www.Ring8NY.com

Ring 8 Minutes
Executive Board Meeting

The monthly executive board meeting of the Veteran Boxers Association of NY, Ring 8, Inc. was held on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 at the Waterfront Crabhouse in Long Island City, New York .

Board members in attendance:  President, Matt Farrago, V.P. Henny Wallitsch, Lenny Mangiapane, Joe Dwyer, Henry Hascup, Vinnie Maddalone, Richie O’Neil, Bobby Bartel, Tommy Gallagher, Keith Sullivan, Jack Hirsch, John Labate, Paulette Balog, Tony DiPippo, Bob Duffy and Tony Mazzarella.

R.I.P. boxers were acknowledged:

Johnny Breitenbruck will always have a place in the hearts of all Ring 8 Members

A. Johnny Breitenbruck

Former professional boxer Johnny Breitenbruck passed away August 8, 2010. Johnny boxed professionally from 1946-1956, and compiled a record of 34-10-2 (12). He was only stopped once. He would have turned 83 on September 20^th. Breitenbruck was a member and Board Member of Ring 8 NY. He was a tough boxer from Williamsburg , Brooklyn . He boxed in the Marines before turning pro. As a professional he beat Jimmy Herring at the Ridgewood Grove Arena. On September 1, 1949, in a dramatic display of courage, he knocked out Gene Salisbury at Ft. Hamilton Arena after spending an hour in frigid waters that afternoon trying to save a drowning boy. He also defeated Buster Carroll, Tommy Ciarlo, Rocky Tomasello, and Chester Rico. Others he fought included Jack LaBua, Sal DiMartino, Buddy Holderfield and Al “Bozo” Costantino.

B. Eddie “Bossman” Jones

Posted by Dan Cuoco on 8/07/10 •

Eddie “Bossman” Jones, passed away on Saturday August 7, 2010 of natural causes. Jones, a rugged, aggressive light-heavyweight from California , took on the best in his division for over a decade. It is hard to depict how deep the light-heavyweight ranks were before other weights decimated the lines in recent years, but a quick glance at Eddie’s record does the job. Jones turned pro in 1965, had his nose spread in early fights against Harold Johnson, Jimmy Dupree and Henry Hank, tightened up his defense and worked his way to a shot at the WBA title held by Venezuela’s Vicente Rondon, whom he took the full 15 rounds in Caracas in 1971, before establishing himself as one of the toughest, cutest men around against the likes of Victor Galindez, Jesse Burnett, Len Hutchins, Tom Bethea, Andy Kendall, Rudiger Schmidtke and Tom Bogs, the latter two in Europe. Eddie was forced on the road because he couldn’t get a fight in California . Ex-pro Rick Farris describes him as “too good for his own good – it’s as if Eddie had no home.” As his career relented in the mid-1970s, his obvious assets were preyed upon by the leading heavyweights of the day, all basking in a golden era, as Jerry Quarry, Ken Norton and George Foreman used him extensively in the gym. Eddie is perhaps best known as one of Muhammad Ali’s spar mates for the “Rumble in the Jungle” in Zaire in 1974, along with a young Larry Holmes and the much-avoided Roy Williams. When they say Ali enjoyed the greatest sparring imaginable for Foreman, they were not kidding. Jones played his part in an unforgettable win for Ali, and an unforgettable night for boxing. Reported by Johnny Bos from an internet posting.

C. Jay Larkin remembered

One of the most successful television executives in the world of boxing and entertainment, Jay Larkin, passed away this morning at Nyack Hospital in Nyack , NY at the age of 59. Larkin had been battling cancer. Larkin put together a franchise that stood atop the world of boxing and television while at SHOWTIME from 1984 to 2006 with the creation of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION and a pay-per-view business that was second to none with the promotion of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio Cesar Chavez, Felix Trinidad and many other Hall of Fame greats in the boxing world. Larkin was considered one of the most powerful professionals in the world of boxing.

Larkin was responsible for the programming, acquisition and production of the company’s boxing franchise as well as comedy and music specials for the premium television network. He worked his way up at the network to become Senior Vice President, Senior Executive Producer Sports & Event Programming at SHOWTIME.

It all began in 1986, when Larkin produced SHOWTIME’s first fight with Marvin Hagler and continued with him producing more of Mike Tyson’s fights than anyone else including a record $100,000,000 revenue night featuring Tyson-Holyfield II. He was very instrumental in the career of Evander Holyfield.

Larkin was involved in the marketing, distribution and production of many record setting and award-winning pay per view concerts featuring Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Sting, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis Jr., Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Jay Z, The Spice Girls and the BackStreet Boys to name a few.

