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The next meeting of Ring 8 VBA will be held at The Plattduetsche Restaurant, 1132 Hempstead Tpk, Franklin Square, NY on THURSDAY March 19, 2020. Doors open at 7pm
New members welcome and yearly dues renewal are $35. There is a $10 meal fee collected at door for the evenings all-you-can-eat buffett.
Our guests for this meeting are Trainer Scott Lopeck, Boxer Cletis Seldin and the Family of the original Bobby Gleason of Gleason’s Gym Fame. Bronx ,NY.
Scott Lopeck
Ring 8 is proud to have Long Island boxing legend and trainer Scott Lopeck here tonite. This long Island raised athlete got his start as a Football star at Maria Regina HS, then Nassau Community College. He then played semi-pro ball for the Brooklyn Mariners. Hearing about Tommy Gallagher’s famed boxing gym, he decided to walk in and at age 23 was hooked on a new sport- Boxing.
As a amateur he went to the New York Golden Gloves Semi Finals and the Finals of the NY Metro Championships in only 9 amateur fight career.
He turned pro in 1992 and scored an impressive win over Maurice Harris in only his 5th pro fight. In 1997 he scored a 10 Rd decision over ranked Kevin Pompey, which earned Scott the New York State Title. Scott went on to fight Willie Monroe for the NABF title fight, but Scott broke his hand and had to retire. It was the 5th broken hand injury in his career.
Scott turned to youth training at the Westbury PAL Gym and now trains Champion Cletis Seldin along with Pete Brodsky.
Scott received Ring 8’s “Trainer of the Year Award” this past December 2019 for his great efforts and dedication to the sport.
Cletis Seldin
Cletis is a long time friend and member of Ring 8 VBA. He is coming off a title defense victory 2 weeks ago at Joe DeGuardia’s card in Huntington, NY. .
Cletis scored a 7th Rd TKO victory over Luis Florez in a fight filled with power punches from both corners.
It was Cletis’a first title defense of his NABF Light Welterwt. title which he won from Zab Judah.
He is presently 25-1 with 21 KOs to his credit.
He was Ring 8’s “Contender of the Year” in 2016. Welcome back Cletis Seldin.
The Family of Bobby Gleason
Gleason’s Gym in the Bronx was one of the two gyms that had the top boxers of its era 1930’s – 1960’s. The other being Stillman’s Gym in Manhattan.
Bobby Gleason will be inducted posthumously this April 19th in the New York Boxing HOF along with other New York legends.
Bobby ‘s real name was Peter Gagliardi when he came over from Italy in the early 1900’s. The name changed when he fought illegally in New York City (Boxing was outlawed in the early 1920’s)
to Kid Gleason to draw the Irish crowd that controlled much of the fight game. He earned money which eventually was turned into a fleet of Taxi cabs he had for his business. But Boxing was always an interest and opened up his gym in the Bronx in 1938. Besides ca gym owner he went on to train a few names in the game.He managed and Trained heavyweight Nino Valdes to a respectable career as well as Archie McBride in the 1960’s when he brought Archie to Germany to fight Karl Middenberger for the title. He led Phil Terranova’s career to the featherwt title.
The gym eventually moved to Manhattan near the newly opened MSG in 1972 but Bobby passed away in 1977.
He was awarded Boxings ” James J Walker Award” at the Waldorf Astoria in 1975, handed to him by Muhammed Ali.
Bobby’s daughter Bernadette Savarese and grandson John Savarese will be on hand to discuss the gym and Bobby’s long history.
Reminder: New York State Boxing HOF Induction dinner to be held Russo’s on The Bay, Howard Beach, NY Sunday April 19th, 2020 at 11:30 am. Tickets are $ 150.00 Children price available for 12 and under.
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