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STEVEN J. CANTON--Matchmaker, Manager, Trainer, Cutman.  Steven J. Canton has been involved in every aspect of boxing for over 52 years. He started boxing in the Police Boy's Club at age 11 in New York City.  He concluded his amateur career with a record of 122-3 including Air Force European Championships in 1965 and 1966. As a professional, Canton was 21-0 with 16 knockouts in his on and off career that spanned 21 years.

       Steve is an ardent boxing enthusiast, as well as a professional. He has promoted and been a matchmaker of fights all over the world. He has worked as a ring announcer, television commentator, judge, referee, and timekeeper. He co-hosted a popular Las Vegas based boxing radio talk show with James "Smitty" Smith for seven years. He wrote a monthly Florida column for Flash/Update for many years. He has had numerous articles published in The International Boxing Digest, Boxing World, and many major web sites. He is a world-class cutman and trainer and has worked with some of the best fighters, trainers, managers, matchmakers and promoters in the world.  He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame as a Trainer/Manager, on June 27, 2009. 

       Canton started the amateur SJC Boxing Club, Inc. in Fort Myers, Florida in 1992 and promoted shows every other month, featuring mostly out of state teams vs. Florida. Most of these shows were televised on local cable tv.  During a two year period of time his gym produced 28 Florida State Gold Medalists, 6 Regional and 1 National Champion.

       In addition to working in professional and amateur boxing he has promoted Toughman Contests with Art Dore, and was a boxing consultant for the film "Tough Enough," starring Dennis Quaid.  Canton is well respected in the boxing community as a historian, and is a voting member on the committee that elects new inductees for the International Boxing Hall of Fame, in both the modern and old-timer categories. He is also a proud member of the International Boxing Research Organiztion (IBRO), which consists of approximately 110 esteemed boxing historians world-wide. He is frequently called upon for developing fight plans and strategies by prominent fighters, managers and trainers.

       Canton promoted the first casino boxing in the State of Florida. He promoted the first broadcast of live boxing on the Internet, which was transmitted throughout the world. It was watched by over 250,000 people in 15 different countries and received writeups in International Boxing Digest, and other publications. He also promoted the first pay-per-view telecast of boxing in the Bahamas.

       Canton formed SJC Professional Boxing, Inc. in the spring of 1995 and is currently managing and training several excellent fighters, some of whom will be featured on these web pages.  


                              
MARY LYNN CANTON--"The First Lady of Boxing." Mary Lynn Canton has played a key role in helping to produce the local boxing shows which have run since October of 1995.Her talents were used primarily behind the scenes until July 11, 1996, when Mary Lynn made boxing history by being the first woman to debut as a cornerperson in Madison Square Garden, New York. On that night, she helped work the opponents' corners against world champions Arturo Gatti and Hector "Macho" Camacho.  If that wasn't exciting enough, the Bowe-Golota post-fight brawl gave Mary Lynn an opportunity to have a photograph she shot published in the Ring magazine.

       As Steve's wife, Mary Lynn is also involved in helping with the matchmaking that is an integral part of every show.  On one occasion, she was on the phone at two in the morning trying to put together airline reservations for a group of Philadelphia fighters who needed to be in Punta Gorda, Florida at the 9:00 AM weigh-in.  When asked what it is she likes best about boxing, Mary Lynn said, "It's the fighters. I remember the first time I ever came into a boxing gym, everyone was so focussed and respectful of each other. It really made an impression on me."

       A high school teacher, Mary Lynn has been instrumental in bringing "problem youngsters" to the gym and getting them involved in the amateur program.  She is also a registered amateur coach besides making up one third of our professional corner. 



Ron Rose--SJC Amateur Boxing Director and Professional Coach-- Ron Rose has always been a fight fan and has been involved with boxing for many years. He used to have his own gym in Pittsburg, trained fighters, and promoted professional shows in Pennsylvania. After moving to Florida he also wanted to become an amateur coach and started coming to the SJC Boxing gym each night to help out. He has since become the head coach of the SJC amateur team, and is doing a great job of teaching the young fighters the fundamentals of the sport. He especially enjoys watching a beginner come into the gym and develop into a good fighter. Hard work, real dedication, and the right attitude are the ingredients he looks for in a new fighter. He feels if that is what they bring to the gym he can mold them into a good fighter. Ron Rose has shown these characteristics himself, and is a welcome addition to the SJC Boxing family.



Charlie Pechette--Promoter, has been behind the scenes of both the SJC amateur boxing club and SJC Professional Boxing, Inc., since the beginning. He has been both an inspirational and monetary supporter. Without Charlie there would have been no SJC Boxing. We thank him wholeheartedly. 


                                        
Bob Alexander--ring announcer-- He may not be "ready to rumble," but Bob Alexander is always ready to ring announce. Bob has been announcing fights in Southwest Florida for nearly ten years. During that span, he's had the opportunity to introduce some of the biggest names in Boxing. The list includes: Joe Frazier, Michael Spinks, Larry Holmes, Hector Camacho, Pinklon Thomas, and Freddie Pendleton, as well as legends such as Carmen Basilio, Gene Fullmer, and Emanuel Steward.

       Bob's interest in boxing doesn't end with ring announcing. He has served as a blow-by-blow television announcer, and an assistant boxing coach and cornerman with the Blue Diamond Boxing Academy, in Charlotte County, Florida. He even climbed into the ring to spar with Hector "Macho" Camacho, to raise money for charity. Bob is also an avid boxing tape collector with more than 1500 fights in his collection.

       When not ring announcing, he serves as one third of the morning show, along with Todd Matthews and Kerri Black on Kix Country 92.9 FM, in Punta Gorda, Florida. 



G. J. "Jerry" Brown has been providing our guest celebrity transportation. Co-founder and director of the Brielle Learning and Diagnostic Center, Jerry retired to Florida ten years ago from New Jersey. His beautiful wife, Dr. Linda Levine-Brown, is still active in education and is an administrator in Lee County, Florida. Jerry, an avid fight enthusiast, enjoys seeing that everyone is where they are supposed to be--when they are supposed to be there. You'll also see him at ringside videotaping all the exciting action.

      Jerry Brown died of cancer on November 7, 2000. He is sadly missed by all who knew him. Please read "The Jerry Brown Tribute." Thank you.

"JERRY BROWN TRIBUTE" November 7, 2000