(MAR 29) The Carolinas Boxing Hall of Fame is proud to formally announce that Brent Elmore will receive the prestigious Floyd Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award this year in 2020, for his contribution throughout the many years in the sport of boxing.

Elmore began his boxing career in his hometown of Sumter, South Carolina. As a junior Olympic Boxer, he won numerous titles, including, The Carolinas Golden Gloves in Charlotte, as well as the AAU Championships in North and South Carolina.   Elmore represented the Carolinas in several regional AAU and Junior Olympic events. He was also once named "Outstanding Boxer" in both Charlotte and Highpoint competitions.

In addition, he was a two-time SC Golden Gloves Champion (1978 &1979) before his 18th birthday.  During his nine years of boxing, Elmore competed in three national tournaments against world-class competition.   He boxed for team USA against Canada, and became the first Sumter native to fight (and win) and international bout with a victory over highly-regarded fighter, Leo Blain.

Photo credit: Facebook - Elmore Congratulating Larry Frazier, 2015 Inductee

In a local newspaper article, they wrote the following, "Brent Elmore, at the age of 17 years old, recently won the South Carolina Open Golden Gloves Championship in Columbia in the 125 lb. featherweight division." They went on to say that In the finals, Elmore defeated the very experienced fighter, Alton 'Spider' Moten who at that time was the defending champion in that division. [Moten went on to later defeat a Silver Medalist in the Olympics in Venezuela in 1980].  In that event, to reach the finals, Elmore stopped Lavon Watford of Florence.

Elmore trained under the tutelage of Burke Watson, a highly respected boxing coach, who was named as a top-125 of all time of sports figures in Sumter, NC, in November of 2019.  On the website 'Sumter Item' they wrote the following:  "Boxing and Burke Watson were synonymous with each other for well over a half of a century. As a senior cadet at The Citadel in 1948, Watson won the Southern Conference's light heavyweight title. A few years later, Watson helped create the Sumter Optimist Boxing Club for local children to train and hone their skills, and more importantly, to give them guidance in their lives."

Included in that article they went on the say, "Brent Elmore, who boxed for Watson in the 1970s and fought in the National Golden Gloves competition and succeeded him as the boxing club director, said Watson had a tremendous affect on his life. Elmore said that what made Watson such a great coach is that he didn't mince his words. He was never cruel, but he told you what you needed to hear.  He's the kind of man that he didn't always tell you what you wanted to hear."

With Elmore following in Watson's footsteps, he continued to be a major force in the sport of boxing, and continued to be involved with boxing for many years.

In 1984, Elmore started coaching with the Sumter Optimist Club Boxing Team. 

In 2002, Elmore was inducted into the Sumter Sports Hall of Fame.  It was in recognition of having attained outstanding and conspicuous achievements in the field of athletics. 

Other accomplishments throughout his years include the following: Elmore served on the board of USASC Boxing Association.  He served as Vice President for 15 years;  Chairman of the South Carolina Golden Gloves for 15 years;  he was named Named "Optimist of the year" in 1998; and he was awarded the order of the Silver Crescent by governor Jim Hodges in 2002.

 As of this time Brent Elmore serves as Chairman for the Carolinas Boxing Hall of Fame Board.  He was also inducted into the hall of fame in 2002,  for his accomplishments with his stellar performance in the ring as an amateur,  and his accomplishments outside of the ring. 

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Due to the increased number of COVID cases, the Carolina's Boxing hall of fame is forced, once again to post pone our banquet until April 22, 2022.

To see all the inductees and award candidates for 2020, go here.  We would like to thank our 2020 Sponsors:  On behalf of the Carolinas Boxing Hall of Fame board, we want to extend a thank you for your commitment to making our organization and our events so successful. Your generous contribution help make our vision a reality by helping to offset the cost of holding our annual events. Below are the current sponsors this year!

Written by:   Sue TL Fox/WBAN