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Brownsville Boxer Proving To Be The Goods In The Ring And His Community 

The life of a fighter can be exhausting. The need to make weight is draining, as is the constant training to hone their craft in hopes of becoming a world champion.

For Brownsville, Texas, native Omar “El Relámpago” Juarez, boxing is the platform to showcase his talents as well as his hometown pride. The undefeated super lightweight prospect (11-0) is constantly giving back through various nonprofits and programs, including helping families who have children with Down syndrome.

Juarez is currently preparing for what could be his toughest opponent yet against All “The Machine Gun” Rivera (21-5, including 18 knockouts). That fight will be the opener on a card headlined by unbeaten WBA super middleweight champion David Morrell Jr. defending his title against undefeated challenger Mario Cazares on FOX Sports on June 27, broadcast live from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

With camp winding down, Zenger News spoke to Juarez about his upcoming bout, inspiring his community and his goal to become Brownsville’s first world champion.

Percy Crawford interviewed Omar Juarez for Zenger News.

Zenger: How’s training coming along for the fight against Rivera?

Juarez: Everything is good. Coming up on the last of sparring, so physically we’re a little tired, but ready to close strong.

Zenger: When you watch Rivera, what do you think of him as an opponent?

Juarez: He’s going to be a very strong fighter, he’s solid. He’s had a couple of fights at welterweight. I know whatever he brings to the table, I will be ready for it. I’m also excited that he’s a southpaw, because I feel like I have a lot of abilities that people haven’t seen. I have a lot to prove to myself.

Zenger: You fought in your first 10-rounder in your last fight, and it went the distance. Does that benefit you in this next bout, which also goes 10?

Percy Crawford interviewed Omar Juarez for Zenger News. (Heidi Malone/Zenger)

Juarez: I know that I’m ready. Since I started fighting in six rounders and eight rounders, I would tell my cornerman that I still had a lot left in the tank. Even this last fight, it was the last round and I felt like I could’ve done four more rounds. I know that I am physically, mentally and emotionally in the best shape of my life. A lot of people have doubted me in my last couple of fights, and they’re going to doubt me in this fight as well, so I have a lot of people to prove wrong. This fight is the particular one that I’ve been asking for.

Zenger: You’ve been putting Brownsville, Texas, on the boxing map. The fact that so many of your fights have been televised, and this one is no different, I’m sure makes it easier to put eyes on your city.

Juarez: It’s a blessing. It’s a dream come true. The only thing Brownsville is known for is for being the unhealthiest city in the U.S. So, that’s not really a good thing, but eventually I want people to know that Brownsville is the home of the Juarez brothers, including me. I’m making noise slowly but surely, one fight at a time.

Zenger: Not to overlook Rivera, but a lot of dust is settling within the 140-pound weight class with several top prospects emerging. Where do you want to fit in within the division following this fight?

Omar Juarez digs a left hook into Elias Araujo. (Sean Michael Ham/TGB Promotions) 

Juarez: After this fight, I know they’re going to keep me busy, for sure. I’m hoping to get maybe two more fights. I know there will be bigger gaps since the rounds are going up, but we’re just taking it one fight at a time. I have the best managerial team in the world. They’re doing a really good job at getting me publicity, building me up the right way, giving me different styles to prepare me for those elite-level fights later on in my career.

Zenger: Stylistically, your fights are always exciting. What are you expecting on the 27th?

Juarez: Whatever he brings to the table, I’ll be ready. If he wants to press me, I know how to hit and not get hit. If he wants to stay back, I know how to put pressure and bang the body. I’ll be more than ready for whatever it is he’s trying to get done.

Zenger: You’re so much more than a fighter. You’re always heavily involved in your community, and you do a ton of philanthropy work. Have you found a balance between your career and helping others, because they can both be demanding?

Juarez: It is a balance, brother. Training does get exhausting sometimes, both physically and mentally. But that’s something that I have never dreaded doing since I graduated from high school at 16. I’ve always given back to my community. I was raised that way, to remember where I’m from.

Zenger: Tell us a bit about Nathan Rios and his paintings of you — it’s a pretty special story.

Juarez: Wow! That actually caught me off guard. I was trying to hold back tears. It was such an inspiring story. This kid was born blind, he listened to my fight and after hearing everything that I do for the city, it motivated him to paint a portrait for me. It was something so surreal and brought out so many emotions, it was hard to keep the tears in. I carry every special needs kid … every event that we have, I promise them that I carry them in my heart, and I’m going to do it all the way to a world title.

Nathan Rios and his paintings with Omar Juarez. (Team Juarez)

Zenger: I’m sure it helps a lot that the WBC’s outreach program is getting you in front of the right people.

Juarez: Absolutely. It was actually after my last fight that [WBC president] Mauricio Sulaiman came out to Brownsville because another ambassador — RJ Mitte, the actor from “Breaking Bad” — was at the mall in town for a premier of his new movie “Triumph.” It was very inspiring, and it was great to meet RJ. I definitely want to thank the WBC for everything that they do for me. Any events that they have, I gladly show up, gladly represent them, not just them, the city of Brownsville nonprofit organizations that help kids with special needs, “Down” By The Border. We’re just making noise one fight at a time.

Zenger: What’s your ultimate goal in the ring?

Juarez: I want to be something that the sport has never seen before. I want to be the David Goggins of boxing. I will continue to do it all the way to the top.

Zenger: I remember speaking to you when you were just starting out. Now 11 fights in, how have you evolved as a fighter?

Juarez: I’m getting very comfortable in the ring. I know that physically I still have a lot to prove and to show. My capabilities in the ring are only getting better. We are taking it one fight at a time, and I feel like very soon, the world is going to hear about Omar Juarez.

Zenger: Anything else you want to add?

Juarez: It’s going to be fireworks on the 27th. I trained very hard, I sacrificed everything and dedicated my life to this lifestyle and there is no way I can be beat. I watched his last two fights, but I know that no matter what, he is going to be a different fighter than his last fight, just like myself. So, I try not to pay attention to footage.

I show up in the ring, and at the end of the day we’re fighters, so we adapt. It takes me maybe 30 or 40 seconds to adapt, and once I have them figured out, that’s when I start to have fun. Thanks everybody so much for the support, all my sponsors and supporters, the city of Brownsville, my community, Rio Grande Valley. Brownsville is going to have its very first world champion real soon.

(Edited by Matthew B. Hall and Judith Isacoff)



The post Brownsville Boxer Proving To Be The Goods In The Ring And His Community  appeared first on Zenger News.

Recordings Reveal What Happened On First Juneteenth

Laura Smalley’s voice crackles and comes to life.

