President Bob Duffy opened the meeting with

Carmine singing the National Anthem and

Paulette Balog toll the bell 10 times in the memory of all those who recently passed on. President Duffy also stated that Joe Dwyer was not feeling well.

Charlie Norkus reported on the up-coming Boxing Documentary “El Boxeo.”

On Nov 15th at The Harlem MIST Theatre (located at 46 W 116 St), NYC; The Boxing Documentary “El Boxeo ” will make its NY debut.

This documentary focuses on the Hispanic/Mexican nationality history in boxing and its longstanding roots coming out of Mexico into the US especially in the southern California area. Today’s fight cards are well staffed with Hispanic, Latino and Mexican nationals and are the future of todays Boxing History. This film produced by Oscar Winning Director and Producer Alan Swyer, and with grateful assistance of Rick Farris, Pres. of West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame premiered in Los Angeles, CA in Oct 2013 to a sold out crowd and attended by many West Coast Boxing Athletes and Hollywood Actors. This successful night saw a large donation made on behalf of My Swyer and Mr. Farris to The Retired Boxing Foundation headed by former NY born Boxer Alex Ramos, and was sponsored by the newly formed West Coast Boxing Hall Of Fame, operating out of Los Angeles, CA.

The film shows a insight to the Hispanic, Mexican heritage with interviews with present and past Boxing Greats which include in part Carlos Ortiz, George Benton, Carlos Palomino, Armando Muniz, Bobby Chacon, Art Aragon Jr, Juan Laporte and many others.

The film will now travel to the WBC Boxing Convention in Thailand on Nov 8th at the behest of Jose Sulaiman, Pres of WBC Boxing., then come to NY for its Debut on Nov 15th, 2013

This wonderful documentary will be shown in its entirety to the New York Audience stating at 8pm ,preceded by a lobby reception at 7pm as part of the Puerto Rican Film Festival Week in NYC.. The film will continue to be shown at several Film Festivals afterwards. There is no plan for national release at this time.

Tickets can be obtained by contacting the Harlem Mist Theater on W 116 St at 646-688-5886. The show is expected to Sell-out fast.

Henry Hascup, President of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame talked on the up-coming NJBHOF induction and awards ceremonies which will be held on Thursday, November 14th at the Venetian in Garfield, New Jersey.

President Duffy talked on a fighter who had an operation coming up and was in need of money. Ring 8 will pay for his Electric & Gas bill for the next 3 months.

Ring 8 will be hosting another New York Gold Glove Show in February.

Our last meeting of 2013 will be held on Tuesday, November 18th and Stan Hoffman will be our guest speaker.

President Duffy talked on our Annual Christmas Party on December 8th at Russo’s on the Bay. It is a way to say thank you to all those who have helped out our organization throughout the years by honoring them.

BWAA President Jack Hirsch introduced our guest speaker George Willis.

George thanked Jack for the Great words and also thanked President Duffy and the Ring 8 members for inviting him tonight.

George lived in New Mexico where he played all the major sports in High School. The first fight he went to was when Ed “Too Long” Jones, an NFL football player, made his Pro debut in 1979, George was 19 years old. He then started covering boxing cards in Memphis. He also covered football and baseball. In 2002 he started covering boxing for the New York Post. George stated that a lot of people claim that the MMA is hurting boxing But he says it has actually made it better because boxing had to step up it’s game because of MMA.

George then talked about his new book “The Bite Fight,” where Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield. He talked first to Tyson, who was easy to get too. It took a while to get Holyfield but when he did he talked to him for 3 hours, from the very start of it until present day.

George talked about how much they had in common and that they actually sparred at the Olympic trials.

George took questions from the members.

Stan asked if the book could be put on a CD, George said that he would look into it.
Charlie Norkus asked if they were sincere about there feelings for each other, and George stated that he thought they were.
Matt asked if he covered any other fights where one fight bit another. George stated no but he did talk about an amateur fight where Holyfield bit his opponent in the shoulder.

