The Greg Page Foundation, Inc.

***  04/27/2010 ***

Tomorrow, April 27th, marks the first anniversary of the passing of heavyweight boxing champ Greg Page "gentle giant" and TRUE champion. He was a few months short of his 51st birthday. Greg was critically injured in March 2001 in his last fight and fought the battle against his injuries till the end. He never gave up an he never complained. He was truly OUR CHAMP and a great inspiration to all who came in contact with him.

Although are hearts are heavy and we miss him, we know that he is chillin and enjoying a pain free life with all who have passed on before him and dancing along the golden streets of heaven. Greg truly believed that his injury and all that followed were by God's design and part of the bigger picture. On the back of his robe, the night he was injured, "Believe in the Knockout Power of the Lord!"

Although it has been one year since his physical presence left us, he is still with us in spirit and in our hearts. The Greg Page legacy lives on in many forms, thru the persistence and diligence of his wife, Patricia Page and oldest brother, Dennis Page of the Greg Page Foundation, established to assist other people with disabilities find assistance. The Greg Page legacy lives on in the  The Greg Page Foundation, The Baxter Memorial Training Center, along with the Fight Crimes Against Children Partnership. ***

Photo taken August 2008 and is the Property of the Greg Page Foundation and may not be used without written consent of the GPF.*** 

HOW IT ALL BEGAN...........

On March 9th, 2001 USBA/WBA heavyweight champ and proud Louisville native,  Greg Page suffered a carer ending severe brain injury in a boxing match in Erlanger, KY that left him with multiple permanent disabilities.  For a seemingly endless period of time Greg’s family sought answers on where one would go for support, assistance with medical bills, after care and transportation.

After meeting with several service agencies, each reported that their services were available to all people regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex or national origin. 

Currently there are approximately 360,064 reporting themselves or family members with disabilities.   One of the biggest problems families with disabilities face are finding resources or the lack of knowledge of where or how to access available resources. 

The Greg Page Foundation, Inc was founded by Dennis Page and was inspired by the struggles and valiant efforts of his brother "THE CHAMP" Greg Page.   Although the ongoing illnesses caused by this brain injury were debilitating, they never diminished the strength of Greg’s fighting spirit, courage and determination or that of his loving family in their advocacy on his behalf and for others faced with similar challenges.

STRENGTH   COURAGE DETERMINATION….

THE FIGHTING SPIRIT

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WWW.BIAK.US

• 1 in 5 families in Kentucky reports having a family member with a brain injury
• Brain injury is more prevalent than breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis
• Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability in children
• In 2010, approximately 22,000 Kentuckians will sustain brain injuries
• BIAK's mission is to serve Kentuckians affected by brain injury through advocacy, education, prevention, service and support. That is why every year, we walk to raise funds for prevention and survivor programs and to raise awareness about brain injury. Learn more at www.biak.us

WHO WE ARE: 

MISSION STATEMENT:

 The primary mission of the Greg Page Foundation, Inc. is to provide assistance to people regardless or age, creed, color or religous affiliation with disabilities and their family members by way of accessing information, providing educational resources and providing information about services that will aid and improve the quality of life for that disabled person and their support system.  Referrals area available thru any number of linkeage agencies. (i.e. United Way 211 and Brain Injury Alliance OF KY among others).

***Living with disabilities and all that it encompasses is a reality for a great number of families in the Louisville, KY area** *  Dennis "LD" Page 

WHO WAS GREG PAGE?

Greg Page was born October 25th, 1958 and grew up the 2nd oldest of four brothers born to Alice Dolsey Page and Albert L. Page.  The Pages spent most of their years in the Beecher Terrace Housing Projects  (they were known as the Beecher Terrace Buzzards) Greg began training formally around the age of 12 in New Albany under the auspices of Mr. Billy Martin with his oldest brother Dennis.  A short time later, he began training at Baxter Gym on Baxter Ave. by a soft spoken man Leroy Emerson but know to the "guys" of the gym as "Baby  Leroy" who became a strong influence in virtually all of the lives that he touched and looked after the boys as his "sons"  After Baxter I then came Baxter II at Oak and Garvin Place in Old Louisville.  Dreams came to reality in this gym and legends were born.  Many of the boxers training with Greg and "Baby Leroy"  made many trips to the Golden Gloves, AAU tournaments as well as state fairs which were the most popular venues of that era. (Guys like Dennis "LD" Page, Tyrone "Fly" Moore,  Kelly "Baby Boy" Mayes, Terry "Silver Dollar" Silver, the Johns' boys--David, Frank and John, Gene Stevens, the Dean Brothers and David and Dwight Martin to name a few)  "Baby Leroy" stressed technique, steps (steps and more steps), movement, style and grace.  The art of hit and not being hit and roadwork--plenty of roadwork.  "Baby Leroy" ran with the "boys" in steel toed work boots and NOBODY stopped until "Baby Leroy" stopped. None of them complained about that--they were training to be masters of their craft and becoming Champions. 

