Archive for September, 2021

Sep-23-2021

New York State Boxing Hall of Fame Photos by Peter Frutkoff

Class of 2020 inducted into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame

The 28-member Class of 2019 was honored at the ninth NYSBHOF induction dinner.

Living boxers inducted included three-time World light heavyweight title challenger Jorge Ahumada (42-8-2, 22 KOs), of Woodside, Queens by way of Argentina; (1975-78) WBC super featherweight World Champion Alfredo “El Salsero” Escalera (53-14-3, 31 KOs), of New York City by way of Puerto Rico; WBC super featherweight World title challenger Freddie “The Pitbull” Liberatore (20-4-1, 11 KOs), of Bayside, Queens; WBC middleweight World Champion and four-time New York Golden Gloves winner Dennis “The Magician” Milton (16-5-1, 5 KOs), of Bronx; two-time New York Golden Gloves winner Lou Savarese (46-7, 38 KOs), of Greenwood Lake; and WBA super middleweight title World title challenger Merqui “El Corombo” Sosa (34-9-2, 27 KOs), of Brooklyn by way of the Dominican Republic.

Posthumous participants inducted are Brooklyn welterweight Soldier Bartfield (51-29-8, 33 KOs), who fought a reported 55 world champions; Bronx middleweight Steve Belloise (95-13-3, 59 KOs); NYSAC and World lightweight champion (1925) Jimmy Goodrich (85-34-21 (12 KOs), of Buffalo; World heavyweight title challenger Tami Mauriello (82-13-1, 60 KOs), of Bronx; WBA light middleweight World champion (1982-83) and four-consecutive New York Golden Gloves titlist Davey “Sensational” Moore (18-5, 14 KOs), of Bronx; and World lightweight champion Freddie “The Welsh Wizard” Welch (74-5-7, 34 KOs), of New York City by way of Wales.

Living non-participants now in NYSBHOF are Oneida judge Don Ackerman, Wantah, Long Island journalist/producer Bobby Cassidy, Jr., Buffalo manager Rick Glaser, Rockaway Beach journalist Jack Hirsch, Bronx boxing broadcaster Max Kellerman, Orangeburg judge Julie Lederman, Hyde Park referee Ron Lipton, and Staten Island/Catskill trainer Kevin Rooney.

Posthumous non-participant inductees are Brooklyn’s Ring Magazine editor Lester Bromberg, New York City sportswriter Dan Daniel, Ardsley ringside physician/NY Medical Director Dr. William Lathan, Brooklyn’s Gleason’s Gym founder Bobby Gleason, Sunnyside, Queens boxing writer Flash Gordan, Manhattan journalist A.J. Liebling, Long Island City’s NYSBHOF co-founder Tony Mazzarella and New York City manager Dan Morgan.

Each attending inductee received a custom-designed belt signifying his or her induction into the NYSBHOF.

The 2020 inductees were selected by the NYSBHOF nominating committee members: Randy Gordon, Henry Hascup, Don Majeski, Ron McNair, Jim Monteverde and Neil Terens.

Henry Hascup and famed ring announcer David Diamonte shared master of ceremony duties.

All boxers needed to be inactive for at least three years to be eligible for NYSBHOF induction, and all inductees must have resided in New York State for a sizable portion of their boxing careers or during the prime of their respective career. Numerous boxing dignitaries were in attendance, including World Champions Junior Jones, Lonnie Bradley, and Iran Barkley, as well as popular heavyweights Gerry Cooney and Renaldo Snipes.

The United States Marines Boxing Team were special guests. They led the Pledge of Allegiance and received a commemorative medal from the NYSBHOF.

Duffy also announced that the famed Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn will display NYSBHOF memorabilia, including inductee plaques and pictures, thanks to NYSBHOF inductee Brice Silverglade.

INDUCTEES’ QUOTES

Jack Hirsch: “I’ve been up here a lot as a member of the Ring 8 Board of Directors and for Hall of Fame presentations. It’s different this year as a recipient and I’m grateful. I’m honored to be on the dais: “We are 2020 teammates and we’ll always be connected. This is such a great, great honor. I appreciated every single person out there.”

Dennis Milton: “This is really a great please to be dais with this class to be honored with my equals and peers, and to be part of this event. I haven’t seen some of these guys in years like Lou (Savarese) and now I’m up here as an inductee. I’ve graduated to be put in the club. This is very special to me and the other fighters.”

Bobby Cassidy, Jr.: “I want to thank the New York Boxing Hall of Fame for inducting me. I appreciate this honor. I wrote about all the guys up here. It was always great covering this sport. Thanks to by dad (NYSBHOF inductee Bobby Cassidy, Sr.). Not only did he instill a lot of boxing in me like hard work and dedication. It made me a better journalist. He exposed me to boxing. When I was around 8 or 9, he brought home The Ring (magazine). I never dreamed that ended up writing for Ring. I always wanted to cover boxing. I covered all sports, but the real stories always are the fighters.”

