951, his brother Joseph Kruichuk 18, was the first Clevelander to be killed in the Korean War. Kruichuk credits his boxing training career to Johnny Giachetti, AI Brooks and Jimmy Avon. Kruichuk’s boxing goals were accomplished in the 120 pound bantam class and also in the 135 pound light weight class with a record of 74 wins and 6 losses.

Kruichuk enjoys his retirement with family. At 86 years old, he and wife, Dolly, enjoy socializing with fam­ily friends, and watching westerns on TV To keep in physical shape, Kruichuk spends time at the Middle­burg Recreation Center and socializes with friends there. He and his wife visit the Rocksino, and the Soaring Eagle Ca­sino Reservation in Michigan. They enjoy nights out at the Red Lobster and Bagley Grill. Kruichuk and his wife have two children. Delaine Kruichuk Rogers and a son named Joe Kruichuk. Delaine and her family say that they are “happy, proud and also pleased,” about her father’s honors and accomplishments within the boxing aren.

Clint Martin will be honored by the Ohio State Former Boxers and Associates, Inc. with a Life Time Achievement Award at the association’s Hall of Fame Awards Dinner.

Clint Martin has been coaching boxing since 1958. During every year since starting his coaching career he has produced at least one Golden Gloves winner in the an­nual tournament until 2013. One of Martin’s outstanding achievements includes coaching Raynell Williams, who qualified for U.S. Olympic Team to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 as a featherweight.

Seeking a better life, Martin’s parents’ moved their family to Cleveland when he was a child in 1942 from Headland, Alabama. Martin graduated from the old Central High School in 1950. While in high school, he developed his interest in boxing and began training at the Central Recreation Center. After graduating from high school, Martin joined the U.S. Air Force for four years and continued to box. While in the Air Force, he won the Western Air Defense welterweight boxing championship 1952. It was during that same year, he married his wife, Margaret. They have been married for more than 60 years. Martin and his wife have four daughters, three of which are teachers.

Martin worked for Republic Steel (LTV Steel) for 31 years until he retired in 1986. While at the same time working as a longshoreman on the Cleveland docks with union local (1317) International Longshoremen’s As­sociation for 30 years.

Sacrificing, his own boxing goals, Martin began to coach and train boxers. “I received lots of satisfaction from coaching those boxers,” Martin said. He began training boxers with Johnny Papke at the old Big Ten Gym. Martin has trained several national and international boxers such as Sanderline Williams, Henry Hughes and the late Jeff Stoudermire. Another honor Martin received was when he was inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. He was inducted into the Ohio State Former Boxers and Associates, Inc. Hall of Fame in 1997.

Martin was elected in 1996 as vice president of the local governing body of the Lake Erie Association of USA Amateur Boxers. Martin has twice been chosen as the coach for the USA amateur boxing teams against the national teams of Cuba and Russia.

Olympic Games inspired Church’s boxing career. After starting boxing at an early age, the sport has been a continuous part of Leonard Church’s life. Church was born on August 31. 1956 in Lorain, Ohio, and he graduate from Admiral King High School. He also attended Lorain Community College. While watching the United States boxing team in the 1976 Olympic Games, Church was inspired to train harder in the hopes of making the 1980 Olympic Team. Making achievements in is amateur boxing career, Church won he Indiana Golden Gloves and the Indiana Black Expo Championships in 1978 and 1979: he won the Cleveland Area Golden Gloves in 1979. In 1980, Church advanced to the National Golden Gloves Tournament and the National AAU Tournament. He later traveled t Greensboro, N.C. to compete and qualify for the 1980 Olympic Team. Unfortunately for Church, President Jimmy Carter ordered the U.S. to boycott 1980 Olympic Games in Russia. As a consequence, Church had his firs professional fight in which he recorded a 1st round K.O. win against Mike Norman on September 30, 1980 in Lorain.

Church signed with Muhammad Ali Professional Sports, and he had is second professional fight on the undercard of the WBC Lightheavyweight Championship bout headlined by Eddie Mustafa Muhammad at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. On that card, Church beat Danny Cruz. With a winning record, on August 20, 1982, Church fought and defeated the Dominican Champion, Fernandez Ortiz. Church ended his professional boxing career with an impressive record of 15-3. His amateur record is 125 fights with 13 losses.

Church was trained, promoted and managed by boxing legend Muhammad Ali Professional Sports, Monarch Boxing (Don/Carl King)/TKO Productions -Richie/ Bobby Giachetti, Slim Robinson, Archie Moore, Jimmy Moon, Julio Ruiz, Aaron Snowell, and Dr. Fleming Mosley. Church is presently involved with boxing as an official and trainer and is registered with the Unites States Amateur Boxing, Inc. Church’s dedicated work ethic in boxing continued throughout his life as he is self-employed as a vendor. He is the father of a daughter and a son, and he has three grandchildren.