It is 1941, and she is talking in her native Hempstead, Texas, to a University of Texas professor, John Henry Faulk, about being enslaved, how she became free on June 19, 1865.

That made Smalley, who then estimated she was 85, one of the last living witnesses to the original Juneteenth, although she did not know it was occurring at the time.

Her interview is now preserved in the Library of Congress’ collection of recordings, and she was not alone in remembering what happened when Union soldiers made their way through Texas, two months after Confederates surrendered at Appomattox Court House in April 1865.

Smalley, Uncle Billy McCrea, and Aunt Harriet Smith were recorded and interviewed in 1940 and 1941 by Faulk, at the time a professor collecting folklore and memories, and later a radio broadcaster and advocate for civil rights.

Uncle Billy McCrea, sitting in his yard, in Jasper, Texas, where he told interviewer John Henry Faulk in September 1940 his memories of slavery – and how freedom came with the arrival of the Union Army. (Ruby T. Lomax/Library of Congress)  
The order which ended slavery in Texas, leading eventually to the creation of June 19 as a federal holiday 156 years later. (Library of Congress)

Smalley, like many of the enslaved millions, did not know her real age, but thought she was 10 when freedom came, on June 19.

In fact freedom had been declared long before, by Abraham Lincoln in the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, and she and her family’s enslaver who they called Mr. Bethany, had already returned from the Confederate defeat.

She remembered his return, and what followed, telling Faulk: “We all got up and all of them went to the house. Went to the house to see old master.

“And I thought old master was dead, but he wasn’t. He had been off to the war, and… come back. I just know he was gone a long time. All the n****s gathered around to see the old master again. You know, and old master didn’t tell, you know, they was free.”

Faulk asked her: “He didn’t tell you that?”

“Uh-uh. No he didn’t tell,” she replied. They worked there, I think now they say they worked them, six months after that. Six months. And turn them loose on the nineteenth of June. That’s why, you know, we celebrate that day. Colored folks — celebrates that day.”

She recalled the celebrations which quickly came to mark that date.

“I remember, you know, the time you give them a big dinner, you know on the nineteenth,” she said.

“Just had a long table. And just had ah, just a little of everything you want to eat, you know. And drink, you know. Now, and they say that was on the nineteenth — and everything you want to eat and drink. Well, you see, I didn’t know what that was for.”

The slaves freed on Juneteenth had waited more than two years for freedom after the Emancipation Proclamation, and in the case of Laura Smalley, had not even been told they were free by the man who enslaved her and her family . (Library of Congress)
Union Army Major General Gordon Granger, who read the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, ending slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865. (Brady’s National Photographic Portrait Galleries/Library of Congress)

But what happened after would not be celebrated.

“Mama and them didn’t know where to go, you see after freedom broke,” she said.

“Didn’t know where to go. Turned us out just like, you know, you turn out cattle.”

The sudden end to slavery was witnessed too by Billy McCrea, who estimated he was 88 when he spoke to Faulk in 1940, in Jasper, Texas, where he had been enslaved.

After the emancipation was enforced, Union soldiers simply left, and it was up to the newly freed African Americans to find their way in a hostile country.

McCrea, who said he was a “big boy” at the time, remembered the blue uniforms of the Union troops, their long trains of mules dragging cannon, and the men on horseback.

“We all would [be] standing looking at them, all going home” he told Faulk.

“And I said, I ask them, I said, I ask them, I say, “Mama, where they, where they going?” McCrea said. She replied: “They all going home now.” “And old Colonel M. that was our master, he was in there, and he say, ‘Well, Harriet, [McCrea’s mother] all of you n******s is all free now. Yankees all going home.’”

It was a dramatic change: McCrea’s father had driven a wagon for the colonel, who — McCrea recounted — traded slaves across the south.

“Well, none of your folks were ever sold then?” Faulk asks. “No, sir. None of them never was sold.”

But he had — even as a child — witnessed atrocities. Outside the jailhouse in Jasper, he told Faulk, he had witnessed runaway slaves being brought in.

“Right at the creek there, they take them n****s and put them on, and put them on a log, lay them down and fasten them. And whup them. You hear them n****s hollering and praying on them logs.”

Aunt Harriet Smith, who was like Smalley, born into slavery in Hempstead, Texas, saw her life change after the “big break up.” That was the term for the day of freedom: until then, a white man held her, her grandmother and her mother as his slaves.

U.S. President Joseph R. Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law in the East Room of the White House on June 17, making it the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was signed into law in 1983. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

“He had my grandma, and uh, and my ma. My ma was the cook, and grandma, you know, and them they worked in the field, and everything. I remember when she used to plow oxen. I plowed, I plowed oxen myself,” she told Faulk in 1941.

Like McCrea she remembered soldiers coming through, saying: “They play the prettiest, prettiest music you ever heard in your life. And the soldiers would, you know. And them horses, they’d sing, you know. And them horses dart and follow the music just like that.”

Smith, who was unsure of her age, did not recount the moment of liberation, but said that when it happened “all, all our white folks was dead.”

Instead of being thrown out, her family rented part of the farm where they had been enslaved.

“Rented on the halves till we bought our home across the creek,” she recalled.

Now, 165 years after they witnessed it, the voices of Smith, McCrea and Smalley are being heard again, as the day of their freedom is a federal holiday for the first time.

(Edited by Hugh Dougherty and Alex Willemyns)



The post Recordings Reveal What Happened On First Juneteenth appeared first on Zenger News.

Black Aids Institute Welcomes Harold Phillips As Director Of The White House Office Of National Aids Policy

LOS ANGELES, CA— Black AIDS Institute (BAI), the nation’s only Black HIV organization focused on ending HIV in Black communities, welcomes Harold J. Phillips as the new Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, which has been recently reinstated by President Biden. Mr. Phillips’ selection, based on his extensive HIV/AIDS policy experience across federal agencies and his lived experience as a Black, gay man living with HIV for the past 15 years, are a strong indicator of the Biden-Harris Administration’s approach to tackling an epidemic that disproportionately impacts Black Americans. His appointment, announced on 40th anniversary of AIDS, is in complete alignment with the Black AIDS Institute’s “We The People: A Black Strategy To End HIV,” that advocates for elevating Black leaders in the HIV community and addressing HIV as a racial justice issue.

40 years since the discovery of the AIDS virus, we have proven medical options like a daily pill called PrEP that provides over 90% protection and daily HIV treatment that can keep a person healthy and prevent them from passing on HIV. But direct outcomes of systemic racism such as stigma and lack of healthcare access have prevented Black communities from benefiting from lifesaving HIV interventions in the same way white Americans have. Therefore, during the Black AIDS Institute’s Heroes In The Struggle Virtual Gala on June 5, it was encouraging to hear Mr. Phillips address the need to “begin reviewing and redesigning systems including policies, laws, programs  and institutions that exacerbate inequities and do not advance equity for all including Black people who have been historically underserved, marginalized and adversely affected by systemic and structural racism.”