Marqui Sosa: “I’m not good at this. In the ring, I did my best. That’s it, I’m a fighter. I didn’t know how to box, I fought. I always gave 100-percent and did my best for my family.”

Freddie Liberatore: “Boxing taught me things like mind can make or break you, and never give up when things don’t go as planned. I have so many great memories. I’ll never forget winning the 1988 Golden Gloves in the Fight of the Night, when I beat the 2-time defending champion. One of my fondest memories as a pro was defeating 2-time world champion Calvin Grove when he was ranked No. 2. I got the WBC World featherweight title shot, but it didn’t go my way. Here I am today with my wife, Lori, my high school sweetheart. I want to thank my family for recognizing all my accomplishments and memories.”

Ron Lipton: “I want to thank the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame, and everyone connected with this honor. I look around the room and see at least one person at every table I worked with going back to the sixties with through the commission. I’m very honored to be part of this induction class. Congratulations to everybody inducted. I trained so I could keep up with the boxers.”

Lou Savarese: “It’s a tough business! You’re in there, not to hurt, but not to get hurt. It’s a blood sport, tough sport. The first guy I ever sparred was Renaldo Snipes. He took it easy on me and showed me what to do. I’m living in Houston, but there isn’t good pizza. The first thing I did when I came to back New York (for the induction) was the cemetery (his parents) and get New York City pizza. I had about six slices.”

Rick Glaser: “I’d like to thank everyone for being here. It’s an honor. Boxing has been very good to me. I love boxing and have passion for it. And I’ve succeeded at it, the sport of boxing and business. I fused the sport and business. I learned for 30 years from Mike Acri, Ron Katz, Bruce Trampler and Don Majeski. These four people helped me, inspired me. Boxing has characters. We’re family! It’s about the fighters; I never jumped in the ring. I will continue to do everything I can in boxing.”

The following photos were taken by Peter Frutkoff

Attending inductees were (L-R) Ron Lipton, Merqui Sosa, Dennis Milton, Freddie Liberatore (seated); Bobby Cassidy, Jr., Lou Savarese, Jack Hirsch and Rick Glaser (standing). Each received a custom-designed belt signifying their induction into the NYSBHOF.

The New York Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2020 induction dinner, delayed one year due to the COVID pandemic.

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Sep-22-2021

9th Annual Induction Ceremonies of the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame

Commissioner’s Corner: Randy Gordon Report From NY State Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Gala

Published 17 hours ago on September 21, 2021
By Randy Gordon

This past weekend, the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF) held its first induction ceremony since 2019, taking a year away from festivities because of the pandemic.

It felt great—for all involved—to be back.

The event was held at the magnificent Russo’s on the Bay catering facility in Howard Beach, Queens, where the event has been held since the first year of NYSBHOF inductions in 2012.

That year, such living legends as Jake LaMotta, Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, Jimmy Glenn, Harold Lederman and Steve Acunto, among others, were inducted before a boisterous, packed room.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions in NYC, a cap was put on the number of guests the facility allowed. Bob Duffy, the longtime President of the NYSBHOF, estimates there were 350 people in attendance.

Awards are given out in four categories:

Participants
Participants (Posthumous)
Non-Participants
Non-Participants (Posthumous)

The six living inductees in the Participant category were, alphabetically: former light heavyweight contender Jorge Ahumada; former Jr. Lightweight champion Alfredo Escalera; former Jr. Lightweight contender Freddie “Pitbull” Liberatore: former middleweight contender Dennis Milton; former heavyweight contender Lou Savarese; and one-time top super middleweight/light heavyweight Merqui Sosa.

There were six Participants selected for induction in the Posthumous category, the same amount as in the living Participants. They were Soldier Bartfield; Steve Belloise; Jimmy Goodrich; Heavyweight Tami Mauriello; Former Junior Middleweight champ Davey Moore; and Freddie Welch.

The nine living Non-Particpants were, alphabetically: Judge Don Ackerman; journalist Bobby Cassidy Jr.; Journalist Jack Hirsch; International Agent/broker/consultant Rick Glaser; Announcer Max Kellerman; NYSAC doctor William Lathan; Judge Julie Lederman; Former fighter/referee/journalist Ron Lipton; and former fighter/trainer Kevin Rooney.

There were seven Non-Participants inducted in the Posthumous category. They were: Journalist Lester Bromberg; Underground publisher Malcolm “Flash” Gordon; Journalist A.J. Liebling; Journalist Dan Daniel; Gym owner Bobby Gleason; former NYSAC Deputy Commissioner Tony Mazzarella; and Journalist Dan Morgan.