George was asked if a prime Tyson could beat a Holyfield and he stated that he didn’t think so.

George covered steroids in the book as well as the death of Tyson’s 4 year old daughter.

George talked on the head butts and that most of them were caused by Tyson.

He also talked on the Referee Mills Lane and that it was Mitch Halpern, who refereed the first fight between Tyson and Holyfield who was suppose to be the referee, but Mills got the call at the last moment. Mills Lane donated 1/2 his purse to the Halpern family after he committed suicide.

After the fight there were gun shots in the Casino.

The pictures in the book came from Steve Lott and Showtime.

The book cost $25, But for Ring 8 members tonight, the cost will be only $20, Plus George will throw in a “The Bite Fight” T-Shirt, which cost $10, for Free!

President Duffy then talked on one of our speakers last month Patricia Alcivar, who then lost her bout with Eileen Olszewski. Duffy stated that he received the following E-Mail from “Kingzero”:

And at the next Ring 8 meeting Mr Duffe will introduce Patty Boom Boom who will explain how she got a good beatdown from the new IFBA World champion Eileen Olszewski in her last fight.

President Duffy responded by writing the following:

Thank you for your e mail but fyi …we introduce all fighters to speak at our meetings , especially the boxers , who will be on any up coming shows , also there was no trash talking about the upcoming bout and that there was nothing but a respect for Eileen O . Patty A is a member of Ring 8 , a paid member , and has shown up for many of our meeting , she always carries herself with dignity and grace just like many of our members If my memory serves me we was honored to have Eileen come to one of our meeting a few years ago where she displayed her belt ( when she won a title the first time ) and for the record Eileen is always invited to attend . Patty, I understand lost the fight , but that has nothing to do with Ring 8 …we support all boxers …..and I sign off saying both young ladies are great competitors, along with being wonderful people and gave the general public a great account of themselves working to put boxing in a better place ……by the way I love your e mail address …it appears that your are the king of the zero’s.

Posted under Meeting Notes

NEW YORK (October 13, 2013) – Award-winning New York Post sports columnist and author, George Willis, will be a special guest speaker at Tuesday’s (Oct. 15 starting at7 p.m. / ET) 7 p.m. ET) Ring 8 monthly meeting at historic Waterfront Crabhouse, in Long Island City, New York.

Willis is one of the most highly-respected boxing writers in the industry. He is also a former journalist with the New York Times, Newsday and the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tennessee.

Willis will be discussing boxing, in general, as well as his acclaimed book, “The Bite Fight: Tyson, Holyfield and the Night that Changed Boxing Forever” (Triumph Books, June, 2013). Willis examines the sensational events surrounding the legendary clash and features more than 100 interviews, including those with Tyson and Holyfield, to provide a previously untold, behind-the-scenes look at “The Bite Fight.”

“George Willis is one of the best boxing writers in the world,” Ring 8 president Bob Duffy said. “He has covered and written about many of boxing’s biggest fights and most famous boxers for many years. We’re very fortunate to have him as our October speaker. Ring 8 members will be able to purchase an autographed copy of George’s book at Tuesday’s meeting.”

ABOUT RING 8: Formed in 1954 by an ex-prizefighter, Jack Grebelsky, Ring 8 became the eighth subsidiary of what was then known as the National Veteran Boxers Association – hence, RING 8 – and today the organization’s motto still remains: Boxers Helping Boxers.

RING 8 is fully committed to supporting less fortunate people in the boxing community who may require assistance in terms of paying rent, medical expenses, or whatever justifiable need.

Go on line to www.Ring8ny.com for more information about RING 8, the largest group of its kind in the United States with more than 350 members. Annual membership dues is only $30.00 and each member is entitled to a buffet dinner at RING 8 monthly meetings, the third Tuesday of every month, excluding July and August. All active boxers, amateur and professional, are entitled to a complimentary RING 8 yearly membership.

Posted under Meeting Notes