An honorary street sign was placed in East Knoxville on Tuesday (June 6) to honor ‘Big John’ Tate.
‘Big John’ Tate was the World Boxing Association heavyweight champion from 1979-1980, after he beat Gerrie Coetzee in South Africa.
It only made sense to place the sign near the gym he trained at, which was the “Ace” Miller Golden Gloves Arena.
The sign was put beside Lakeside Street at its northern intersection with Magnolia Avenue.
A 21-year-old local, Trinity Prospers, trains at “Ace” Miller Golden Gloves Arena looks up to Tate and hopes to follow in his footsteps!
She tells WATE, “I’ve heard a lot of things, great things about ‘Big’ John Tate, and it’s really inspirational that somebody out of this same gym has done the things that he’s done. It shines a light on this gym and lets people in here know that they can do the same, and go as far as they want to go.”
Street Sign Photo: City of Knoxville
Photo: iStock
Source: WATE