Greg came from a family of boxers, not only was his oldest brother Dennis, an outstanding boxer in his own right, Greg's father, Albert, his uncles William "WT" and Asia "Junior" were also established boxers.  Greg was fortunate and blessed with a tremendous amount of raw talent and skill and "Baby Leroy" was able to mold that into championship material.  Thus in 1980 Greg became the USBA (now IBF) heavyweight champ of the world.  In 1984 he stunned the world by knocking out Gerrie Coetzee in front of his hometown crowd in South Africa. Greg was able to climb to the pinnacle of boxing by becoming the World Heavyweight Champ, Something that many dream of but few ever achieve!

Greg was the loving dad to Demetrius, C.J., Allison, Alicia, Teisha, Sierra, Ashley and grandfather to Cristian and Maya.  Besides his mother, Alice he has brothers, Dorsey and Michael Page.  He loved all of them as they love him.  He is truly missed by EVERYONE!

WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO GREG PAGE?

BOXING:  Greg spent 30 + years in the boxing ring. 

          AMATEUR CAREER

• 1978 National AAU Heavyweight champion
• 1978 National Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion
• Decisioned Igor Vysotsky, the man who twice beat Cuban legend Teofilo Stevenson.
• Beat future champ Tony Tubbs six out of seven times during their amateur career.
• Lost close decision to Michael Dokes in semifinals of 1976 National Golden Gloves in Miami.
• Won the 1976 Ohio State Fair, upsetting National AAU champion Marvin Stinson.
• Entered the 1974 Nationals as an underaged 15 year old.
• Finished career at 90-11, 55 knockouts

         PROFESSIONAL CAREER

• 1980 crowned USBA (now IBF) heavyweight  
• 1984 crowned WBA heavywieght Championship by soundly defeating Gerrie Coetzee in Sun City South Africa
• Sucessful trainer at Prince Ranch in Las Vegas, NV.
• Trained and was in the corner with Oliver McCall when he defeated Lennox Lewis in England
• Trained four (4) time World female champion Marischa Sjauw
• Critically injured on March 9, 2001 in a state sanctioned boxing match for the KY State Heavyweight title against Dale Crowe.  Greg suffered severe brain damage and was paralyzed and wheelchair bound after that fight. 
• Retired from boxing with a professional record of 58 (48 KO’s)-17-1.
• Fought among others, Stan Ward, George Chaplin, Scott LaDoux, Jimmy Young, Renaldo Snipes, Trevor Berbick, Razor Ruddick, Tim Witherspoon, David Bey and James “Quick” Tillis.  In a 1990 sparring session with "Iron" Mike Tyson, Greg floored Tyson thus revealing to the world and James "Buster" Douglas that Tyson was "beatable"

• Greg can proudly boast of being from Louisville, KY the ONLY city that lay claim to four heavyweight boxing champions:

                **     Marvin Hart 1906         **    Muhammad Ali 1964

                **     Jimmy Ellis                   **    Greg Page 1980

• Strong desire that he could continue the "Baby Leroy" tradition and start his own boxing gym here in his hometown of Louisville KY.  In late November 2007, Baxter Memorial Boxing Training Center was started at 100 N. 34th Street in Louisville, KY.  It is open to people of all ages www.baxtermemorial.com

Children and kids issues:  

As his career progressed and all along the way Greg frequently made appearances to various schools, public events and sports camps often unannounced to visit with kids of all ages, races and creeds and color.  He felt it was necessary to give back to the community and this is the way that he chose to do so.  His message was always the same.  Stay in school, work hard, obey your parents, stay away from drugs and alcohol. Follow your dreams.  Greg loved kids and having come from an impoverished background himself it was important to him to give back to others and to stress belief,  hard work and your dreams can come true!

The Man who Would Be Champ!

IN LOVING MEMORY OF CHAMP GREG PAGE

1958 - 2009  R.I.P. 

DENNIS "LD" PAGE, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, Greg Page Foundation

Coming Events:

GREG PAGE FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS:

CORBIN

CIVIC

CENTER

 CORBIN, KY

featuring

Jason

"Iron Horse"

Williams

HILLTOP

RUMBLE!!

July 23rd,

2010

doors open at

7 p.m.  

First fight scheduled for 8 p.m.

Tickets $25.00 in advance and $30.00 at the door.

ALSO:

Press release or other information please call:

502-363-3609 

GREG PAGE FOUNDATION CHAPLAIN:

William "Sarg" Farris

859-396-5248

859-433-5609