The founder of the AAIB, 101 year old Steve Acunto passed away in his sleep early Monday morning. Steve was in the Inaugural New York State Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Class back in 2012.
NEW YORK (April 3, 2012) – Boxing stars joined a sold-out crowd of 500 at this past Sunday’s inaugural 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. That’s Jake LaMotta and Steve Acunto seated along with the other honorees and Board members, including Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, Harold Lederman and Jimmy Glenn.
Steve is the Co-founder with Rocky Marciano of the American Association for the Improvement of Boxing Inc. (1969). Today, AAIB is among the leading voices in Boxing for Safety Standards and Administrative Competency.
For over four decades, Stephen B. Acunto was one of the foremost boxing instructors in the world, teaching alongside Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, and Willie Pep. Steve was head coach of boxing at Westchester Community College, where he developed and taught the only boxing course for college credit in existence. He also taught pugilism at Fairfield University, Concordia College, Sarah Lawrence College, The Purchase Community House, and numerous YMCAs, clinics, and seminars around the nation. Steve has taught over 8,000 boxers – one became world champion, several have been leading contenders, and many have been amateur champions
A former boxer, Steve has been a member of the New York State Athletic Commission since 1945. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1988, the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998, and was an inaugural inductee into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013. Articles about Steve and his activities have appeared in Sports Illustrated, SPORT Magazine, The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Boxing Illustrated, and a host of other publications. Steve turned 101-years-old on November 15, 2017. No one has given more to the sport of boxing.
Our thoughts and Prayers go out to his daughter Donna and son Steve and all the rest of his Loved ones!
Here’s the arrangements:
Fred McGrath & Son Funeral Home
20 Cedar Street
Bronxville, NY 10708
Acunto, Stephen B.
Calling hours: 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm, Thursday February 8 and Friday February 9, 2018
Mass: 10:30 am, Saturday, February 10, 2018, St. Peter & Paul Church, Fleetwood
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