“As a uniquely and unapologetically Black organization that has led the fight to end HIV for 22 years, Harold is just as much a part of our community as he is the highest-ranking Black HIV leader in the federal government. His aforementioned professional experience, such as leading the federal government’s “Ending The HIV Epidemic” initiative, as well as his personal understanding of intersecting stigmas experienced by Black and LGBTQ people living with HIV, are critical for this juncture in the HIV crisis. I am hopeful that Harold’s leadership and the Biden-Harris administration’s recognition of racism as a public health issue will be a catalyst to finally center Black lives,” said Raniyah Copeland, President and CEO, Black AIDS Institute.

ABOUT BLACK AIDS INSTITUTE
Founded in 1999, Black AIDS Institute (BAI) is the only uniquely and unapologetically Black think and do tank in America. Our mission is to stop the AIDS epidemic in Black communities by engaging and mobilizing Black institutions and individuals to confront HIV. Black Empowerment is our central theme and we are led by people who represent the issues we serve. We source our capacity building, mobilization, and advocacy efforts from Black leaders and communities across the country, and provide culturally respectful, high-quality, HIV prevention and care services for Black people in Los Angeles. Learn more at https://blackaids.org

Letter to the Editor: I Needed Cigarettes to Function

Men’s Health Special

By Steven Littles

I am an actor, director, producer and resident of Los Angeles. With June being Men’s Health Month, I thought it would be the perfect time to share my story and continue the discussion to better health for Black men. I quit using tobacco because once you pick up a cigarette or vape, it’s hard to put it down. And with tobacco being a major contributor of heart disease, cancer and stroke within my community, I knew it was time for a change.

I started smoking cigarettes when I was fifteen-years-old because it was the cool thing to do. Living in New York City, you could smoke just about anywhere except the subway, and being Black, cigarettes were pushed in our communities at a higher rate. I would walk into a bodega and there would be cigarette advertisements all over, and each shelf behind the register was stocked with cigarettes.

I would probably smoke a pack or two a day. I never realized the extent of my addiction. With some people, the cigarette is the footnote to their action, but with me, my action was the footnote to a cigarette. I needed cigarettes to function. My morning routine would consist of waking up, lighting another cigarette, making a cup of coffee, lighting another cigarette, getting dressed and smoking three to four cigarettes on the walk to the subway. It even got to the point where I would deprive myself nutritionally. I would buy a dollar’s worth of salami, and fifty cents worth of cheese just so I had enough to buy a pack of cigarettes.

I reeked of burning tar, paper, and other chemicals. My hair, my clothes, my apartment; everything smelled like smoke. My teeth weren’t white, and I could barely taste my food. 

The road to quitting was not easy. I tried and failed many times. I always felt as if I needed to announce my plans to quit in front of people to hold myself accountable. And each time I made such a statement, I got closer to quitting. Cigarettes also became more expensive, which is another reason why I wanted to give up the habit.

One of the things I have learned as a former smoker is nearly 70 percent of smokers would like to live smoke free. They have mixed emotions about quitting, and often want to wait for the perfect time. But there is no perfect time. According to one study, the average smoker attempts quitting 30 times before they succeed.[1] My reasons for quitting were personal, too. I no longer wanted to hide it from my mother and grandmother, who were both ex-smokers. My friend’s mother was a smoker and she died from

kidney problems due to smoking. And my soulmate was taken from me, leaving me and our two children prematurely.

After I stopped smoking, I would eat whenever I craved a cigarette, and as a result gained weight. However, my teeth got whiter, my skin cleared up, I stopped smelling like smoke, my mood improved, and I no longer had anything to hide from my mother and grandmother.

For anyone thinking about quitting, the best thing is to just do it. It’s all mental. Smoking is an addiction, and your body just craves it. You will make any excuse to smoke. However, once you throw out the cigarettes or vapes, it will be tough, and withdrawal is common.

And to those people thinking about starting smoking, I would strongly advise against it.

I’m glad I was able to kick my addiction. If I was still smoking during the pandemic, I would have been at higher risk for catching COVID-19 and more at danger for serious health problems.  Research indicates that smokers experience worse symptoms after getting COVID-19[1]and those who smoke were two times more likely to get admitted to an intensive care unit, need mechanical ventilation, or die compared to those who did not smoke.[2]

For those who need assistance, there is a free resource to help Californians quit smoking or vaping. A supportive voice, tips to deal with triggers or creating a plan of action can be found at nobutts.org.

I wish these types of resources were around when I needed them.

[1] Vardavas CI, Nikitara K. COVID-19 and smoking: A systematic review of the evidence. Tob Induc Dis. 2020;18:20. doi:10.18332/tid/119324

[2] Guan WJ, Ni ZY, Hu Y, et al. Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in China. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:1708-20. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2002032

[1] Chaiton M, Diemert L, Cohen JE, et al. Estimating the number of quit attempts it takes to quit smoking successfully in a longitudinal cohort of smokers. BMJ Open. 2016;6(6):e011045. Published 2016 Jun 9. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011045

“Oh, Daddy!”

By Lou Yeboah

Even though you are no longer with us… we, your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren thank you for your council, and the legacy you left behind, a legacy of glory. For you said unto us, “Know the God of your father and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.” [1 Chronicles 28:9]. I urge you to remain true to your Savior. I have no doubt that you will. Love each other deeply in your marriages. Keep your family ties strong. Lay-up treasure in heaven because the stuff of earth is empty. Beware of sin and confess it as soon as you discover it in your life. And let the Spirits gift of joy color all your life. Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God [1Colossians 10.31; Proverbs 4:19, 5:1, 6:20].

Oh, I tell you, my father, he was a humble man. He was a dependent man. He was a proven man. He was a focused man. He was a faithful man. He was a patient man. He was an obedient man. He did nothing on His own; He acted only as the Father desired and enabled because he knew that Jesus was the prototype, the pattern, and master copy for how we should live. [John 5:19-30]. I tell you; “Fatherhood” is Worth Celebrating!

Consider all God asks Fathers to do: Provide for their families [1 Timothy 5:8]. Love sacrificially [Ephesians 5:25-33]. Teach their children about the Lord [Ephesians 6:4]. Encourage their children [Colossians 3:21]. Talk about God’s Word, often [Deuteronomy 6:6-9]. Appreciate their children [Psalms 127:3-5]. Guide their families in serving the Lord [Joshua 24:15]. Set a good example [Proverbs 20:7]. Love their children enough to discipline them [Proverbs 13:24; 19:18]. Lead their families as Christ leads the church [Ephesians 5:23]. “Fatherhood” – Worth Celebrating!