He also was in charge of many comedy specials and documentaries and worked with Tim Allen, Ellen DeGeneres, Jon Stewart, Drew Carey, Dennis Leary and Dave Chappelle to name a few. He was also the SHOWTIME executive in charge of the Broadway hit at the Cort Theater, “Laugh Whore” starring Mario Cantone, which received a Tony Award nomination.

Larkin was very involved in the world of professional theater and performing arts. He held bachelor’s degrees in theater and directing from C.W. Post College of Long Island University and also studied at the Boston Conservatory of Music and UCLA’s School of Theater , Film and Television.

Following his career at SHOWTIME, he joined the International Fight League as their COO in 2007-2008.

Johnny Colan  will always have a place in the hearts of all Ring 8 Members

D. Johnny “Colaianni” Colan

Johnny was rated in the top 10 in the World by Ring Magazine in both the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Divisions from September 1941 to March of 1947. Johnny knocked out the likes of Steve Mamakos, Ernie Vigh, Jimmy Webb and decisioned Buddy Knox… . Also battled Jake LaMotta, Anton Christoforidis, Tommy Yarosz and Nate Bolden . . . Later became the New York State Athletic Commission Referee . . .A longtime member of Ring 8. Served on the board of Directors and was the Vice President for years. He was rated as high as #4 in the World.

Dear  Henry,
On behalf of my family, I can’t thank you enough for the eloquent farewell you offered at my father’s funeral yesterday. Dad would have loved it! I can’t describe my feelings when you bestowed my father’s legacy upon my daughter bringing it full circle. Your words will echo in our hearts and minds forever.
My sister and I were hoping for a graveside”10 count” but understood it was preformed for Dad at the last Ring 8 meeting so we thought that was it. We were so happy to see you yesterday morning.  If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could you send me a copy of your speech so I can circulate it among friends and family who couldn’t attend?
Henry, you are priceless. Keep up the good work and keep punching!
Sincerely,
Cheri H.

The following items were discussed:

1. With the help of Ring8, many individual members, and many fans of USA Boxing, the goal was reached for the New Jersey Association of USA Boxing (LBC). Board member Henry Hascup, the president of this organization, thanked the club and all who contributed.  “This will be an amazing trip for them. It would show these kids from the inner-city something they never dreamed of going to, and this can help make their dream come true.”

1. Ring 8 would like to sincerely thank Referee Arthur Mercante Jr. for being our guest speaker and explaining to Ring 8 exactly what happened in the ring on June 5^th, 2010.  Everyone has a right to their opinion as do all the members or Ring 8.  We support Arthur and all referees in their decision to stop a fight when they do.

• Arthur Mercante Jr. with Yuri Foreman

  

  NEW YORK — Arthur Mercante Jr. was just 16 years old in 1976, when his father, Hall of Fame referee Arthur Mercante Sr., officiated Muhammad Ali’s 15-round victory over Ken Norton during a bout that was contested against the backdrop of a riot and a police protest at the old Yankee Stadium.

Even as he received criticism from some boxing writers and fans for ignoring the towel thrown into the ring to stop Yuri Foreman’s bout against Miguel Cotto at Yankee Stadium on Saturday night, referee Arthur Mercante Jr. is sticking by his guns that he did the right thing

“Arthur Mercante let me try to work it out. I’m a world champion, or, now, a former world champion. I would have never quit. I did not want the fight to be stopped,” said Foreman.

“I was there the entire fight. The brace is for an old injury,” said Foreman. “I was making side-to-side movements, however, and it just gave out. I felt a sharp pain and that’s why I went down.”

3. We would like to thank board member John Labate for inviting in Paradise Square Films.  Liam O’Neal , (Director) produced a promotional introduction for H.B.O. Boxing after Dark.  Congratulations on an exciting and great short film  project.  We loved it, and best of luck in your future projects.

AUCTIONED OFF was an 8 x 10 picture of Jake LaMotta  (signed by Jake) with authenticity paperwork.

Meeting Schedule for 2010

Website: Ring8NY.com

President: Matt Farrago (631) 948-6028

Vice President: Henny Wallitsch

Meetings are usually the 3^rd Tuesday of every month at 7:00pm

February 16th at the Waterfront Crabhouse

March 16th at the Waterfront Crabhouse

April 20th at the Waterfront Crabhouse

May 18^th at the Waterfront Crabhouse

June 15th at the Waterfront Crabhouse

July 20^th at the Waterfront Crabhouse

August 17^th at the Waterfront Crabhouse

September 21^st at the Waterfront Crabhouse

October 19^th at the Waterfront Crabhouse

November 16^th at the Waterfront Crabhouse

December Holiday Event is Sunday, December 19^th, 2010 at Russo’s on the Bay.