“Sunnyside” To Premiere At Shadow Box Film Fest

BY The Sweet Science ON November 19, 2014

A Ticket Back in Time -Legendary Fight Club Featured at Shadow Box Film Festival

They are all gone now. St. Nick’s, the 5th Street Gym, Stillman’s, Sunnyside Garden. The legendary gyms and fight clubs from boxing’s Golden Age have long been replaced. But there still is a place where fight fans can relive the memories of Sunnyside Garden, the last of New York’s fabled fight clubs.

Premiering at this year’s Shadow Box Film Festival is the documentary, “Sunnyside,” which takes an indepth look at the building that launched the careers of hundreds of fighters.

“If you are at all nostalgic about the Golden Age of New York City boxing, than you don’t want to miss the screening of Sunnyside,” said David Schuster, executive director of the Shadow Box Film Festival. “Watching this movie, you can almost smell the cigar smoke and taste the water-downed beer. For anyone who has been to Sunnyside Garden this film is a mandatory trip down memory lane.”

Sunnyside Garden was one of New York’s hottest fight clubs from 1947 until 1977. So many legendary fighters turned pro at the venue or fought there early in their careers. Billy Graham, Floyd Patterson, Bobby Cassidy, Vito Antuofermo, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Gerry Cooney, Mustafa Hamsho and Saoul Mamby are just some of the fighters who have graced the ring at Sunnyside.

“Sunnyside Garden was an important part of my childhood,” said the film’s director, Chris Cassidy. “My father holds the record for most main events at Sunnyside. It became this mythical building to our family. When they demolished it, it was like they took away a part of my childhood. I wanted to make this film to recreate that atmosphere, to bring all those memories back to life.”

The film features Bobby Cassidy, U.S. Congressman Peter King, Antuofermo, Cooney, Hamsho, Harold Lederman, Lenny Mangiapane, Henny Wallitsch, Bob Duffy, Ron Ross, Gene Moore and many others from the fight game. It will be screened at 1 p.m. on Dec. 5 and 6.

Since its inception in 2012 through this year’s event, the Shadow Box Film Festival will have showcased 68 films about boxing.The films for the 2014 festival were shot or produced in seven countries — Ireland, England, Canada, New Zealand, Cuba, United States and Sweden.

WHAT: The Shadow Box Film Festival

WHERE: SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street (8th and 9th Avenues)

WHEN: Friday, December 5, and Saturday, December 6, 2014

TICKETS: Call – 1-800-838-3006 or visit: shadowboxfilmfestival.brownpapertickets.com

WEB: www.boxingfilmfest.com

EMAIL: boxingfilmfestival@gmail.com

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/ShadowBoxFilmFestival

TWITTER: @boxingfestival

INSTAGRAM: ShadowBoxFilmFestival

President Bob Duffy welcomes everyone then he led us in the Flag Statue.

The 10 Count was done by John Holden.

President Duffy talked on the 1st ever meeting Ring 8 had at the Plattduetsche Restaurant, Franklin Square, New York last month and reported that we gained another 47 New members. He stated that we will have 7 or 8 meetings at the Crabhouse this coming year and 2 or 3 at the Plattduetsche, with our next meeting on Tuesday, January 20th. He also stated that the Crabhouse will always be the home of Ring 8.

President Duffy reported on the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame Induction & Award Ceremonies on Thursday, November 13th. He stated that Henry Hascup runs the best State Hall of Fame affair in the nation. Charlie Norkus, who was named the NJBHOF Man of the Year, thanked Ring 8 for their support & the AD they put in the Journal and how honored he was that night. He stated that he was raised in a boxing household as his father was a high ranking heavyweight back in the 1950’s. In doing so he met many all-time Greats. He has supported the Amateur Boxing program for many years by purchasing 2 FULL tables for the Open Class Champions and their guest and also help support several trips they have taken across the country.

President Duffy talked on a Poster that was made up by his daughter wishing Chris Algieri luck in is up-coming bout with Manny Pacquiao.