That’s why on Sunday, June 20th, America will celebrate “Father’s Day.” Take the opportunity to celebrate your father [Dad, grandfather, stepfather, foster father, uncle, brother] who was there for you. Let him know how much you love and appreciate him, EVEN IF, your relationship was not like you would have wanted it to be. Send him a gift and write him a card that will touch even the toughest man’s heart. He will appreciate your kind words and the fact that you took the time out of your day to write him a personal note. Don’t let the opportunity pass. Just like we celebrate many things. When we grow another year older, we celebrate. When we add another year to the length of our marriage, we celebrate. When our favorite team wins a championship, we celebrate. When we graduate – from kindergarten, from high school, from college – we celebrate. When our child is born, we celebrate. When we get a promotion, we celebrate. When we retire from our career, we celebrate. Clearly, we find and take many opportunities in life to celebrate victories, achievements, milestones, and joyous moments. Take the time to celebrate your dad, because I tell you, “Fatherhood is worth celebrating, and it doesn’t matter if he raised you from day one, barely saw you because he worked long hours to support your family, or you found him later in life – celebrate him. Just like God values you, God values fathers.

On that note, I pray, Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the “Fathers” in our lives. We know fatherhood does not come with a manual, and reality teaches us that some “Fathers” excel while others fail. We ask for Your blessings for them all, and forgiveness where it is needed. Bless them for the many times they reflected the love, strength, generosity, wisdom and mercy that You exemplify in your relationship with us. Granted not all “Fathers” lived up to these ideals. Give them the grace to acknowledge and learn from their mistakes in the same token, give us the grace to extend to them the same forgiveness that you offer us all. Help us to resist the urge to stay stuck in past bitterness, instead, moving forward with humility and peace of heart. Remember all those who have helped fill the void when fathers passed or were/are absent- [grandfathers and uncles, brothers and cousins, teachers, pastors and coaches], bless them who served as “Father” figures in lives when biological fathers weren’t able to do so. Give new and future fathers the guidance they need to raise happy and holy children, grounded in a love for You and other people. We ask Your generous blessings today and every day. In Jesus name. Amen!

Remembering, Honoring, and Celebrating – Fatherhood!

Happy Father’s Day!

Artists Partner with the State for “Your Actions Save Lives” Campaign

By Bo Tefu | California Black Media

More than 20 California artists partnered with the state for the “Your Actions Save Lives” campaign. The effort was created to uplift and celebrate the resilience of communities and encourage safe practices that stop the spread of COVID-19 as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plans to reopen the state on June 15.

The 14 original art projects included in the campaign range from murals, interactive exhibits, and live performances from artists based in communities highly impacted by the COVID-19, including Oakland, Sacramento, Stockton and San Diego.

“The arts have an opportunity to be uplifting and healing to your emotions,” said Jessica Wimbley, an African American digital artist who collaborated with the state for an advertisement on an Oak Park billboard in Sacramento and a digital art display at Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento.

“It’s been a breath of fresh air to work on this campaign. There’s been so much negativity and divisiveness that’s happening in the world that is heavy on the spirit,” said Wimbley.

“It’s been transformative to work on this project,” she added.

The campaign shows us that, “we can move forward, and we are moving forward. We all have things to live for,” she said.

The state partnered with the Center at Sierra Health Foundation in Sacramento for the project which relies on the power of art to communicate the importance of health awareness in addition to getting vaccinated.

“These accomplished artists are tapping into their culture and creativity to share empowering messages with communities that have been hard hit by COVID-19,” said Chet P. Hewitt, president and CEO of the Sierra Health Foundation.

“Art has incredible power, and we believe these works will spark important conversations, connections, and inspiration throughout the state,” he said.

Four female artists, including Wimbley, have used the project to tap into their respective cultures to create powerful visual artworks that empower and inform their diverse communities.

Sunroop Kaur, a classical artist, whose Spring mural is located in Stockton was inspired by her Punjabi-Sikh heritage. The interactive installation, ‘Benevolent Animals, Dangerous Animals,’ by Masako Miki located in Oakland’s Chinatown was inspired by Japanese folklore. In San Diego, the mural ‘Stop the Spread’ by Tatiana Ortiz-Rubio honors her Mexican heritage.

In addition to the art campaign, Newsom recently announced a $116.5 million incentive program that will reward people in California for getting vaccinated. The state allotted $100 million in grocery gift cards worth $50 each for the next two million people who get vaccinated. The remaining $16.5 million will be awarded as cash prizes to people who have been vaccinated across the state. More than 17 million people in California are fully vaccinated which is about 44 % of the state’s population. The incentive program aims to encourage everyone in California to get vaccinated with a goal to reopen the state by mid-June this year.

State officials say they are determined to fully reopen California schools and businesses in efforts to help the economy recover.

Black and Brown families continue to experience the brunt of the economic blow caused by COVID-19 despite the state’s efforts for community outreach to minimize hardship in their respective communities.

The artists featured in the state’s “Your Actions Save Lives” campaign hope to communicate messages of unity and solidarity through art influenced by their different cultures.

Four local artists celebrate their heritages and draw inspiration from their multicultural communities.

Jessica Wimbley

Wimbley, a renowned African American artist, uses her digital art to empower Black people to have agency in their own lives.

The Oak Park Billboard, which is part of a state-sponsored advertising campaign, features Wimbley’s husband as the model. The representation of dark-skinned Black men is important when there have been many incidents of people dying in the media.

The billboard reinforces, “This notion of a Black man living,” said Wimbley.

“It’s really important to bring humanization to the representation of Black people in media. And focus on producing an agency, and empowerment,” she said.

Wimbley’s Masking Series was inspired by the tradition of masquerade which is celebrated in many cultures across Africa. The art series features a still photo of a face with a mask modeled by her husband and a multimedia image with a mask reflecting different visuals.

“The storytelling communicates the important occurrences within the community, I was reflecting on wearing a mask within the masquerade culture and the transformative nature of both putting on a mask and wearing one,” said Wimbley.

Wimbley also wanted to humanize Black and Brown people who were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The added stress of police brutality resulting in the death of African Americans nationwide also inspired Wimbley to show that Black people have agency in their own lives.

Through her art, Wimbley said that she wants Black people, “to be in a place of empowerment, versus, a space of trauma.”

“We are a part of an interconnected story and part of each other’s stories. We have agency in how we move forward, and we can write, claim, and develop what that next phase looks like,” said Wimbley.