Joe Santamaria boxed for Chuck Pinzone. Joe Santamaria has boxing in his blood. His uncle, Bill Swallow, and his grandfather, Bill Swallow, Sr., were golden gloves champions. Joe Santamaria was born June 11, 1971 in Maple Heights, Ohio. After graduating form Normandy High School in 1990, Santamaria began training as a amateur boxer under the tutelage of Chuck Pinzone at his Pinzone Boxing Club in Parma. Santamaria entered the Cleveland Golden Gloves Tournament in 1992, and after several successful bouts in the tournament, he lost in the semifinal round by a T.K.O. in the first round. The loss inspired Santamaria to train harder, and he won 10 of his next 11 fights. After Santamaria ended his boxing career, he started training boxers at Pinzone’s Boxing Club. Later, Santamaria became a boxing trainer at Brickhouse Boxing Club in Twinsburg, Ohio.

His first two boxers were Billy Spinellli and Will Johnson. Spinellli TKO’d his opponent in the first round and Johnson won his bout in their first fights. Santamaria left Brickhouse to assist legendary trainer, Gary Horvath with the opening of Old Angle Boxing Club. Santamaria is at the boxing club training fighters along with Horvath, Leo Keglovic and Denny Sweeny on a daily basis. Although Santamaria trains young boxers, his friend, Steve Spinelli, 42, wanted to fight, and Santamaria started training him. Spinelli won his first fight in Youngstown, Ohio on March 16. Santamaria is employed as an electrician following a five year apprenticeship as an electrician with Electrical Union, Local 38. He is employed with O’Donald Electricians in Aurora, Ohio. He and his wife of 19 years,Tina, have together raised Kenny, Ryan, Jenna, and Julie.

Marty Healy- Life Time Achievement Award.
After starting his amateur boxing career while stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia in 1967, the love for the sport of boxing is still part of Marty Healy as he continues his involvement with the Ohio State Former Boxers & Associates, Inc.

In 2004, Healy was inducted into the O.S.F.B.&A. Hall of Fame. During the five years that Healy has been involved with the association, he has been responsible for the Ad Program Book and coordinated the annual amateur boxing show. He also was elected Vice President of the O.S.F.B.& A. in 2007. In 2007, he was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Cleveland Amateur Golden Gloves. Boxing in the 147 pounds division while in the Army, Healy had a record of 6 and 0. To continue his boxing career when he wa discharged from the service in 1970, Healy continued his boxing training with the late Uncle John Giachetti at the Easterbrook Recreational Center and at Giachetti A.C.

At this time in Healy’s boxing career under the trainership of Giachetti was short, he compiled a 4 and 1 record with him. During Healy’s enlistment in the Army, he served from 1967 to 1968 in Vietnam. Healy, who is 64 years old, recently retired from the U.S. Postal Service with 31 years of service. Healy is also a proud member of the Strongsville V.F.W. Post 3345 Honor Guard. An elite Honor Guard that serves as the 7th District State of Ohio Honor Guard and assist the U.S. Dept. of Defense in memorial services.

In 2006, Healy was elected Precinct Committeeman for the City of Brook Park & holds a seat on the Cuyahoga County Democratic Central Committee. In his spare time, Healy enjoys playing golf with friends. Healy and his wife, Phyllis, have two children, Marty, Jr. and Kristen, and a two year old grandchild, Cara, and a grandson on the way in October.

Chuck Hunter inspired Paul Buckner as a boxer. Paul Buckner was inspired by his Godmother’s son, legendary Cleveland middleweight boxer Chuck Hunter. During the 1940’s and 50’s Hunter fought and beat many of the middleweight contenders of that era. His opponents read like a list of Who’s Who in boxing with such boxers as Bobo Olson, Harold Johnson, Jake LaMotta, Tommy Yarosz, Bob Satterfield, California Jackie Wilson, Tommy Bell, and Jimmy Doyle. At 12 years old, Buckner started his amateur boxing career with the renown boxing trainer Jesse Levels at the old K.Y Benson Boys Town. While training at K.Y. Benson Boys Town, the outstanding professional welterweight boxer Cecil Shorts, became his mentor. Shorts took Buckner to famous Johnny Papke’s Big Ten Gym where Buckner began to train with the legendary trainer, Clint Martin.

The old Big Ten Gym was a gym located at E. 14th Street and Carnegie Ave. which at the time was comparable to Gleason’s Gym and Stillman’s Gym. It was a gym where all the professional boxers and outstanding amateur boxers trained. In 1963, Buckner won the Cleveland Golden Gloves District middleweight championship by defeating Doyle Baird and Nestor Malone. Baird went on to become an outstanding middleweight professional boxer fighting the former world middleweight champion, Nino Benvenuti twice. In 1964, Buckner won the trophy for the ” Comeback Fighter of the Year.” Buckner went to the semifinals of the Olympic trials in Washington, D.C. in 1964. His amateur boxing record is 36 wins and 6 losses. Buckner and his wife, Ruby, have five children: Robert, Michael, Mario, Tazmon, Tara, and Cherise. Buckner attended the Cleveland Public Schools and completed his education at Thomas A. Edison High School. Buckner has been a truck driver for 45 years, and apprenticing with Teamsters Local 436 of which he is a member. After 23 yeas as a truck driver with the Independence Excavating Company, Buckner retired from the company with an outstanding driving record.