Name: Gary Russell, Jr.

2008 U.S. Olympian (in Beijing)
• Two-time National Champion.
• 2006 National PAL Champion.
• 2005 World Championships Bronze Medalist.
• 2005 Golden Gloves Champion.
• 2005 USA Boxing Athlete of the Year.
• 2004 Junior Olympic National Champion.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kdhqcOFD-k

Favorite Book: "The Coldest Winter Ever" by Sister Souljah

"Sister Souljah's book is a tell-all story from a teenage girl's point-of-view. From the drug life in the city to the privileged life. It's a story that took me on a journey that I will never forget."

Name: Raynell Williams

2008 U.S. Olympian (in Beijing)
• 2007 Olympic Test Event Champion.
• 2007 National Champion.
• Two-time USA Boxing Athlete of the Month.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0ZiaL6PyNU&feature=related

Favorite Book: "Harry Potter" by J.K. Rowling

"Harry Potter was exciting reading! I like it all--the witches, the demons, the gnomes and the monsters. Of course, I like the heroes, too. Oh, yeah, there's another book I really liked--"Shiloh". It's about a poor, mistreated dog and a boy who saves him."

Name: Sadam Ali

2008 U.S. Olympian (in Beijing)
• 2007 National Golden Gloves Champion.
• 2006 National Golden Gloves Champion.
• 2005 Junior Olympic National Champion.
• First Arab-American boxer to compete in the Olympic Games.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUvKqRgLYjk

Favorite Book: "Champion: The Story of Muhammad Ali" by Jim Haskins

"My favorite fighter is Muhammad Ali, so anything about Ali I like to read."

Name: Javier Molina

2008 U.S. Olympian (in Beijing)
• 2007 National Champion.
• 2006 Junior Olypmic National Champion.
• 2006 Cadet World Championships Bronze Medalist.
• Is an honor student.
• http://www.usaboxing.org/86_1892.htm

Favorite Book: "The Adventures of Indiana Jones" by Campbell Black, James Kahn & Rob Macgregor

"If Indiana Jones was a fighter, man, he'd be the heavyweight champ of the world! He can knockout any snake or bad guy you put in front of him!"

Name: Demetrius "Boo Boo" Andrade

2008 U.S. Olympian (in Beijing)
• 2007 World Champion.
• 2007 Pan American Games Silver Medalist.
• Two-time National Champion.
• Two-time Golden Gloves Champion.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdxePkaT-4E

Favorite Book: "Real Adventures of Johnny Quest" by Brad Quentin

"Adventure stories interest me. Every time I get into the ring it's an adventure--and I'm the hero!"

Name: Shawn Estrada

2008 U.S. Olympian (in Beijing)
• 2nd Americas Qualifier Gold Medalist
• 2006 U.S. Championships Bronze Medalist.
• 2005 U.S. Championships Bronze Medalist.
• http://youtube.com/watch?v=fWb0cU4VSSY&feature=related

Favorite Book: "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien

"I liked "Lord of the Rings". But I also like reading stuff by Steinbeck. You know what else I like? Action and adventure. I like reading some of Stephen King's stuff, too."

Name: Deontay Wilder

2008 U.S. Olympian (in Beijing)
• 2007 National Champion.
• 2007 National Golden Gloves Champion.
• Played basketball in college.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8mLG7ux6Uk&feature=related

Favorite Book: Iron Mike: A Mike Tyson Reader by Daniel O'Conner

"I vow to read more. But I like reading about Mike Tyson. He's an interesting guy."

Name: Harry Keitt

Veteran New York City trainer
• Main character in the award-winning documentary film "On the Ropes".
• Trained James Moore.
• Trained Dmitry Salita.
• Trained James Walton.
• http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181733/

Favorite Book: "Angels & Demons" by Dan Brown

"Someone suggested this book and once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Loved it. But the ending was disapointing. It was like Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez inviting you home after a date, and just when you think you got it made, they slam the door in your face."

Name: Melissa "Huracan" Hernandez

Won vacant WIBA Women's International Boxing Association Super Bantamweight title
• Won Global Boxing Union Female Lightweight Title.
• Defeated Lisa Brown (W 10).
• Defeated Layla McCarter (MD 8).
• Defeated Melissa Fiorentino (TKO 3).
• Won the 2004 National PAL Boxing Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Melissa won the 132-lb division.
• Won the 2005 NYC Golden Gloves.
• Won the 2005 Florida PAL Championship over Lena Taylor.
• won 8 (KO 3) + lost 1 (KO 1) + drawn 2 = 11
• http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=103702931

Favorite Book: "Natural Born Killers" by John August

"I liked this book because of the unity of the two characters, Mickey And Mallory. It's the screenplay for Oliver Stone's film. It's a strange story about two lovers, Mickey & Mallory, on their honeymoon. They ended up killing 48 people. Even though this book is a bit dirty and nasty, I liked the fact that they worked together as a team. Unity and teamwork--you don't see much of that anymore."