The symbolism of the images presented on the Oak Park billboard and the digital display at Arden Fair Mall highlight different codes that have inspired social justice movements throughout the nation. On the billboard, the model is wearing a mask with coded patterns promoting vaccinations and several rings, one with Harriet Tubman.

Sunroop Kaur

Kaur, an artist of South Asian descent, aims to decolonize classical art by using people of color as the center of attention in her paintings.

The large population of Punjabi Sikh immigrants in Stockton is a major influence in Kaur’s artwork. Kaur is intentional about using people of color as the focal point in her ‘Spring’ mural located at JMP Restaurant Supply.

“This mural is a visual celebration of my community and its resilience to not only survive in a foreign land but to thrive,” said Kaur.

The mural draws from the idea of, “decentering whiteness within my work by using people of color is my main fitters,” she said.

“The appropriation of Western classical art canons as a way to decolonize my own body and my culture,” she said.

The artwork includes two people socially distancing and wearing masks depicted through the Italian Baroque portraiture, a 17th-century art style associated with grandeur, movement, and drama.

The body language from the figures symbolizes, “the universal longing and yearning we feel for one another, but also acknowledging the fact that to keep our loved ones safe,” said Kaur.

The mural also includes pastel-colored floral patterns in reference to Spring which represents the reemergence of life following the pandemic. The mural includes

royal blue arches as well as pink and malachite with historical pastel pigments that are part of Persian culture.

Tatiana Ortiz-Rubio

In her ‘Stop the Spread’ mural located at Bread & Salt Gallery in Chicano Park,

Mexican-American visual artist Ortiz-Rubio used the image of a Latina woman to raise awareness on COVID-19 safety precautions in her community.

According to national data, Latinos make up about 30 % of San Diego’s population. They were disproportionately affected by COVID-19 because a disproportionate number are essential workers or undocumented people.

“This is truly a message for anyone in the world because a pandemic has affected us all. But it hasn’t affected us equally,” said Ortiz-Rubio.

“In the United States, minorities have been affected because of their race and economic status,” she said.

Muralism was a social movement which helped foster systematic change in Mexico. Ortiz-Rubio said that the Black Lives Movement also inspired her to challenge racism and inequality through her artwork.

“It speaks to everyone, and the fact that it is a Latin American woman speaking to anyone, is also important because usually generalized images are of a White person,” she said.

Being a woman is an integral part of Ortiz-Rubio’s experience creating the mural. She recalled young girls and their mothers witnessing her paint the mural from their backyards which reaffirmed her desire to use a Latina as the centerpiece of her mural.

“It’s very empowering to be celebrated,” said Ortiz-Rubio.

“This will be a message that will take that stigma away,” she said.

The visual artist said that she wants Latin Americans to be represented and celebrated in her art especially when they are the target audience.

Masako Miki

The interactive art installation ‘Benevolent Animals, Dangerous Animals’ by Miki was inspired by the idea of a treasure hunt throughout Chinatown in Oakland. The pandemic forced people to stay indoors, but the public art installation encourages people to explore different shops and restaurants while admiring the art.

The artwork was inspired by shapeshifting animals in Japanese mythology.

“I wanted to make this positive and uplifting because when things are dark and difficult, we need to have more positive images,” said Miki.

The current reality of the pandemic is, “so dark and difficult that we need to have imagery that gives us the ability to envision something positive,” she said.

In Japanese culture the tiger is a majestic animal that is fearless, she says. The cultural message in the artwork echoes notions of toughness.

“Resiliency is our strength,” and the benevolent animals featured in the art are meant to encourage people to, “respect each other and have empathy to get through this difficult time together,” said Miki.

Recent incidents of violence against Asians have fueled racial tension in America, in addition to the violence toward African Americans nationwide. Miki aspires to use her artwork to dispel stigmas related to COVID-19 about the Asian community.

“We have to have this dialogue so that I can introduce my cultures in such a way that it becomes familiar and it’s not something that they’re afraid of because they don’t know about it,” said Miki.

Artistic performances and visual displays created by all the artists in the “Your Actions Save Lives” campaign have been exhibited since April and will continue until June this year.

California Black Media’s coverage of COVID-19 is supported by the California Health Care Foundation.

Black Panther Casts Headline Grand Opening Ceremony for Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier actor Anthony Mackie poses, June 2, 2021, in Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California. At Avengers Campus, opening June 4, 2021, guests can join the action with the Avengers and their allies, like Iron Man, Black Panther, Black Widow and more; sling webs on the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature Spider-Man; taste-test inventive food and drinks and become part of a bigger universe. Photo produced during a controlled production, in alignment with current California COVID-19 guidance. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (June 2, 2021) – Iconic Superheroes Captain America, Black Panther and his guards Okoye and the Dora Milaje, plus many more assembled alongside actors Anthony Mackie and Paul Rudd with Disney CEO Bob Chapek to celebrate the momentous dedication of Avengers Campus Wednesday night in an epic ceremony at Disney California Adventure Park. The new land opens to the public at the Disneyland Resort on June 4, 2021, featuring Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and their allies.

Avengers Campus is an entirely new land dedicated to discovering, recruiting and training the next generation of Superheroes at the Disneyland Resort inside Disney California Adventure Park. This new land brings together Earth’s Mightiest Heroes for the common good and allows guests to team up with the Avengers and their allies, sling webs with Spider-Man, taste-test inventive food and drinks and become part of a bigger universe. Kids and guests of all ages will find their powers as they unite with family and friends to take an active role alongside some of their favorite Superheroes, with a chance to live out their own heroic story.

In Avengers Campus, Spider-Man soars high above the rooftops with incredible acrobatic feats, a first for a Disney Park. Guests may also notice that their friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is  wearing a Disney Parks exclusive WEB Slinger suit. Recruits will discover many more surprises, from day to night.

While guests have connected with the Super Heroes of Wakanda on screen, Avengers Campus gives visitors the chance to not only see the icons come to life, but also learn from them directly through interactive encounters. New recruits can train with Black Panther’s loyal bodyguards, the Dora Milaje, to learn wisdom from Wakanda and what it’s like to be a member of this elite royal guard. Okoye, the leader of the Dora Milaje, makes her global debut at Avengers Campus as she leads this training encounter. When trouble ensues, out of nowhere Earth’s Mightiest Heroes arrive to save the day. Guests may see Black Panther, along with other Heroes, spring into action as they head off the threat from their foes at Avengers Headquarters – located in the heart of this new land.

