Sunday April 28th,2013 was the 2nd Annual New York State Boxing HOF Induction Ceremony. Well attended by 500+ persons, it was a very entertaining day that saw many emotional acceptance speeches as well as some of the most hilarious stories coming from the inductees.
Iran Barkley, who has hit some hard times recently but is getting much support made a impassioned speech about his mom and the love she had for him. He Thanked all for the support he receives and later, Shelly Finkel said “Iran never said NO to meeting any opponent ever put in front of him.” and Iran also said than “no one ever thought he could beat Hearns, only himself, and needed to prove it to everyone he could”.
Though still living Joey Archer and Doug Jones could not make the event but “Thank You” letters were read from them and families. Junior Jones and Mark Breland were both inducted and common here, where you find one, you find the other not far behind. Great Champs each.
James Buddy McGirt was funny in his acceptance-known to use tough street language throughout his career and today, he promised his wife he would do his best “to hold back much”, but eventually apologizing many times about two sentences into his speech.All good natured.
Shelley Finkel told of some history behind the great fights he put together that had you riveted on your seats and Don Duphy’s two sons relayed their thanks from his family.
Tony Graziano-Boxing trainer of the past and present owner of “Graziano’s” rest. and hotel just feet away from Canastota’s Boxing HOF had some nice words.And of course, invited all to his place if you ever go to Canastota.
Posthumously Teddy Brenner, Johnny Dundee, Maxie Rosenbloom, Jack Dempsey, Mike Jacobs, Tex Rickard, Sandy Saddler were all Inducted as well. A fine job of telling of each of their historical bios came from historian Henry Hascup, Don Majeski, Bob Duffy, Steve Farhood, Neil Terens, Ron McNair, Bobby Bartels, Tony Mazzarella and BWAA’s Jack Hirsch.
Barclay Center in Brooklyn, NY new house announcer Dave Diamante did a fine job of introductions.
On hand was Great Champion Eddie (Gregory) Mustafa Muhammed who was very appreciative of the Honor and was one of the few attendees who took the red eye from England the night before because he was in the Ring with his fighters on Saturday nite.
Bobby Cassidy, a top Contender from the 60′s and 70′s was inducted. A long time Norkus family friend who resided just one town over from us for his boxing years remembered his early days when Teddy Brenner told him he wont add to much in the fight game. How wrong Teddy was as Bobby held his own against many top names and was a huge New York Champ to many here.
Larry Merchant couldnt make it as well and sent his Thanks. Bob Arum too. All in all a very fine day with the Boxing crowd.
The event is sponsored by Ring 8 and as usual, as you can see, the fighters and guests mingle under a casual atmosphere and the Inductees sign autographs and take pictures as long as one doesn’t request more than they should. The food is very good and starts with buffet brunch and then sit-down dinner and huge dessert trays-unlimited by staff. Open Bar. $150 p/p was the tab. A good time by all.
More than 300 people attended this past Sunday’s second annual 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, as 20 inductees from the Class of 2013 were honored.
“This is the second year for the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame,” NYSBHOF and Ring 8 president Bob Duffy explained. “This is for New York but it could be the Brooklyn Boxing Hall of Fame with so many of this year’s inductees from Brooklyn. The New York State Boxing Hall of Fame is for New Yorkers and one by New Yorkers. All of these inductees are responsible New Yorkers. We remember their services from the 40s, 50s and 60s, when boxing was so big in New York, and it’s big again today. A lot of people in the audience will be inducted for years to come. The dream of Tony Mazzarella was to have the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame – New Yorkers for New Yorkers.”
The 2013 NYSBHOF inductees were (participants) Jack Dempsey (61-6-9, 50 KOs), Johnny Dundee (83-32-20, 17 KOs), Sandy Saddler (144-16-2, 103 KOs), Maxie Rosenbloom (207-39-26 (19 KOs), Joey Archer (61-6-9, 50 KOs), Iran Barkley (43-19-1 (27 KOs), Mark Breland (35-3-1, 25 KOs), Bobby Cassidy (59-16-3, 27 KOs); Doug Jones (30-10-1, 20 KOs), Junior Jones (50-6, 28 KOs), James “Buddy” McGirt (73-6-1, 48 KOs), Eddie Mustafa Muhammad (50-8-1, 39 KOs); (non-participants) Bob Arum, Shelly Finkel, Tony Graziano, Larry Merchant; Teddy Brenner, Mike Jacobs, Tex Rickard, and Don Dunphy,
Each inductee received a custom-designed belt signifying his induction into the NYSBHOF.
