Ronnie Shields
Ronnie Shields (born June 6, 1958 in Port Arthur, Texas) is a former professional boxer in the featherweight division and is currently a boxing trainer.
Amateur career
Shields had a stellar amateur career. In 1974 he was the National Junior Olympics Featherweight champion. In 1975 he was the National Golden Gloves Featherweight champion. In 1976 and 1978 he was the National Golden Gloves Light welterweight champion.
Shields intended to fly on LOT Polish Airlines Flight 7, where several of his teammates would later be killed, but got sick. His trainer said:
That was close. Ronnie was supposed to be on the trip. He was confirmed. The team officials called Monday to give me the itinerary and that's when I had to tell them he was too sick to go."[1]
Pro career
Shields turned pro in 1980. In 1984 he challenged Billy Costello for the WBC light welterweight title, but lost a decision. In 1986 he took on Tsuyoshi Hamada in Japan for the WBC light welterweight title, but lost a split decision. He retired in 1988.
Trainer
After his boxing career, Shields has become a prominent trainer in the sport. He works out of the Plex Boxing Gym in Stafford, Texas. Among the fighters he has worked with are:
- Mike Tyson
- Evander Holyfield
- David Tua
- Pernell Whitaker
- Vernon Forrest
- Arturo Gatti
- Juan Díaz
- Kassim Ouma
- Egerton Marcus
- Dominick Guinn
- Raúl Márquez
- Jesse James Leija
- Jesús Chávez
- Kermit Cintron
- Vanes Martirosyan
- Romallis Ellis
- Tomasz Adamek
- Chris Arreola
- Jermell Charlo
- Artur Szpilka
His current stable includes:
- Erislandy Lara
- Jermall Charlo
- Brian Vera
- Edwin Rodríguez
- Mike Lee
- Steve Lovett
- Guillermo Rigondeaux
- Efe Ajagba
- Austin Dulay
- Sena Agbeko
Awards and recognition
- World Boxing Hall of Fame's Trainer of the Year (2003)
References
- Fate spares Clark, Marvis Frazier, by Chuck Slater and Bill Gallo, Daily News from New York, March 15, 1980, p. 385.