Ronnie Harris
Encyclopedia
Ronnie W. "Mazel" Harris (born in Canton, Ohio
) is a former American
boxer
, who won a gold medal in the lightweight
division at the 1968 Summer Olympics
.
on his boxing trunks.
There are photos of Harris wearing a Hebrew skullcap in the ring. He even brought a law suit against promoters in New York who had pro fights on a Friday Night; the Sabbath, a night in which Harris could not work.
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
) is a former American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, who won a gold medal in the lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
division at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
.
Personal
Harris is a follower of the Jewish Faith. One day while doing roadwork, Harris was hit by a car. He claimed that he was asked to forget the whole thing by a member of the clergy. Harris said he became religiously lost, until he stumbled into a Jewish Temple. Harris changed his faith and took the nickname "Mazel" which means good luck. He also wore a Star of DavidStar of David
The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
on his boxing trunks.
There are photos of Harris wearing a Hebrew skullcap in the ring. He even brought a law suit against promoters in New York who had pro fights on a Friday Night; the Sabbath, a night in which Harris could not work.