Welcome to
“A celebration of Heroes”
May 14, 2012
Gotham Comedy Club
New York City

     UNIFICATION FOR PEACE AND HUMANITY

The Sulaiman Family, and WBC Word Boxing Cares are announcing a new program, World Champions Against Bullying. WBC President Jose Sulaiman, newly appointed Ambassador to the Non Violence Foundation*, called for immediate action and support.

We are setting this motion with a Celebration of Heroes! An evening dedicated to those who have inspired us, and our youth. Please help us pay tribute to some outstanding leaders in the community, and join us for an evening of joy and laughter. It’s not a Fund Raiser as much as a FUN Raiser!

Our hearts to yours,
Jill Diamond, Chair

What: A Celebration of Heroes!

When: Monday, May 14th, 2012

MC: Steve Farhood

Where: Gotham Comedy Club
208 West 23rd St
New York, NY 10010

How: Reservations: 212. 367.9000

Who:  Bruce Silverglade – Imamu Mayfield – Chief Edward Kilduff – Hon. Melvina Lathan – Tamara Tunie – Boyd Melson – COMBATT – Joe Mazzilli – Johnny Callas

Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm VIP Reception in Vintage Lounge

7:00 – 7:30pm Seating for GA in Main Showroom

7:30 – 8:15pm Awards Presentation

8:15 – 9:00pm Comedy Show

Admission:  GA: $25 cover plus 2 drink minimum per person. Show Only.
VIP: $100 cover. Includes admission to show & reception, unlimited wine & soft drinks during show & reception and VIP seating & a gift bag

Tickets: Available only through Gotham Comedy Club’s box office or online at www.gothamcomedyclub.com

Raffle:  Be sure to get your raffle tickets for a chance to win RT coach Air Fare for 2, December 1-8, 2012, Hotel Accommodations, and Event Tickets to the WBC’s 50th Convention in Cancun Mexico! Raffle tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100.

Introducing Tonight’s Heroes

This evening is dedicated to those who inspire our youth

Imamau Mayfield
Former Cruiserweight World Champion
The Children’s Champion

COMBATT:
Larry Hazard and Rhonda Utley-Herring
A proud history of improving children’s lives

Tamara Tunie
Film, stage and television actress, director and produce
Chair Emerita of Figure Skating in Harlem
A role model and inspiration to our Youth

Chief Edward Kilduff
FDNY’s 34th Chief of Department
Inspiring, Protecting and Educating the Community

Joe Mazilli
Former NYPD, Officer (nine of those years with the Organized Crime Control Bureau)
Television Producer, Creator of Runaway Squad,
Bravery on behalf of our children

Melvina Latham
Chairwoman of the NYS Athletic Commission
Leadership and Dedication to boxing and young athletes

Bruce Silverglade
Owner of the world famous Gleason’s Gym and
Creator of Give a Kid a Dream Foundation
Tireless Support of Youth and Boxing

Boyd Melson
Multiple United States Amateur Boxing Championships
Creator of Team Fight to Walk
Compassion and Courage outside the Ring

John Callas
WBC Referee + Coach
Creator or Oak Boxing Academy
Ombudsman for CT Department of Children and Families
WBC/WCAB Ambassador of 2012

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President Bob Duffy opened the meeting and

Carmine led everyone in the National Anthem. Paulette Balog rung the bell 10 times in memory of those who passed on. Paulette then gave a report on the sick & shut-ins. President Duffy stated that Paulette will be moving to Florida and next month Ring 8 will honor her before she leaves.

President Duffy talked on the Golden Gloves and stated that Frank Pena was voted as the Official of the Year.

President Duffy talked on a statue that was put up in honor of Bill Gallo at Gallagher’s in New York. Jack Hirsch and Keith Sullivan both attended. The Boxing Writers Association of America, along with the Veteran Boxers Association of New York/Ring 8 and the Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation, co-sponsored the creation of a bust of Bill Gallo, the late New York Daily News cartoonist and writer. Gallo was a longtime BWAA member and 1999 Liebling Award winner. The bronze bust, created by sculptor Carl LeVotch (far right, with New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and BWAA President Jack Hirsch), will be displayed permanently at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in Manhattan, a Gallo favorite.

President Duffy talked on the 1st Annual Induction Ceremonies of the New York Boxing Hall of Fame at Russo’s on the Bay. We had over 500 boxing attend, and he showed off the belt that was given to all the Inductees.

