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The age-old question about who the all-time greatest boxers are will soon be answered thanks to The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer promotion, presented by Greatest Ever Enterprises.
Muhammad Ali was the self-proclaimed Greatest. Was it really Ali or Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Pep, or Henry Armstrong? How about modern day boxers such as Joe Calzaghe, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. or Manny Pacquiao?
On-line voting at www.GreatestEver.com allows boxing fans from around the world to weigh in on the greatest boxer in each of the original eight weight classes from, heavyweight to flyweight, highlighted by the all-time pound-for-pound “Greatest Ever”.
A nominations committee of boxing experts leads the debate and selection of the boxers. Upon reading a consensus, the nominated boxers will be put forward to a global public vote.
The nominations committee is comprised of Thomas Hauser (boxing journalist and award winning Muhammad Ali biographer), Al Bernstein (broadcaster and boxing analyst), Colin Hart ( UK ’s leading boxing reporter), Jean-Philippe Lustyk (head of boxing for pan-European sports channel Eurosport) and Ron Borges (boxing journalist and Hall of Fame committee member).
“We’re asking ourselves what it means for a fighter to be regarded as ‘great’,” said Thomas Hauser. “In making my decisions, I’m looking at each fighter’s record, his record against other elite fighters, and his impact on the sport.
“Other jurors might have different criteria or use the same criteria with different results. Many outstanding fighters won’t be on the final nominations list. We expect discussion and debate. But that’s part of the fun, isn’t it?”
Legendary TV presenter Al Bernstein and host of the Greatest Ever Awards night, proclaims, “I am delighted to be a part of this. We now live in an age where this kind of public participation and debate is possible.
“For the first time we are going to know what boxing fans around the world really think. It will be fascinating to see how they weigh-in with their votes. This program is a celebration of our sport and our great fighters. It is an appropriate time to remember them and what they have achieved.”
Judging is expected to be complete and the nominees’ names released on Wednesday June 24th.
World Boxing legends Larry Holmes, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns are the first fighters to confirm they will be in Las Vegas for the Greatest Ever weekend of events. All nominated fighters will be invited to attend once the nominees have been released by the nominations committee.
“This is going to be a great weekend,” said former world heavyweight champion Larry Holmes. “I don’t know if I have been nominated yet but I fully expect to be. My record stands up to anyone’s and you have to look at the quality of the guys I fought.
“I think the fight publically recognizes that I am one of the ‘Greatest Ever’ and I hope they will vote for me. But more importantly, this is a celebration of all our achievements and the sport of boxing.”
“There is no sport tougher than boxing and there is no sport with so many globally known athletes. I want to be in the same place with all these other great fighters. This isn’t going to happen again. This is special and we realize that.”
Boxing fans attending the festivities will be able to celebrate, up close and personal, the achievements of the World’s Greater Ever Boxers.
A three-day boxing spectacular is planned Oct. 2-4 at Paris Las Vegas, commencing with an official welcome reception and official weigh in for the following evening’s professional boxing show, presented by Sterling Promotions, featuring Team USA versus Team Europe, and capped by an exclusive after party.
The event culminates Sunday with The Greater Ever black-tie awards dinner, featuring some of the greatest boxers ever, as well as world-class entertainment, and then an exclusive after party.
Don Ross, Vice President of Conventions, Catering and Events for Harrahs Entertainment (parent organization of Paris Las Vegas) states, “We are delighted that Greatest Ever is coming to Paris Las Vegas. The resort is a perfect location, in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, to bring together this renowned group of athletes. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime weekend with the legends.”
The Retired Boxers Foundation (RBF) is the official charity for The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer. Greatest Ever will run a number of special initiatives with RBF, the only charitable beneficiary of the promotion, in conjunction with the event weekend as well as other soon-to-be-announced programs.
RBD assists retired professional boxers in the transition from their days in the ring to dignified retirement, helping those suffering from alcohol and substance abuse problems, homelessness and effects of pugilistic dementia.
Four ticket packages are on sale for the Oct. 2-4 weekend’s events through agents at the following numbers: North America – The Sports Alliance (914.941.366); United Kingdom and Europe – Rock Solid Events ( UK : 0845 0945 606, Outside UK : +44 845 0945 606; Australasia – Events Worldwide Travel Group ( Australia : 1300 788 666, Outside Australia : +61 3 5989 7666).
The event-only packages are as follows (all prices USD): Super VIP ($2,500), Platinum ($1,900), VIP ($1,400) and Gold ($1,115). The Super VIP, Platinum and VIP packages have a number or premiums in addition to those detailed in the Gold (welcome function, weigh-in, Greatest Ever poker tournament, exclusive Paris Las Vegas gaming area, exclusive memorabilia, movie screenings, access to Greatest Ever dedicated gaming areas and VIP bar, media and legends signings, general seating for the fights and at the awards dinner). Regional agents can provide additional premiums for individual packages.
