Southern Training Center for USA Boxing

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Saturday, December 22, 2001, in Pineville for the Southern Training Center for USA Boxing, attracting four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and many other personalities and dignitaries. The training center is to be built on a 31-acre site, on land donated by Calvin Malone, the co-owner of Cajun Tackle Fishing Lure Company and the brother-in-law of Holyfield's trainer, Kenny Weldon.

The central location and weather helped the Pineville site get the U.S. Olympic Committee's approval as the site of the training center, which will employ 60-65 people and have a $1 million payroll. The site is expected to bring several nationally televised events to central Louisiana each year, including international and national competition at the Rapides Coliseum as well as the Junior Olympic Nationals.

The center will have 92 dorm rooms with three beds in each room, a cafeteria, gym, showers, offices, indoor and outdoor running tracks and a chapel named after Holyfield. The center is located at 44 Zeb Beaver Road in Pineville and is expected to be ready by September 6, 2002. Below are some photos from the groundbreaking ceremony. (Click on each picture to view a larger version.)

	Four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield listens along with State Farm Representative Rosa Fields and Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields shortly before putting the gold shovels in the ground for the groundbreaking of the new boxing training center just north of Pineville.
	Kenny Weldon, trainer to Evander Holyfield, addresses the dignitaries gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking.
	Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Elton Pody speaks to the gathered crowd of well-wishers.
	Left to right: Elton Pody, Kenny Weldon, Alexandria Mayor Edward "Ned" Randolph, Mike Stone (USA Boxing Association), Rapides Parish Police Juror Davron "Bubba" Moreau, State Farm Agent Rosa Fields, Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields, Four-time Heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield
	Left to right: Nikita Wilson (former LSU basketball star), Elton Pody, Calvin Malone, Eric Griffin (Olympic USA Boxing), unidentified man, Kenny Weldon, "Ned" Randolph, Mike Stone, unidentified Boxing Association member, "Bubba" Moreau, Rosa Fields, Clarence Fields, Evander Holyfield
	"Bubba" Moreau, Rosa Fields, Clarence Fields, Evander Holyfield share a laugh.
	Left to right: Rosa Fields, Clarence Fields, Evander Holyfield, Elton Pody
	Left to right: Elton Pody, Evander Holyfield
	Left to right: Pineville City Superintendent Charles Moore, Evander Holyfield
	Left to right: Evander Holyfield, Kenny Weldon, unidentified man
	Left to right: Rosa Fields, Evander Holyfield, John Tudor
	Calvin Malone donated the 31-acre site.