President Duffy reported on the Ring 8 Holiday Party which is coming up on Sunday, December 14th at Russo’s on the Bay. He announced all the honorees and celebrities that will attend.

On Thursday, February 5th, Ring 8 will be hosting another New York Golden Glove Show at the Plattduetsche, where the proceeds go for Bill Gallo Scholarship Fund for College Students.

Ring 8 donated $400 to Westbury Boxing Gym for equipment and $340 to the Glen Cove Boxing Club for equipment as well.

President Duffy report that the New York Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies will take place at Russo’s on the Bay on Sunday, April 26th and will be sponsored by the Fight Network.

President Duffy announced the nominating Committee, including Jack Hirsch, Henry Hascup & Rom McNair. He then talked on how the process of picking the Hall of Famers. Several people had their thoughts on who should be Inducted But Henry Hascup explained that we can’t put everyone in all at the same time. Once a person passes away their in another category and it becomes a lot harder as we have dozens of nominates that are in the International Hall of Fame.

President Duffy stated that the 2015 Ring 8 picnic will take place in Massapequa Park, after having the last several picnics in Glen Cove. He thanked Frank Pena for running those affairs. Pena thanked Ring 8 for the donation to the Glen Cove Boxing Club and then introduced a female boxer who just became a New York Inspector, Wendy Sincuir.

President Duffy introduced our first guest speaker, Dr. Barry Jordan. Dr. Jordan stated that he came to a Ring 8 meeting about 20 years ago as a guest speaker. He talked about treatment for Cognitive Evaluation and that the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital donated $100,000 for seed money for retired Athletics. A proper evaluation test cost around $6,000. He started working on this as far back as 1998. He stated that many boxers spar over 40 rounds a week and that takes a toll.

The next guest speaker was Felice Centatore, who wrote a book called “Rocky Spirit”, which can be found on http://www.rockyspirit.org/. He talked on how as a 11 year old boy a lady in a store talked on a movie that she was saying was the best she ever saw, so he decided to see for himself and he fell in Love with the sport of boxing. Felice talked on the 14th round of the 1st Rocky movie and on how Rocky wouldn’t give up after Apollo Creed dropped Rocky with an uppercut. Rocky’s trainer Mickey yelled for Rocky to stay down But his other cornerman, Mike, played by Jimmy Gambina, yelled for him to get up and he did. He then stated that so many kids are in the 14th round make the wrong decisions in life and get themselves in trouble. Years later Felice decided to box himself as he was matched up with a much larger and experienced boxer, But he found Jimmy Gambina, who helped him out to the upset victory.

Felice’s sister Doreen also talked on the book and also told of a story on TV about a young 11 year old boy.

Sept. 23, By Christian Murray

City officials and boxing enthusiasts turned out Saturday for the co-naming of 45th Street to pay tribute to the now-demolished Sunnyside Garden Arena where fighters and wrestlers used to duke it out.

The Sunnyside Garden Arena, a 2,000-seat venue that was once located where Wendy’s now stands at 44-11 Queens Blvd, 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.

Members of the Ring 8 Boxing Association, a group for retired boxers, unveiled the new street sign along with Dave Diamante, the official announcer at the Barclays Center, and Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer.

Two years ago, many of the same boxing enthusiasts came out when a memorial was placed on the front lawn of Wendy’s that also marked the location.

John Edebohls, who was raised just a couple of blocks away from the arena, said when the memorial was unveiled:“This place launched many careers: Emile Griffith [middleweight world champ] and Jose Torres [light heavyweight world champ].”

The arena was where Gerry Cooney launched his professional career, Edebolhs said. Cooney would go on to fight Larry Holmes in 1982 for the heavyweight title. Cooney lost.

Luke Adams, a member of the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce, said when the monument was unveiled that the arena was not just for boxing. “They had proms there, they made a movie there (Mr. Universe), and in 1960 John F. Kennedy had one of the first rallies of his Presidential campaign there.”