“On behalf of our Cast of Super Heroes, I couldn’t be more excited to welcome our guests to this epic new land,” said Ken Potrock, president of the Disneyland Resort. “Just as Avengers come together for the common good, the Disneyland Resort is ready to power up with Anaheim and Southern California to drive tourism, rebuild businesses and strengthen our communities.”

Guests discover their own powers in Avengers Campus.

WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure is a new, action-packed escapade that invites guests to put their web-slinging skills to the test, a feat accomplished with innovative technology adapted specifically for this attraction. The mission: team up with Spidey and help capture the out-of-control Spider-Bots before they wreak havoc on the Campus. This family- friendly attraction blends physical sets and virtual environments to take new recruits on an interactive adventure. There is no height requirement for this attraction, allowing aspiring young heroes to join the fun.

Looming high above the land is the towering citadel of Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, a fan-favorite that opened in Disney California Adventure in 2017. Guests are the protagonists of this rockin’ adventure as they help rescue a cosmic gang of misfits. Taneleer Tivan, a.k.a. the Collector, has brought his unique collection of fantastical fauna, relics and species from across the cosmos to Earth. To their misfortune, Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket, Drax and Groot were recently made a part of Tivan’s “collection” and are being held captive within his Fortress. It takes some raucous mayhem, music inspired by the soundtracks from the movies and thrilling free-fall drop sequences for this adventure to break out the Guardians.

When it is time to take a break from the heroics, new dining spots will offer sustenance.

Just as Ant-Man and The Wasp used “Pym Particles” to grow and shrink just about anything, Pym Test Kitchen featuring Impossible™ Foods applies this innovative science to the food creation. This unbound potential allows Pym Test Kitchen to showcase normal foods at unusual scales, including shareable bites, inventive-sized entrees and tiny treats. As guests watch the Pym food scientists at work in the kitchen lab, they will see a regular-sized pretzel transform after going through a quantum tunnel – it comes out big or small. Guests will also enjoy shawarma at the Shawarma Palace near the heart of the land; or indulge in a weird and wonderful menu of intergalactic eats at Terran Treats – a cart near Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!

Disneyland Resort theme parks reopening

Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure reopened to the public on April 30, 2021, with limited capacity. To visit a theme park, guests (ages 3 and older) must purchase a valid ticket and make a theme park reservation for the same day and same park they want to visit. Other important details are at Disneyland.com/update. Guests are encouraged to check the site for the latest updates as they become available.

The health and well-being of guests and cast members remain a top priority. Enhanced health and safety measures and operational changes will be in place at the theme parks based on guidance from health authorities and learnings from Disney parks around the world. Cast members throughout the resort will assist with questions, and guests may check Disneyland.com/update for current health and safety measures, including required face coverings for guests ages 2 and older.

Guests may learn more about Avengers Campus at Disneyland.com/AvengersCampus.

Event Recap: Memorial Day Weekend Concert to Benefit Veterans Brings Out the Hollywood Elite

Special thanks go out to all those who attended and supported “A Night of Southern Rock” headlined by Southern Rock Band Six Gun Sal, Country Singer Kimberly Dawn, and Soul Bluegrass Artist Scott Gronsky at the Long Beach Scottish Rite Cultural Centre in Long Beach, California on May 29, 2021, Memorial Day Weekend. The concert benefited nonprofit organizations that work with homeless and disabled veterans, including the American Soldier Networks, Tickets for Troops, and One World Stage & Screen.

The night honored two military heroes, the US Navy Seals’ most trusted interpreter Johnny Walker and retired US Navy Seals Command Master Chief Jason Tuschen. The 2014 movie American Sniper depicts their story.

Pam and Morris Chestnut (Photo Credit: Determan)

Tito Ortiz, American mixed-martial artist, politician, and a big supporter of the veterans, came out to “A Night of Southern Rock” and attended the concert. Ortiz introduced Southern Rock band Six Gun Sal on the big stage and did a moment of silence prayer to honor the fallen soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for our country.  

Multi-platinum guitarist Frank DeVille was a special guest artist that hit the stage and performed with Southern Rock band Six Gun Sal. An autographed Michael Kelly guitar was given away by Six Gun Sal as a part of a raffle prize held during the concert.

Red carpet arrivals included celebrities, musicians, MMA fighters, boxers, wrestlers, actors, producers, military, and veterans who were there to support the event and enjoy a live concert benefiting the homeless and disabled veterans.  Arrivals included Tito Ortiz (American Mixed Martial Artist and Politician), Amber Nichole Miller (Model), Morris Chestnut (Actor on The Resident -TV Series), Pam Chestnut (Actress), Six Gun Sal, Southern Rock Headlining (Band Members Anthony Appello (Vocals), Dusty Lang (Rhythm Guitar –Army National Guard, Staff Sergeant), Joey Durant (Drums), Ed Fierro (Lead Guitar), Marko Jankovic (Lead Guitar), Matt Geinitz (Bass Guitar), Country Artist Kimberly Dawn (Opening Performance), Soul Bluegrass Artist Scott Gronsky (Opening Performance), Johnny Walker (Seals most trusted interpreter), Jason Tuschen (US Navy Seals Command Master Chief retired) Kim Estes (Emmy Award Winner- US Navy Lieutenant Reserves ’78 –‘86), David B. Meadows (Actor, Producer, Navy Seal), Annie Nelson (Founder of the American Soldier Network), Frank Deville (Musician, 2xGrammy Nomination, Gold & Platinum Records), Native Wayne- Wayne Jobson (Kroq, Sirius XM radio host personality), Andrew Byrniarski (Actor), Patrick Kilpatrick (Actor, Music Producer), Jonathan Marc Stein (Fashion Designer), Simon Lunche (Artist), Patricia Summerland (Original Pro Wrestler- Actor) Al Burke (16 X Professional Wrestling Champion, Actor) Alan Santana (Former Professional Boxer, 2019 Hall of Fame Inductee, Actor), Danielle Martin (Athlete /Model), Nick Appello (MMA Fighter), Bring Them Home Documentary (Hector Barajas, Deported Veteran & founder of Deported Veterans Support House, Robert Walker (Film Producer), Rike Boomgaarden (Film Director), Elaine Carmody, (Producer), and many more. 

The VIP Lounge was sponsored by Double Cross Vodka and Positive Beverage who provided a signature cocktail, the ‘Brave Soldier’ with Double Cross Vodka’s premium spirit to treat talent and guests to a tropical berry libation without sugar, calories. Urban Press Winery provided red and white wine, and Hint Water was provided to everyone. Mini Birrieria provided delicious small bites all night long. 

The concert and event was presented by Six Gun Entertainment LLC, Alan Santana Production, and the Long Beach Scottish Rite Cultural Centre.

