LAS VEGAS – 2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi wiped his eyes Tuesday night during the PBR Heroes & Legends Celebration at South Point Hotel Casino & Spa.

The 47^th rider to be inducted into prestigious Ring of Honor was struggling to begin his acceptance speech.

“It is an honor to receive this ring,” Marchi said. “To come from Brazil. It is hard to say some words right now because I had a dream like you guys have.”

It was 22 years ago that a 15-year-old Marchi was in Brazil when his mom tried to convince him to become a doctor.

“I went to school and my mama said, ‘You are not going to be a bull rider. You are going to be a doctor.’ I said, ‘Shit.’”

Marchi then laughed along with the standing-room only crowd inside the Grand Ballroom, many of whom came to see Marchi – the first rider since Chris Shivers to be a first-ballot Ring of Honor inductee.

“I had a brother that ride bulls, and she said that is why I need to be a doctor,” Marchi continued.

Marchi would think about bull riding, though, every day in high school.

His dream was to become one of the best bull riders of all time. Marchi even had a picture of 1999 Ring of Honor inductee Jerome Davis tucked inside the front cover of his schoolbooks as a kid.

Five years after Davis was inducted into the Ring of Honor, Marchi was making his debut on the PBR’s premier series at the 2004 event in Oklahoma City on Aug. 6. One month later, Marchi rode Arizona for 85.5 points. It was the first of what would become a record-setting 635 qualified rides on the PBR.

To this day, Marchi is still the only bull rider to reach 600 rides on the PBR’s premier series and he was the first of three men (2004 World Champion Mike Lee and two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney) to record 500 qualified rides.

Marchi went on to qualify for 15 consecutive World Finals – never failing to qualify for the season-culminating event.

A year and a half following his debut, Marchi won the PBR World Finals (2005). Three years later, he finally got over the championship hump to become the 2008 World Champion.

Marchi put forth one of the best seasons by any World Champion. He rode a remarkable 72.55% of his bulls (74-for-102) in 2008, winning five events and posting 13 90-point rides on his way to the World Championship.

“In 2008, my American dream come true and I win the title,” Marchi said.

His world title came after three consecutive runner-up finishes.

“I said, ‘Gosh I am never going to win this title,’” Marchi recalled. “It is so hard, but I think God prepare me. We don’t do what we want to do. God give you the strength, the faith and everything.”

The Team Brazil coach for the 2020 Global Cup USA joked that the two men that beat him from 2005-2007 – Justin McBride and Adriano Moraes – both retired following the 2008 season.

“Those two guys beat me in 2005, 2006, 2007. They all retire in 2008,” he said, laughing.

Moraes introduced Marchi to the crowd on Tuesday night.

“A cowboy is not easy shoes to fill,” Moraes said. “You need to be a man of honor, faith, strength, courage, among being good on bulls or horses or whatever it is. Guilherme Marchi has all of these qualities. He is a man of faith. He is a man of strength. He is a man of courage.

“I don’t think there is anybody here in this room that has a bigger heart than he does, full of kindness… He always gave his best. He always gave his smile. Always gave his heart to all of his fans. To all of his friends. To his family. That is what I admire the most with you Guilherme, your heart.”

RELATED: Marchi looking forward to Ring of Honor induction in Las Vegas

Marchi admitted that these past few days have been emotional for him. It is the first time he has ever been in Las Vegas for the PBR World Finals as a non-competitor.

“Today, this week, for first time I come to Vegas to not ride bulls,” Marchi said. “Just to receive this ring. It is an honor for me. It is hard guys when you retire and you come to Las Vegas to watch your buddies and receive this ring.”

The Ring of Honor is given annually to individuals who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the sport of professional bull riding. It is both a physical ring and a fellowship of men whose blood, sweat, heartaches and handshakes have been instrumental to the present and future success of the sport.

Marchi finished his career with 51 90-point rides, 25 event wins, three 15/15 Bucking Battle victories and the third-most earnings all time ($5.3 million).

The 37-year-old knows when his time comes to leave this earth that his money and gold buckle will not be coming with him.

What he is proud of, though, is that his legacy will forever remain in the Ring of Honor and the PBR’s record books.

“I know I made $5 million in my career,” Marchi concluded. “One day I will leave, and I am not going to take the money with me and the buckle, but my history is going to stay. Thank you PBR. Thank you to all of the fans. Good luck to all of the cowboys.”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko