On Dec. 26, 2023, long-time Hernando County resident Jose “Chelo” Alonzo received the call that he would be inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame on June 23 of this year. “That is a call I never thought I would get,” Alonzo said. At 3:14 p.m., he picked up the phone. On the other end was the President of the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame, Steve Canton, who was calling to congratulate the boxer on being named to the class of 2024. With his induction, Alonzo became the first Hernando County resident to ever hold a professional boxing title.
Chelo first heard he was being considered for this award during the 2023 Inaugural Jose Chelo Alonzo Classic tournament held by Coach Jackie Wilson and Team Wolfpack Boxing in Brooksville. Alonzo’s former trainer and Hall of Fame Inductee Don Kahn, Hall of Fame Inductee Orlando Fernandez, and his former manager and trainer John Cassella spoke at the event. It was during the trio’s speech that he learned that he might receive the honor. In an interview on Wednesday, Alonzo expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the help of the people of Hernando County during his journey to the Boxing Hall of Fame.
“I really would like to thank Hernando County and this community for always supporting me, believing in me, and just being part of my journey […] There is no community better than Hernando County,” Alonzo said. “I love Hernando County, I love the people in it, and I thank them with all I have for being there in my boxing career and being there when I was fighting for my life. This community came together for my family and I, and I cannot thank them enough.”
28 сен 2024
