(APRIL 26) On Friday, April 22nd, the Carolinas Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony event held at the Sheraton Charlotte Airport, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event was a huge success with a sold-out crowd of special guests, attendees and the honorable CBHOF Inductees for 2022. Due to the Covid issues that plagued many events, the Induction Ceremony that would have taken place in 2020 was postponed until 2022. The stellar class of inductees included the following: [Copyrighted below photos by Sue TL Fox/more photos on file]

Sammy 'Slammin' Horne, who in his own rights was a household name in the Williamston/Pelzer area in the late 1970s. He was not only an outstanding boxer, but was known for his engaging personality outside the ring, but an extremely tough opponent inside the ring.

Joe 'Smokin' Frazier, one of the greatest heavyweight boxers in the sport. His long boxing career spanned from 1965 to 1981. Prior to going pro, Frazier was an Olympic Gold Medalist. His epic fights with Muhammad Ali were considered classics and resulted in Ali's First loss.

Sgt. Maj. Michael Cline: Cline became an All-Marine boxer in 1976 and fought in various district and regional matches throughout his time in the service. In 1988 he joined the All-Marine coaching staff. Cline was not only active inside the ring but outside of the ring. Cline continues to be involved in the local boxing community, coaching and mentoring boxers on the military base. Cline was also inducted into the All Marine Boxing Team Hall of Fame as a boxer and coach in 2016.

Gerald 'Jay' Snyder: He started boxing at the Head Hunters Boxing Gym, and was managed by Bill Mitchem. While at that gym he was given the name of May 'Swamp Monster' Snyder. Jay fought in several Tough Man contests. Jay then turned pro, winning 18 straight fights with 17 of those fights by knockout. Some of his highlights were when he fought on ESPN for a world title, with fighting the likes of Thomas Hearns where he dropped him but came up short in the fight.

Coach Dean Huffstickler: Huffstickler found his passion for boxing at the age of 15. He served four years in the USAF and was honorably discharged in 1962. He then moved to Gastonia in 1964 where he joined the Gastonia Police Department. In 1972, the American Boxing Federation (ABF) and the Amateur Athletes Union (AAU), selected Huffstickler one of two coaches for the Regional Jr. Olympic Boxing Team. He traveled with the team from 1962-1977 with the team competing throughout the USA, and many more achievements as a coach with the amateurs.

Henry T. Nielson: Over a span of 23 years Nielson fought approximately 250-300 amateur bouts. His boxing career included coaching in Collegiate Boxing, boxing in the International Boxing League on the Miami Team, and one professional bout, in which was his last boxing bout when he fought Kid Carlos during Nielson's amateur career, he won numerous Outstanding Boxer Awards in Charlotte Golden Gloves and Knoxville (Best Conditioned Boxer), and many more accomplishments.

Billy Sharpe: Sharpe was a posthumous inductee. He had lost his battle with cancer in 2011. He served in the United States Air Force, and was employed for 33 years as a ranger with the South Carolina Forestry Commission. Sharpe ran and coached at the Hilda Athletic Club, and was the president of the South Carolina USA Boxing Association for 16 years.

Brent Elmore: Elmore received the Prestigious Floyd Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award. Elmore began his boxing career in his hometown of Sumter, South Carolina. He won numerous titles as a junior Olympic boxer, including the Carolinas Golden Gloves in Charlotte, as we as the AAU Championships in North and South Carolina. During his nine years in boxing, he competed in three national tournaments against world-class competition, and was a two-time South Carolina Golden Gloves champion in 1978 and 1979.

Dr. Anne Edwards: Dr. Edwards, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon was named the "Contributor to the Carolinas Boxing Hall of Fame recipient". She had an extraordinary beginning in the boxing world when in 2015; she was in attendance at a boxing event, when the ringside physician was a "no show." She was asked if she could step in and be the Ringside Physician. After that event she has continued to work boxing shows as the ringside physician and has been invaluable in the boxing community.

It was a wonderful event, and was a great opportunity to be part of the CBHOF who celebrated and honored the elite CBHOF inductees of 2022!

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