Stacy Prestage Named an Inductee for Florida Boxing Hall of Fame
by Ron Scarfone
Photo Credits: Nate Wren
January 7, 2024
(JAN 7, 2024) Stacy Prestage
was named an inductee into the Class of 2024 for the Florida
Boxing Hall of Fame (FBHOF). All the inductees for the Class of
2024 were announced at the SJC Boxing Gym in Fort Myers,
Florida. FBHOF President Steven J. Canton is the owner of the
SJC Gym which also has the FBHOF Museum. Canton was inducted
into the inaugural class of the FBHOF in 2009 as a trainer and
manager.
Canton has also worked as a
matchmaker and cutman. Prestage will join an elite group of
female boxers who have been inducted into the FBHOF and the
International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame (IWBHF). Barbara
Buttrick was inducted into the FBHOF in 2010.
Melissa Del Valle was in the FBHOF Class of 2017. Christy Martin
was in the FBHOF Class of 2018. Bonnie Canino was in the FBHOF
Class of 2020. Ada Velez was in the FBHOF Class of 2023.
Buttrick, Canino, and Martin were inducted into the first class
of the IWBHF in 2014. Ada Velez was inducted into the IWBHF
Class of 2017. Del Valle was inducted into the IWBHF Class of
2023. Prestage was inducted into the IWBHF Class of 2024, but
the induction ceremony was last year for both the 2023 and 2024
classes. [at the 45:40 mark on video is the introduction of
Stacy]
FBHOF Vice President Bob Alexander introduced each FBHOF Class
of 2024 inductee. Alexander is recognized as one of the best
ring announcers and was inducted into the second class of the
FBHOF in 2010. This was his speech about Prestage: “The world of
women’s boxing has witnessed a lot of trailblazers. Our next
inductee stands tall among them. At the age of 20, she found her
mentor in Joe Gallegos who became her first trainer. After her
initial years, she had the privilege to be trained by some of
the legends of boxing including Joe Frazier, Leon Spinks, Larry
Holmes, Freddie Roach, and our very own Steve Canton. After
turning pro, she became the first female from the state of
Kansas to win a world championship. In 1993, she secured a place
in boxing history in a grueling ten round bloody battle against
Deirdre Gogarty. She clinched the WIBF’s first women’s
championship belt. (In 1992), she would go the distance with
Florida Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Christy Martin. She served
her country, enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1987. Later, she
dedicated 19 years of her life working as a medical assistant.
Last year, she was inducted into the International Women’s
Boxing Hall of Fame. Florida Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2024
welcomes former women’s world champion Stacy Prestage.”
Prestage was not present at the announcement of the inductees. I
was asked by her beforehand to speak. I introduced myself and
talked about giving Prestage a WIBF belt at the International
Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame (IWBHF) a few months ago. There is
much more detail about that in my article titled Belted: The
First WIBF World Champion Reunites with the Sacred Strap which
is on WBAN. FBHOF Induction Weekend for the Class of 2024 will
be at the Hilton on 950 Lake Carillon Drive in St. Petersburg,
Florida (Carillon Park) on June 21, 22, and 23, 2024. The
website for the FBHOF is floridaboxinghalloffame.com.
Prestage trained in the state of Florida at the SJC Boxing Gym
during parts of her career. The gym had been at several
different locations until having its Grand Opening at the
current location in January 2021. Prestage fought in Fort Myers
in her second professional fight in 1990. Prestage fought
Christy Martin in Daytona Beach, Florida in 1992. Prestage lost
to Martin by a controversial unanimous decision. The media
covering the fight initially believed that Prestage had won
before the decision was announced. Prestage’s last professional
fight was in Punta Gorda, Florida in 1998. Prestage ended her
career with a 7-5-3 record. Two of those draws were against
Deirdre Gogarty. The third time was the charm for Prestage as
she won by decision against Gogarty to win the vacant WIBF world
lightweight title in 1993. This historic fight was in Kansas
City, Missouri. Prestage currently resides in Kansas City,
Kansas. The two cities have the same name. However, the cities
are in different states on the Missouri-Kansas state line.
At the FBHOF Induction Weekend in June, a cast will be made of
Prestage’s fist by using a plaster mold in a bucket. She will be
given a red polo shirt with the FBHOF logo to wear at the
induction ceremony. She will also receive a certificate, a
plaque with her photo, and a ring (the kind that is worn on a
finger, not a squared circle where boxing takes place).