Inductee Harold Lederman thanked everyone. He stated just to be included was a Great honor. Harold also thanked his wife for being at his side and putting up with him for all these years.

Another honoree, former undisputed Middleweight Champion of the World, Vito Antuofermo, also thanked the Committee and his wife.

President Duffy introduced several Golden Glove Champions, and he also talked on the scholarship that Ring 8 gave out. President Duffy introduced several other former and present boxers that were in attendance.

President Duffy introduced Charlie Norkus Jr., who got up and talked about his father, who will be Inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame in October. Charlie Sr. fought in the 1944 & 45 New York Golden Gloves, where he was a finalist. He was called the Bayonne Bomber, and he fought 3 World Champions, Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore and Willie Pastrano.

Frank Pena talked on the 2nd Annual Ring 8 Picnic, which will be held on Sunday, July 29th in Glen Gove. It will be a clambake that will start 12 noon and run until 6 PM. The price is ONLY $20 and the money will go for a kids fishing trip.

Henry Hascup talked on an Amateur Boxing Show that will have New Jersey against New York at a baseball field in Glen Gove on Saturday, August 18th.

Jack Hirsch talked on the BWAA Awards Dinner at the Copacabana in New York on Wednesday, June 6th. Andre Ward is BWAA Fighter of the Year – Wolak – Rodriguez I Named Top Fight of the Year – Virgil Hunter, Al Bernstein, Elbaum & Bozella also to be honored, Plus Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko have been chosen to receive the BWAA’s James A. Farley Award for “Honesty and Integrity in Boxing.”  Tickets are $200.

President Duffy introduced several Professional Boxing Judges that were at attendance.

Joe Dwyer talked on the NY Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee Vito Antuofermo, and how he introduced Vito to Joe DeGuardia Sr. and the rest was history. Dwyer stated that he had Vito beating Hagler in there first fight. He also talked on the Atlantic City Gala of Stars that will take place on Saturday, June 2nd.

President Duffy introduced Randy Gordon and Cameraman Peter Frutkoff, to make a special presentation to the family of Referee Wayne Kelly. Peter stated some of Wayne’s quotes and Randy stated that it was he that gave Wayne the license to referee in New York, and he considered Wayne a World Class Referee. Wayne’s 2 children accepted the award and stated that there father use to say that “where not here for a long time, where here for a good time.

Stan Janousek talked on some others that give of there time to Amateur Boxing such as Billy “Kid” Strigaro, who had a battle with stomach cancer. He also stated that he would have a lot of pictures from all the meeting, Christmas Parties and the NY Boxing Hall of Fame affair next month. He also stated that all the pictures are on our web site that Henry Hascup puts up every month. The web site is www.ring8ny.com.

President Duffy stated that Stan was an asset to Ring 8.

President Duffy stated that we have signed posters from the NYBHOF Induction Ceremonies for only $20 each. There signed by Jake LaMotta, Harold Lederman and Vito Antuofermo.

President Duffy stated that Vinny Maddalone will be fighting on May 2nd at Russo’s on the Bay.

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NYSBHOF Stars & public came out in force for Inaugural New York State Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Dinner

NEW YORK (April 3, 2012) – Boxing stars joined a sold-out crowd of 500 at this past Sunday’s inaugural New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (“NYSBHOF”) induction dinner, sponsored by Ring 8, at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.

“Boxing in New York will not be forgotten,” NYSBHOF founder Tony Mazzarella said. “Boxers, cornermen, judges, promoters, announcers and others in boxing are being honored.”

 

Inducted into the first NYSBHOF class were “Sugar” Ray Robinson, Jake LaMotta, Mike Tyson, Carmen Basilio, Riddick Bowe, Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, Emile Griffith, Mike McCallum and posthumously Gene Tunney, Benny Leonard and Tony Canzoneri.

Non-participant inductees are judge/HBO analyst Harold Lederman, coach/instructor Steve Acunto, trainer/cutman Jimmy Glenn and, posthumously, trainers Gil Clancy and Ray Arcel, The Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer, New York Daily News boxing reporter/cartoonist Bill Gallo, and referee Arthur Mercante, Sr.

“We’re all proud of those sitting on the dais for their achievements,” NYSBHOF & Ring 8 president Bob Duffy commented. “The biggest joy, for me, is for what Mrs. Arcel, Mrs. Gallo and the members of the Canzoneri, Tunney, Mercante, and Clancy families said to me. They left a track record, like those sitting up here, but they’re so happy that their inductees were not forgotten. Ring 8 specifically had these one-of-a-kind belts (all inductees received) designed for the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.”

