03.09.06 – Former world title challenger and current up and coming trainer “Iceman” John Scully and the man he guided to a world championship earlier this year, current WBA 154 pound champion Jose Antonio Rivera, will both inducted into Rhode Island promoter Jimmy Burchfield’s “CES Promotions Ring Of Honor” on September 23 in Hartford, Connecticut on the card that features cruiserweights Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey going against New York’s Danny “Boy” Batchelder..
Scully will be honored for his stellar professional and amateur careers
Burchfield’s “Ring Of Honor” currently has just three members so Scully and Rivera will be joining a short but distinguished list that currently includes former contender “Irish” Mickey Ward, former two-time welterweight champ Marlon Starling and former two-time champion Vinny Pazienza.
Rivera won the WBA junior middleweight title earlier this year with a scintillating performance on “Showtime Championship boxing” when he dominated two-time champion Alejandro “Terra” Garcia over twelve hard fought rounds to take home his second world title. He is apparently scheduled to defend his title for the first time by the end of the year and has repeatedly called out bigger names in the division, most notably Corey Spinks and Antonio Margarito.
In 2003 Rivera captured the WBA 147 pound title, losing it in his first defense on a 12 round split decision to Luis Collazo. Over the course of his career Jose Rivera has defeated the likes of Garcia, Frankie “The Surgeon” Randall, and Teddy Reid
Scully, meanwhile, fought for the IBF light heavyweight title back in 1996, losing a decision over 12 round to then-champion Henry Maske in Germany. Scully also lost a controversial nod to Michael Nunn for the NABO title in 1995. As an amateur boxer in the 1980’s Scully was one of the top middleweights in the United States, and solidified that position when he won gold at the 1988 Eastern U.S. Olympic Trials and bronze at the Olympic Trials later that year. He entered his pro career in late 1988 as the #4 rated amateur 165 pounder in the country.
Having excelled for several years as an amateur trainer of national and regional level champion, “The Iceman” is now making his mark in the pro game. Besides Rivera, Scully’s growing stable includes USBO 122 pound champion Mike Oliver, former NABF 135 pound champion Israel “Pito” Cardona and heavyweight Lawrence Clay-Bey.
Both Oliver and Cardona will appear on the September 23 “Rising Stars” show in Hartford. as will up and coming featherweight Matt Remillard and 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason Estrada will also be on the undercard in a featured bout. Tickets for the event can be obtained at www.cesboxing.com