U.S. Congressman Peter King (R-NY), a strong supporter of boxing who introduced his close friend, Bobby Cassidy, was a guest speaker. “I congratulate all of the honorees today for their outstanding careers, especially my friend, Bobby Cassidy, for all he’s done,” Rep. King said. “I introduced, with Senator McCain, a bill (Muhammad Ali Act) to protect fighters and now we’ve introduced another bill asking the President (Obama) to pardon Jack Johnson. It’s an injustice.”
The inductees were selected by the NYSBHOF nominating committee members, including Jack Hirsch, Steve Farhood, Don Majeski, Henry Hascup, Ron McNair and Neil Terens.
All boxers needed to be inactive for at least three years, in order to be eligible for NYSBHOF induction, and all inductees must have resided in New York State for a significant portion of their boxing careers.
Dave Diamante served once again as Master of Ceremonies for the event. Special guests in attendance included Vito Antuofermo, Luis Colazzo, Vinny Maddalone, Renaldo Snipes, Leona Brown, and Mia St. John.
Go on line at www.Ring8ny.com for additional information about the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.
Quotes from some of the inductees and their pictures are below. All pictures by Peter Frutkoff.
Junior Jones: “There are a lot of great fighters up here. This is a great event recognizing New Yorkers. I want to thank all of the people who were part of my team.”
Iran Barkley: “Teddy Brenner basically asked me, ‘You think you can fight.’ I told him I was going to be champion of the world and he said, ‘You’re never going to be champion.’ You don’t know how made he made me that day and I then beat everybody he put in against me.
“When I fought (Thomas) Hearns, nobody thought I could beat him, but I wasn’t afraid. I’m a Bronx guy and I was used to getting hits by bricks and bats. I won with blood, sweat and tears. I said to get ready to pick him up and carry him out.”
Tony Graziano: “It’s an honor being here with all these greats and in the New York Hall of Fame.”
Bobby Cassidy: “I truly appreciate and I’m honored to be standing here today. I started boxing in 1963. Teddy Brenner said I was a million-to-one shot but his long-shot paid off. Like a lot of guys, boxing saved me. It was go in the ring or go to jail. Everything I have is through boxing. I was sent all over the world. I was a fighter; just tell me where to show up. I never turned down a fight. I fought six opponents who fought for the title and beat four of them. All I ever wanted was to fight for the title. I never fought for the title and that really hurt me more than anything and I had 80 pro fights and 500 stitches. I’m a fighter and always will be. Standing up here makes up for never getting a title shot. I’m truly honored.”
Mark Breland:”It’s good to be here with all these guys. I’ve always looked up to, and I don’t know if he knows it, Tony Santana. I sparred with Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. It’s an honor to be here and accept this award. I had a lot of fights. I enjoy boxing; it’s a lot of fun. All my years in boxing, I always had a great manager, Shelly Finkel. He’s family.”
Shelly Finkel: Anyone in the sport knows there are two families – one at home and the fighters. Somebody once asked me, when all is said and done, how do I want to be remembered? That I cared about my fighters. There have been so many incredible moments in the ring. I’ve had the greatest career with my fighters on the ring but, after the fighting, that I could help my fighters.”
James “Buddy” McGirt: “This group of fighters up here, you don’t understand, it’ll be 100 years before you’d find a group of fighters like this. In 1987, Iran Barkley took to training camp. He didn’t need to do that and I was just another expense. But it helped me become world champion. In 1989, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad came to gym in Las Vegas everyday for five weeks to watch me train. As a fighter there are certain things you never forget. On November 29th, 1991, Eddie yelled my name and gave me a thumbs-up. It was the greatest night of my career. Everybody was yelling and what I remember was Eddie yelling, ‘McGirt.’”
Eddie Mustafa Muhammad: “This is special to me. I am very appreciative and humbled to put me in the New York Hall of Fame with all these terrific fighters. But, if you invite me again to another festive occasion like this, please (jokingly) don’t sit me between McGirt and Breland. They’re friends of mine, like family. Iran and I won many titles together. I told him that, if he listened to me, he’d be a three-time world champion. He looked at me like I was crazy. I blew it….he became four-time world champion.
“Now, I have my newest world champion, Ishe Smith, and Chad Dawson. I thank God for allowing me to transfer any skills, what I learned from my former trainers, to my students. I’ve had 18 world champions in a young career. After I retired, I didn’t know what to do, and Bob Arum said I could train because he knew I was working with Mike McCallum, who became world champion. I brought Floyd Mayweather his first world champion (Smith). I’m a part of the ‘Money Team’ and thank him for having the trust in me to train some of his young fighters.
“This is like winning a world championship. I love this!”
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