About Southern Rock Band Six Gun Sal

Six Gun Sal is an L.A-based Southern Rock Band whose edgy, biker style is heard through epic anthems and ballads. Since forming in 2015, Six Gun Sal has played hundreds of shows throughout the Western U.S. and put out two full-length albums. They’ve also released world-class videos for singles including “Remember My Name,” “Red Blooded American,” and “The Life,” which won two California Music Video Awards.

In 2021, Six Gun Sal will embark on a U.S. tour to promote their latest album produced by Timothy Eaton (Greg Allman, Lynyrd Skynyrd).  Band Members Include Anthony Appello, Vocals; Dusty Lang, Rhythm Guitar; Joey Durant, Drums; Ed Fierro, Lead Guitar; Marko Jankovic, Lead Guitar; Matt Geinitz, Bass; Mia Dunn and Gwendolyn Casella, Backing Vocals.

Six Gun Sal recently won two awards at the “California Music Video Awards” for their video “The Life”. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=803660450431216 

Listen to Six Gun Sal Music recently release video “Creek” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOyxbgux_LI

For more information, visit www.sixgunsal.net

About Country Singer Kimberly Dawn

Kimberly Dawn is a Canadian-born singer-songwriter who began taking piano and guitar lessons after the birth of her fourth child. She now focuses on creating inspiring music in the genre that has always spoken to her. She’s currently back in the studio writing and recording new music to release later this year, and will perform in Nashville this summer. Notable singles include Slow Dancin’ in the Dark, Cadillac Lovers, and The Bottle. Kimberly’s newly released music video “The Bottle” https://youtu.be/bnyb0EZRWYU

For more information, visit www.officialkimberlydawn.com 

About Soul Bluegrass Artist Scott Gronsky

Scott Gronsky’s music is an eclectic fusion of sounds grounded in the values of blues, funk, jazz, and bluegrass and influenced by artists including Doc Watson, Derek Trucks, and Bob Marley. Gronsky’s original songwriting and lyrics tell stories and share compelling thoughts on “a life of love, heartbreak, the state of the world, the state of my mind, and other random experiences that connect us all together.” Gronsky is based in Orange County.

About Six Gun Entertainment, LLC

Six Gun Entertainment arranges live music events across all genres. They are the co-producers of the “First Annual Biker Run” and “A Night of Southern Rock Concert” to Benefit Veterans Memorial Day Weekend.

About Long Beach Scottish Rite Cultural Centre

Built as the Scottish Rite Cathedral in 1926 this Romanesque Revival structure designated Historical Landmark #8 by the City of Long Beach. Now known as the Scottish Rite Event Center, this stately building is home of the acclaimed 800-seat Ernest Borgnine Theater. It also features many other rooms suited for various occasions. From cultural events to meetings, live entertainment, and galas, weddings this venue can host almost anything. Located only minutes from beaches, airports, the Queen Mary, and civic centers. https://www.lbscottishrite.org

About Alan Santana Productions

Alan Santana Productions promotes rock concerts, musicals, plays and variety shows. They are the co-producers of the “First Annual Biker Run” and “A Night of Southern Rock Concert” to Benefit Veterans Memorial Day Weekend.

Nonito Donaire Turns Back The Clock, Wins World Boxing Title At 38

CARSON, Calif. — Nonito Donaire made boxing history with a fourth-round KO win over defending titleholder Nordine Oubaali on May 29, making him the oldest WBC bantamweight champion and one of a very few fighters to win a world title over three different decades.

“The king is back!” Donaire said to the crowd after becoming a world champion for the ninth time. He broke his own record in the 118-pound division, when, at age 35, he defeated Ryan Burnett in 2018. Burnett was forced to leave the fight in the fourth round due to a back injury.

 Nonito Donaire displayed a strong left hook against Nordine Oubaali. (Esther Lin/SHOWTIME)

Donaire, who turns 39 in November, said he feels faster and stronger than ever. His power was evident during the brief fight. After a feeling-out round in the first, Donaire started to set up his opponent. He knocked him down twice in the third before finishing him in the fourth. Donaire’s staple, a powerful left hook, was the difference-maker, and the referee waved off the contest after Oubaali was dropped at 1:52 of round four.

Donaire, the “Filipino Flash,” came into the fight nearly a 2–1 underdog on most sports books against the undefeated Oubaali, 34. Oubaali, one of 18 children born in France to a coal-mining family, was attempting his fourth defense of the title he won against Rau’shee Warren in 2019.

Oubaali showed flashes of brilliance and grit, but the experience gap was notable. While Oubaali was twice an Olympian for France, this fight was his 18th as a professional. It was Donaire’s 20th world title fight.

“Nordine came from a very tough background. He never had any real support. He did everything on his own, basically. No excuses. Nonito Donaire is a legend,” said actor Saïd Taghmaoui who attended the fight. Taghmaoui praised Donaire for being ”well-prepared mentally and physically for the fight.”

Taghamoui, himself a former amateur boxer in France, was joined by a number of French reporters who covered the fight in Carson, California. Prior to his loss, Oubaali was the only world champion of Arab heritage and one of only two from France.

“Oubaali had more success when he was boxing on the outside,” said Souleymane Cissokho, the WBA Intercontinental super-welterweight titleholder and a close friend of Oubaali’s. He attended the fight as an analyst for French TV.

“Donaire was incredible tonight, and his experience showed. He has a very impressive left hook.”

 Nonito Donaire knocked Nordine Oubaali down twice during the second round. (Esther Lin/SHOWTIME)

The undercard

The event, broadcast on Showtime network, also featured entertaining undercard bouts in the junior welterweight (140 pound) division. Subriel Matias of the Dominican Republic defeated Batyrzhan Jukembayev of Kazakhstan via an eighth-round knockout. It was Matias’s second straight stoppage win over an undefeated fighter.

Junior welterweight Gary Antuanne Russell defeated Jovanie Santiago by knockout. The Gary Russell family has produced four boxers, including WBC featherweight world champion Gary Russell Jr.

Gary Antuanne Russell is on a trajectory for a world championship fight, and in the aftermath of his victory over the weekend, called out former four-division world champion Adrian Broner.

But most of the attention was on Donaire, who reflected a Zen-like calm at the press conference after his victory, even referencing Master Yoda from “Star Wars.”

Long road for Donaire

Just a few months ago, Donaire’s career looked far different, when all fighters were derailed by the pandemic.  The win was Donaire’s first fight since facing Naoya Inoue on Nov. 7, 2019, when Inoue battled back from a broken eye socket and beat Donaire by judges’ decision. It was regarded by many as one of the most competitive fights that year. Many thought Donaire would not recover from his sixth loss as a professional fighter.

