President Bob Duffy opened the meeting with the flag salute and and 10 count in memory of Cory Sanders by V.P. Henny Wallitsch.

President Duffy talked on our recent celebration at the former site of Sunnyside Garden. Well over 10 people showed up and we received Great coverage from the media.

Dave Diamante, who MC’ed the affair, also talked on this as well as the up-coming boxing show at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York on Saturday, October 20th. Dave also talked on his new Morning sports TV Show called “The Lights” which airs from 6 to 10 AM from Monday to Friday.

Bill Class also talked on the up-coming boxing show at the Barclays Center, and that they will give a 20% discount for all Ring 8 members.

President Duffy stated that the Semi-Finals and Finals of the New York Golden Gloves will be held at the Barclays Center.

President Duffy talked on the Police & Firemen Boxing Show that will be held at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, November 10th. Bob McGuire also talked on this.

President Duffy talked on the US Metro’s and that the finals will be held at the Plattduetsche Restaurant, Franklin Square, New York on November 16th, sponsored by Ring 8. Tickets for Ring 8 members are ONLY $15.

President Duffy talked on the up-coming New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame Induction and Award Ceremonies that will be held on Thursday, November 8th at the Venetian in Garfield. NJBHOF President also talked on the affair. Harold Lederman stated that he has been going for years and is one of the best boxing dinners you could ever go to.

Lederman also stated that the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame will have there Annual event on Saturday, November 10th.

Stan Janousek asked about the sick and shut-ins like Emile Griffith and Bill Tate.

President Duffy talked on Emile and Bill and then introduced former muli-World Champions Iran Brakley and Junior Jones.

President Duffy introduced Patricia Alcivar aka “Patty Boom Boom Alcivar” who is a professional boxer, competitive road and adventure racer, model and commercial/fitness actress. Alcivar lives in Forest Hills NY and trains in Manhattan at Trinity Boxing Club. She talked on how boxing changed her life after winning the New York Golden Gloves. Alcivar was born in Elmhurst NYC to Colombian parents. She was raised in an abusive household and moved out on her own at the young age of 15. She survived against all odds by working a part time job to support herself while finishing high school with honors. Alcivar practiced and competed in the martial art of Kyokushin. She started at the age of 13 and won a world championship at age 18 at the Manhattan Center in 1995.

Alcivar started her amateur Boxing career shortly after winning the world title in Kyokushin. She enrolled in a Boxing aerobics class where she challenged the coach of the class who was Martin Snow. Alcivar went on to have a fantastic amateur career often noted as a pioneer in women’s boxing. She had around 35 amateur fights and won two New York City Daily News Golden Gloves Championships, a national championship and won a international competition. She was the first female boxer to be voted the athlete of the year by the United States Olympic Committee. Patricia started her professional Boxing Career on October 9, 2009 with a first round knockout over Jennifer Batchelder. This fight took place in Columbia Tennessee. Alcivar then faced Laura Gomez May 16, 2010 in Kissimmee Florida and won that fight by a fourth round TKO. For her third fight on August 13, 2010 she won by TKO in the third round over Shari Denise Jacobs in Tampa Florida. Alcivar then had a rematch with Laura Gomez on March 4, 2011, in Alcivars home town of Queens New York and was taken the distance for the first time with unanimous decision with all three judges scoring all four rounds for Alcivar. Alcivar decisively beat Savanna “The Lioness” Hill on April 3, 2011 at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. The cards read 60-54 twice and 60-53. Hill was looking to go several times during the fight and actually appeared to be crying during the fight as she was taking a fierce beating from Alcivar. Alcivar is also lining up to fight for the vacant NABF Super Flywieght title in August 2011. Her pro record stands at 6-1 with 3 knockouts. The only bout she lost was by a split decision.

Harold Lederman talked on women boxing and how much it has advanced over the years. He also stated that the sister of Keisher McLeod Wells was gunned down and was in need of financial help.
http://www.firetheboxingdiva.com/donate-2-bronique-mcleod.php

Keisher’s younger sister Bronique McLeod was gunned down October 1st, 2012 in New Jersey. She leaves behind 2 small kids. Donations are greatly appreciated for her children. It will mean more to Keisher than any other contributions received in the past within her boxing career. Bronique was the youngest of four siblings and the first loss in there family. All contributions are greatly appreciated no matter how small it is. To see article on this murder please copy & paste this link in your browser.
http://newarknj.patch.com/articles/arrest-made-in-oct-1-murder-of-newark-woman

President Duffy talked on the Annual Christmas Party for Ring 8, that will take place at “Russo’s on the Bay” on Sunday, December 9th.

Joe Dwyer talked on the affair as well, saying that Don King will be attending. Joe also talked on the Rocky Marciano Statue that was put up in Brockton, Mass on September 23rd. The statue was donated by the WBC and it stands 19 feet tall. Joe also talked on many of the past fights that he was part of.

