James Lancaster's boxing career began as an 81-pounder in junior high school. He joined the Navy in 1953 and won the San Diego Golden Gloves tournament and was voted outstanding boxer in the tourney. He won the 1954 World Wide U.S. Navy Boxing Championships as well. While the Naval Academy, Lancaster trained for the 1952 Olympic Boxing team but lost in the finals of the Olympic trials. As a professional, Lancaster won his first main event in Boston against undefeated welterweight Don Prestone. Lancaster also topped Bobby Kennedy, the undefeated protege of the late Sugar Ray Robinson in his second main event in Boston.

One of the Carolinas biggest supporters of boxing, Cecil Harris was the area's preeminent promoter of boxing in the Charlotte area. After moving to Charlotte in 1944, Harris worked with the late W.T. Harris in the grocery business and was vice president and buyer during the company's growth years. Harris promoted boxing matches in Charlotte and the surrounding towns for 12 years, holding bouts featuring such boxing greats as Del Flanagan, Jake LaMotta, Cleveland Williams, and Nino Valdes. Perhaps his biggest feat was heavyweight bout between Calabash's Waban Thomas and Neil Wallace. The event drew a sold-out crowd to the old Charlotte Coliseum.

Eddie "The Kannapolis Flash" Green won 56 of 63 professional fights. He forged an outstanding amateur boxing career, winning 35 AAU and Golden Gloves bouts. He was a four time AAU and Golden Gloves tournament champion before turning pro. Greene, a middleweight, often was forced to fight as a light heavyweight. Perhaps best known for a stirring seven-bout rivalry with Joe Lassiter, who is a 1991 inductee into the Carolinas Boxing Hall of Fame as well. The Green-Lassiter Rivalry resulted in three wins, three losses and one draw for each fighter. Greene, 66, lives in Kannapolis and is active in his church and an avid rabbit hunter.

Charlotte's "Golden Boy of the Ring," the late Lassiter was known for his class, style and finesse. Lassiter started his amateur career later than most fighters. He had completed a tour of duty in the U.S. Navy and returned to Charlotte Tech to complete high school. He then began boxing in amateur bouts but soon turned professional. He won more than 90 percent of the 70 professional fights he entered, including top light heavyweight contender Danny Nardico of Jacksonville, Fla. Two of his best known fights were losses to middleweight contender Billy Kilgore in Miami, and by the number of welterweight contender at the time, Bobby Dykes of Tampa. Lassiter died 11 years ago.

David Mills fashioned an incredible record while competing in an amazing 337 amateur bouts, winning 316 fights, losing only 21. He began his boxing career in 1952 by winning the Golden Gloves competition in Charleston, Hickory, Jacksonville, Fla., and Charlotte. Mills represented the Carolinas in the National Golden Gloves competition, advancing to the finals in his weight division. He also represented the Carolinas in the national AAU finals in Boston, Mass. During his outstanding amateur career, Mills defeated the All-Service Champion in Washington D.C., topping the Marine champion, Thomas Ocera, who was the Marine Boxing Champion and Carolina's Golden Gloves Champion during the years of 1949-52 and/or 53. 

One of the area's finest amateur boxers, Bill McInnis' career has been distinguished both in and out of the boxing ring. A success in a number of business ventures, McInnis has been highly involved in area politics and as a civic leader. For nine years, he has served as a member of the Democratic Party's State Executive Council for four years. His boxing career lists 105 wins, 13 losses and 3 draws, fighting mostly for North Carolina mills teams and in Golden Gloves competition. He won five amateur boxing championships in three different weight classes. While attending Cannon High School in Kannapolis, McInnis became enthralled in the boxing action at the local YMCA. He went on to be a member of the University of Maryland boxing team and distinguished himself by posting the highest grade point average of all players engaged in sports at the university his senior year.

Peele, now living in Baton Rouge, La., was one of the three successful boxing brothers. Like many boxers, he began his amateur career in the Carolinas Golden Gloves tournament, winning the tournament in 1950-51-52-53. He also boxed in the National Golden Gloves Finals in New York City during this time. Peele attended the University of Louisiana and never lost a fight during his collegiate career. He won the NCAA Collegiate Boxing Championship in 1955. He turned professional after college and boxed several ranked heavyweights, including Joey Rowland and Charlie Norkus. While a professional, Peele served as a sparring partner with legendary light heavyweight champion Archie Moore. Peele's amateur record stands at an amazing 195-5 while his professional record boasts 37 wins and 2 losses.