“The whole year-and-a-half [layoff] was definitely a blessing. I was able to heal,” he said. “I had head movement; I had power and speed. I was very patient because I was able to take time off and recover.”

Donaire’s promotional manager Richard Schaefer, called his fighter’s upset victory “sensational and unbelievable.” During the press conference, Schaefer recalled former middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, who fought until the age of 50, suggesting Donaire might do the same.

“If we can make it happen, we can make it happen,” Donaire told Zenger News. “I have to talk to my wife [about that]… but, ultimately for me, it is about getting all those belts [from Naoya Inoue] and deciding after that.”

Japanese slugger Inoue faces Michael Dasmarinas of the Philippines next month in a title defense of the four bantamweight titles he holds. Donaire said he will likely attend that fight as he presses for a rematch against his rival.

While a rematch with Inoue is the goal, Donaire also sees other potential big paydays. He will be closely watching the August battle between WBO bantamweight titlist John Riel Casimero of the Philippines and former 122-pound King Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba. A rematch against Rigondeaux, who beat Donaire in 2013 in a potential reunification fight, would offer Donaire a chance to revenge a decision loss and add to his already illustrious career.

(Edited by Matthew B. Hall and Judith Isacoff)



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Randall Bailey Hoping To Satisfy His Sweet Tooth With ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley Exhibition Fight

Fresh off his induction into the Indiana Boxing Hall of Fame, the man known as the “KO King” sets his sights on boxing Hall of Famer “Sugar” Shane Mosley. Finishing his career with a record of 46-9-0, Randall Bailey recorded 39 of the most memorable knockouts in recent boxing history.

Now Bailey is looking to get in on the popular exhibition fight circuit that Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. reinvigorated last November. Bailey’s last official bout was in April 2016, while Mosley’s came a month later. With Mosley retiring while 49-10-1 with 41 knockouts, the two sport a very similar record.

Zenger News recently spoke to Bailey about his recent induction, a potential Mosley bout, and more.

Percy Crawford interviewed Randall Bailey for Zenger News.

Zenger: First and foremost, congratulations on your induction into the Indiana Boxing Hall of Fame.

Bailey: That was a great event. Everything was good, man. I appreciate them out there.

Zenger: When you first got the word that you were being inducted, what was that emotion like?

Bailey: It really didn’t hit me until I got on stage and gave a speech and appreciation for all the people that helped me out on my journey to get there.

Zenger: You were on that stage with a great crop of fighters, too.

Bailey: Ah man, good guys — Montell Griffin, Donny Lalonde, Tony Tubbs. It was a great event.

Zenger: Everyone’s dream at some point or another is to reach the pinnacle of whatever profession they embarked on. For the state in Indiana to consider you one of the best, what does that mean to you?

Percy Crawford interviewed Randall Bailey for Zenger News. (Heidi Malone/Zenger)

Bailey: I never really thought about it, but when it happened it really kind of hit me, “Wow, people really appreciated me.”

Zenger: From what I understand, you’re not done, though. You potentially want in on these exhibitions.

Bailey: I’ve thought about it a little bit. But it’s like, who would be the right person to pull me over the threshold to make me want to really do it?

Zenger: Some names that come to mind for me include Oscar De La Hoya, who is making a comeback, and Shane Mosley, who’s a highly competitive guy who I’m sure would entertain the idea. I know you have a relationship with Cory Spinks, but not sure if he’s interested, and Zab Judah. Any of those names pique your interest?

Bailey: I think a good one would probably be me and Mosley. I could see that one getting people’s eyes open and drawing interest.

Zenger: Absolutely! Have you ever had any kind of interaction with Shane? Sparred him or anything like that?

(Screenshot from www.indianaboxinghof.com)

Bailey: No, not really. I think I personally met him once. This was in like 2000. I’m about to give you a runback story. It was me, Winky Wright, Antonio Tarver and God bless the dead, Roshawn Wells. We were at the [Felix] Trinidad and David Reid fight. We all took a picture together. I think I still have the picture. That was probably the first and only time me and Mosley had contact and met face to face.

Zenger: That’s crazy because of the amount of time both of you were in the sport. I think fans are always under the impression that you guys all hang together and know one another well.

Bailey: No-no! Everybody has their guys that they roll with. Myself, I got a selective few people that I really deal with.

Randall Bailey with a commemorative cake at the 2021 Indiana Boxing Hall of Fame induction. (Courtesy of Randall Bailey) 

Zenger: Have you been training, or would it take a Mosley type of guy to get you back in the gym?

Bailey: It’s hot right now, so this is my training time right now. I don’t do anything in the winter time. It’s too cold. When the spring time and summertime hit, it’s time for me to get my six-pack back.

Zenger: Even in an exhibition format, what would a fight between you and Mosley look like?

Bailey: That wouldn’t be a bad fight to see. I like the idea a lot.

Zenger: Is your power still there?

Bailey: Oh, the power is definitely still there. Because it wasn’t manufactured. It was crafted. Most of it was natural, but I still have the same rotations. When I’m hitting the bag, I can still feel it.

Zenger: If this interview makes it to Mosley, what message would you send him to pitch a potential fight with him?

Bailey: I think it would be a great exhibition fight. Shane is a competitor, Hall of Famer and a legend in the sport. I have always wanted to share the ring with someone of that caliber. I think we could give the fans a good showing.

Zenger: I assume you are a fan of these exhibition fights?

Bailey: I like ‘em. The live active fighters are killing the game right now. The fights the fans want to see, they don’t want to give it to ’em. It’s definitely a door-opener for guys that really want to get in and give the fans a little entertainment.

Zenger: I enjoy watching retired fighters get back in shape and understanding that there are only so many commentating gigs and trainer gigs within the sport for you guys to fulfill, so why not make a little money giving back to the sport that you dedicated your life to?

Bailey: Let me tell you, other than Canelo [Alvarez] and Terence Crawford, I wasn’t really watching boxing. But I actually tuned in to watch Roy Jones and Mike Tyson. And a lot of people were like, “Well, they did this and did that.” I enjoyed it.

Zenger: Exhibitions aren’t about results, it’s about entertainment and if fans come to understand that, I think everyone will enjoy them.

Bailey: Exactly! I liked the fight and the promotion a lot. And if Tyson or Jones ever came back and did another one, I’m going to sit down and watch it.

Zenger: The “KO King” Bailey vs. “The Sugar Man” Mosley — sign me up. I would love to see it.

Bailey: I like it a lot. I’m going to see if I can get Shane on the phone and see if we can make something happen. I think that would be very entertaining for everyone involved.

(Edited by Matthew B. Hall and Judith Isacoff)



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