Joe Dwyer and Iran Brakley both talked on the pension fund for boxers that the WBC has set up. Brakley is said to be among the first to receive it. Dwyer stated that the money is already in the fund to get it started.

President Duffy talked on his up-coming boxing show at the Plattduetsche Restaurant, Franklin Square, New York, on Thursday, November 1st.

President Duffy talked on the California Boxing Hall of Fame and there Induction Ceremonies that will take place later this month. He also stated that Charley Norkus’s father will be among the Inductees. Charley Norkus Jr. talked on the affair. Dave Diamante also talked on the affair.

President Duffy talked on the Bill Gallo Scholarship and how much Ring 8 has given out of the years.

Joe Dwyer asked that we keep Manny Stewart in our prayers.

President talked on boxing judge Ron McNair and that he will be among the honorees at our Christmas Party in December.

John Signorile talked on the HBO Show Boardwalk Empire, and that Lenny Mangiapane will be appearing in a few of them.

The Next Ring 8 Meeting will be this coming Tuesday, October 16th Starting with a Buffet Style Dinner at 7 PM at the Waterfront Crab House 2-03 Borden Ave. Long Island City (718) 729-4862.

Our Annual Christmas Party will take place at “Russo’s on the Bay” on Sunday, December 9th.

1st Annual affair of Ring 8

Saturday

October 6, 2012

12 Noon

Click on the following sites

http://www.woodsideherald.com/

Go to Full OurLIC Article, Video and Photos for Historic Site of Sunnyside Garden Arena is Dedicated by Ring 8 Veteran Boxers Association with a Monument to Boxer

Master of Ceremonies

Dave Diamante

Opening Remarks

Tony Mazzarella

History of Sunnyside Garden

Henry Hascup

New York State Athletic Commission Chairperson

Honorable Melvina Lathan

State Assembly

Assemblywomen Cathy Nolan

District 26

Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer

Sponsors

John Edebohls

Leonore Lanzillotti

VIP Participants

Bobby Bartels

Lenny Mangiapane

Bobby Cassidy Sr.

Bobby Cassidy Jr.

Harold Lederman

President Bob Duffy and Tony Mazzarella

Closing Remarks

Ring 8 President, Bob Duffy

By Bill Parry

More than hundred people turned out on Saturday for the unveiling of a memorial dedicated to the boxers who fought at the Sunnyside Garden Arena that stood at the corner of Queens Blvd. and 45^th St until 1977, where Wendy’s is now located.

Boxing stars, local politicians and dignitaries like the Honorable Melvina Lathan, chairperson of the New York State Athletic Commission, attended. The event was put on by Ring 8 Veterans Association, an organization that helps former boxers with their medical expenses.

The Sunnyside Garden Arena hosted boxing events from 1945 to 1977 during the golden years of NYC boxing. Many famous fighters from that era got their start at the arena, and it was a stepping stone to the brighter lights of Madison Square Garden.

Bobby Bartels, Lou Mangiapane and Bobby Cassidy, Sr. were among the former fighters present to honor the amateurs and professionals who helped put the neighborhood on the map. Gerry Cooney, Emil Griffith, Jose Torres and Vito Antuofermo all fought here, as did the actor Tony Danza.

“It was his [Danza’s] second pro bout,” said Ring 8 boxing historian Henry Hascup. “He got knocked out in the 1^st round.”

The old fighters appeared to be in great shape. “We were the winners,” said Bartels, a former welterweight. “It’s the other guys that Ring 8 takes care of.”

The Sunnyside Garden Arena had its gritty side. It’s where HBO Sports’ Harold Lederman got his start as a judge in 1967. “There was always some manager behind me with an ice pick questioning my scoring,” he said.

Tony Mazzerrella, the founder of the NYS Boxing Hall of Fame, said that on some nights, there “were more fights out in the parking lot than inside [the ring].”

Pat Dorfman, a Sunnyside resident, rang the bell that was used when the arena was in operation. She bought it on Ebay. “A mob capo named Ciro Perroni, of the Genovese Crime family, owned it,” Dorfman said.

The Master of Ceremonies was NBC Sports’ Dave Diamante, who will also be the voice of the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn. He had the line of the day for the group gathered in Wendy’s parking lot:  “We went from black eyes to biggie fries.” He believes that recognition of the venue was long overdue. “It didn’t get the proper sendoff in ’77 because of a gambling scandal. For the men who shed their blood here, we give them respect.”

Ring 8 President Bob Duffy observed that 60% of the neighborhood didn’t know Sunnyside Garden Arena ever existed.  That’s why sponsor John Edebohls spent four years spearheading the project.

He was helped by Leonore Lanzilloti, whose family had deep connections to the arena. “Maybe people will stop and read the memorial and want to know more about the history of the neighborhood,” she said, “even if they just Google it.”