Of the six living Participants, two couldn’t make it. They were Jorge Ahumada and Alfredo Escalera. Because of travel restrictions, Ahumada (from Argentina) and Escalera (from Puerto Rico) would have been placed on COVID lockdown and quarantine on both sides of their journey, making a normally rather simple trip into NYC quite difficult.

Amongst the nine Non-Participants, four (Don Ackerman, Julie Lederman, Max Kellerman and Kevin Rooney) ran into health-related or personal issues which prevented their attendance. Sadly, Dr. William Lathan passed away in 2021, months after he was voted in by the NYSBHOF Selection Committee.

The afternoon’s festivities begins with a huge, magnificent Brunch, which includes everything from freshly-made Omelettes, Waffles, Pancakes, fresh fruit, to lattes, cappuccinos, espresso, champagne, beer and liquor.

Then, guests are asked to find their seats. When they are settled, the inductees are announced one by one, seated on a raised dais. This was done by golden-throated Henry Hascup, who, among other things, is President of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, a Ring 8 Executive Board Member and a member of the NYSBHOF Selection Committee.

Hascup smiling with Liberatore, who supposedly is patenting a secret and superb anti-aging tonic.

Hascup shared Master of Ceremony duties with popular ring announcer David Diamante, himself one of the finest announcers and MCs in the world.

One by one, the inductees were introduced and proceeded to the seats on the dais to a round of applause: Rick Glaser.

Ron Lipton. Fred Liberatore. Merqui Sosa. Dennis Milton. Lou Savarese. Bobby Cassidy. Jack Hirsch.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, a “10-Count” for those we lost over the last 18 months we were under way, with opening remarks from NYSBHOF President Bob Duffy.

Leader Duffy, with amiable judge John McKaie, a top tier decider while ringside.

Each of the inductees was given a brief introduction by a known member of the boxing community. Among the presenters were former world champions Iran Barkley and Lonnie Bradley; Historian/matchmaker Don Majeski; Top judge Steve Weisfeld; Former Ring 8 President Charley Norkus; Former NYSAC Director of Boxing Ralph Petrillo; IBHOF’er Teddy Atlas; Former heavyweight contender and my sidekick at SiriusXM Radio, “Gentleman” Gerry Cooney; and yours truly.

I was honored to induct Don Ackerman, Ron Lipton and Rick Glaser. Ackerman is not only one of the finest boxing judges in the world; he is also the longtime President of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y. His work, his efforts and his results in the sport stand tall, and he was an easy choice for induction into the NYSBHOF.

The same goes for Ron Lipton. The veteran third man in the ring, who reffed his first pro fight in 1991, was also a talented amateur middleweight (he scored two 15-second, one-punch knockouts) and served as a sparring partner for Rubin “Hurricane” Carter and Dick Tiger. He was even was employed as a sparring partner by Muhammad Ali for speed. Lipton also has been authoring “Mythical Matchups” between legendary fighters in Ring Magazine. His speech was a genuine “Thank You” to the Selection Committee, as well as a “Thank You” to everyone for their attendance.

Rick Glaser, an International Agent/Matchmaker/Broker and Consultant, has never been one to hold his tongue. He says what he feels. Instead of reveling in the spotlight which was shining on him during his induction speech, he became that Oscar-winning actor who speaks his/her mind on a trending or controversial topic, which leaves a majority of viewers talking about their speech.

Editor Note: Glaser is a character, even for boxing. I said hello to him, joshed that isn’t it weird, I’m surprisingly handsome in person. Glaser looked at me, nodded, agreed, and said I look like a hillbilly in photos, so he was surprised.

His topic was the New York State Athletic Commission, which he called a “bunch of political hacks.” Glaser vowed to have the commission dismantled.

Glaser’s rant was balanced by former heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney, who was there to induct one-time heavyweight contender Lou Savarese. Cooney, my longtime sidekick on SiriusXM Radio’s “At the Fights,” was funny, warm, moving and caring.

“Fighters give everything they have so we can be entertained,” said Cooney, adding, “but when their fighting days are done and their skills are gone, many times the money is gone, too. Sometimes, so are their minds. The fighters are the last ones to know it should be over. The commissions and promoters should step in at that point and keep a fighter from hurting himself any further. We need to be there to help them take the next step.”

Cooney looked and sounded less like a former #1 contender than he did a political candidate.

Had he been running for office, I guarantee he would win.

On that afternoon at Russo’s on the Bay, the fighters all won. Boxing won.

It really was a feel good kind of afternoon, one so many of us truly needed.

Congratulations to the Class of 2020 of the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame, and to all who made it possible.

You can read the Randy Gordon auto-biography, “Glove Affair,” by clicking to purchase here