Inductees attending the gala festivities were LaMotta, McCallum, Griffith, Ortiz, Antuofermo, Acunto, Glenn and Lederman. (See acceptance speech quotes below.) The families of Robinson, Canzoneri, Tunney, Arcel, Gallo and Mercante were also represented.

The inductees were selected by a six-member NYSBHOF nominating committee comprised of Jack Hirsch, Steve Farhood, Henry Hascup, Bobby Cassidy Jr., Ron McNair and Neil Terens. All but Cassidy (family vacation) were award presenters during this festive boxing affair.

Boxing dignitaries in attendance included world champions Iran Barkley, Juan La Porte, Junior Jones, Mark Breland and Mia St. John; boxers such as Vinnie Maddalone, Renaldo Snipes, Brian Adams, Michael De La Rue and Gasper Ortega; promoters Kathy Duva (Main Events) and Cedric Kushner (Gotham Boxing); boxing judges Julie Lederman, Steve Weisfeld and Glenn Feldman; referees Steve Smoger and Mike Ortega, New York State Athletic Commission chairperson Melvina Latham, International Boxing Hall of Fame matchmaker Bob Goodman, World Boxing Council Cares Jill Diamond, Gleason’s Gym owner Bruce Silverglade and trainer Tommy Gallagher.

Popular ring announcer, David Diamante, rushed back from Jamaica to serve as the event’s Master of Ceremonies. The traditional 10-count was given in honor of the late Bert Sugar. A special presentation – autographed portrait of Lederman – was made on behalf of HBO’s boxing group and Harold’s friend and HBO partner, Jim Lampley, sent a congratulatory message that was read.

Commemorative plagues listing the names of the inductees and NYSBHOF board members and nominating committee will be on display at the Waterfront Crabhouse, New York State Athletic Commission, and NYSBHOF board member Dr. Jerry Lynn.

All boxers needed to be inactive for at least three years, in order to be eligible for NYSBHOF induction, and all inductees had to have resided in New York State for a significant portion of their boxing careers.

Go on line at www.Ring8ny.com for additional information about the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.

Acceptance Speech Quotes

Jake LaMotta (90 years old): “I’m very happy to be here with my very good friends. I fought ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson so many times it’s a wonder I don’t have diabetes. He broke my jaw but you can see he never broke my nose. The greatest pound-for-pound fighter who ever lived is ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson. It’s unbelievable I fought him so many times. Right now, I finally made it when they made the movie, Raging Bull. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards and Robert DeNiro was so great in the movie. If you asked me, DeNiro is the greatest fighter who ever lived. How’d he play me? He sparred and shadow-boxed 1000 rounds and when I was finished with him he could have turned pro.”

Mike McCallum: “It’s an honor to be here today and be part of this great ceremony. New York City is big! I came to American and the greatest place there is. I’m in the International Boxing Hall of Fame but, why not the New York State? Now I’m here. It’s a wonderful feeling.”

Vito Antuofermo: “I’m very honored to be here today and to be in the first induction in the first New York State Boxing Hall of Fame. As a young boy, I struggled in a new country. Boxing is much more than a sport to me. I learned about the world and myself. The only limit a person has is one on himself. I thank boxing. I am very happy to be part of New York boxing and to have some success here. I know the Hall of Fame will grow and be successful. I congratulate my fellow inductees.”

Carlos Ortiz: “I’m proud to be here and to be inducted onto the New York Hall of Fame. I love it! I want people to remember me and that’s beautiful. It’s nice to be here. I love New York.”

Harold Lederman: “Today I’m an immortal…April’s fool. Floyd Mayweather claims he’s be the greatest fighter who ever lived. He’s not for two reasons: No. 1, he has to fight 158 more times to catch Sugar Ray Robinson; No. 2, he’s never fought in New York. The greatest fighters all fought in New York. Boxing has been a huge part of my life and home. I owe a lot to some of the boxing commissioners here.”

Steve Acunto (95 years old): “I’m profoundly honored to accept this recognition today. I’m almost overwhelmed to see all these boxing people today. Every kid should have an idol to occupy his time. When I was a kid a bought a book written by Gene Tunney and I got the bug.”

Jimmy Glenn: “I thank everyone for coming out for me. And they really came out for me.”

For even more pictures copy and paste the following facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3083585221801.252809.1628990854&type=3

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