Name: Bob Jackson

Legendary boxing trainer and member of the Boxing Hall of Fame
• Jackson trains out of Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn, New York.
• He has trained successful boxers for more than fifty years.
• His charges have included heavyweight world title contender Oleg Maskaev.
• Former world bantamweight and super-bantamweight champ Junior Jones.
• Former heavyweight contender Chuck Wepner.
• Former USBA junior welterweight champ Raul Frank.
• Numerous other pro contenders and Golden Gloves champs.
• http://www.charlierose.com/guests/bob-jackson

Favorite Book: "A Clenched Fist--The Making of a Golden Gloves Champion" by Peter Wood

"A Clenched Fist" is a fantastic, one-in-a-million type book because it explains in a very graphic & colorful way, what it's like to enter & fight in The New York City Golden Gloves. "Fist" is a real eye-opener. I loved it."

Name: Alvin "Blue" Lewis

Heavyweight Contender in 1960s-70s
• Defeated Dick Wipperman (W 10).
• Defeated Eduardo Corletti (KO 2).
• Defeated Cleveland Williams (TKO 4).
• Lost to Muhammad Ali in Ireland (TKO 11).
• won 30 (KO 19) + lost 6 (KO 3) + drawn 0 = 36
• http://amatoboxingsite.multiply.com/notes/item/587

Favorite Book: "The Life and Strife of Sonny Liston" by Robert Steen

"I read this book when I was in jail. I took knowledge and strength from reading it. Sonny's life was hard, like mine."

Name: George "Blaze" Walton

Rugged New York Middleweight
• Subject of the 1999 Academy Award nominated documentary “On the Ropes”.
• Defeated Carl Daniels (w 6).
• Amassed an impressive 59-8 Amateur Record.
• 1996 Golden Gloves Open Middleweight Champion.
• won 17 (KO 11) + lost 3 (KO 0) + drawn 0 = 20
• http://www.leisuresuit.net/Webzine/articles/on_theropes.shtml

Favorite Book: "The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Suess

"What's my favorite book? I don't know...The Bible? Nah, that don't count...Ok, one of the Dr. Seuss books."

Name: Mitch "Blood" Green

World Boxing Syndicate Champion (a sanctioning body founded in 2002)
• Former WBC #7 Heavyweight Contender.
• Defeated Percell Davis (W 10).
• Defeated Danny Wofford (W 12).
• Defeated Sammy Scaff (TKO 6).
• Lost to Mike Tyson (L 10).
• Lost to Trevor Berbick (L 12).
• Four-time New York City Golden Gloves Champion.
• http://www.ulifeonline.com/archives/10. won 19 (KO 12) + lost 6 (KO 1) + drawn 1 = 27
• http://www.geocities.com/mitchgreen/

Favorite Book: The Bible

"When I need inspiration, I turn to The Bible. It's helped me through some dark times. And, believe me, there's been many dark times."

Name: Wayne Kelly

American (New York-based) boxing referee
• Third Man for countless matches: Klitschko Brothers; Arturo Gatti.
• Riddick Bowe; Andrew Golata; Ray Mercer; Chris Byrd; John Ruiz.
• Junior Jones...
• Grandson of boxer "Harlem" Eddie Kelly.
• Had a brief pro boxing career as a Light Heavyweight between 1975 and 1979.
• Pro record:4 (KO 3) + lost 3 (KO 0) + drawn 0 = 7
• http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article.php?article=4612

Favorite Book: "Up Country" by Nelson DeMille

"Nelson DeMille is without question my favorite contemporary author. (Ernest Hemingway is my all time favorite. They both have a vivid imagination and an unusual sense of humor.) DeMille's characters tend to be tough guys with attitute problems. I get a laugh out of the humor and quick wit in these books. "Up Country" by Nelson DeMille is a perfect example. It's a story about a retired military police officer who investigates a 30-year-old murder of an army officer in Vietnam. This guy suspects there's more to it than meets the eye, and can't resist the opportunity for a nostalgic trip back to 'Nam at the expense of the U.S. Government."

Name: Ron Ross

Boxing Author
• Author of "Bummy Davis VS. Murder, Inc".
• Author of "The Tomato Can".
• Author of "Nine ... Ten ... And Out! The Two Worlds of Emile Griffith".
• Former fight promoter and manager.
• Member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
• Inducted into the Long Island Jewish Hall of Fame.
• http://www.ronross.us/

Favorite Book: "A Stone for Danny Fisher" by Harold Robbins

"Harold Robbins is a master story-teller. I identified with the main character in this book, and the New York setting--East Flatbush, Brooklyn--my old stomping grounds. Robbins' writing is dead on and recently I re-read it. And you know what? It's still a great read."