The 26th annual RING 8 Holiday Event and Awards Ceremony will be held Sunday afternoon (12:00-5:00 p.m. ET), February 10 at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.

Damage from Hurricane Sandy to Russo’s On The Bay forced the event’s postponement from December 9 to Feb. 10.

A star-studded group of past and present world champions and industry dignitaries will be in attendance. Dave Diamante will announce the award winners.

Ring 8 has announced its 2012 award winners (see full list below), including new World Boxing Association middleweight champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin(Fighter of the Year), Joe Calzaghe (Fighter of the Decade), and Bernard Hopkins(Lifetime Achievement),

“Our members really look forward to this gala event every year,” Ring 8 president Bob Duffy said. “Some of the biggest names in boxing will be honored as we proudly continue our record for lending a helping hand to those in the boxing community who are less fortunate, some requiring assistance towards paying their rent, medical expenses, or whatever justifiable need. Each year our Holiday Event and Awards Ceremony celebrates our great sport of boxing, insuring much-needed funding is raised so we may continue our mission for our needy brothers and sisters in boxing. We will never waver from their corners. We had to wait a little longer this year because of Hurricane Sandy, but I’m confident it’ll be another knockout Holiday Event and Awards Ceremony.”

Committed celebrity boxing attendees include world champions Bobby Czyz, Virgil Hill, Iran Barkley, Vito Antuofermo, and Matthew Saad Muhammad, as well as Renaldo “Mr.” Snipes, Tommy Gallagher, Michael Bentt, Harold Lederman, and Earnie Shavers.
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2012 RING 8 Award Winners

Fighter of the Year: Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin
Fighter of the Decade: Joe Calzaghe
Uncrowned Champion: David Sears
Coach of the Year (FDNY): Bob McGuire
Coaches of the Year (NYPD): Pat Russo & Dave Seiv
Lifetime Achievement Award: Bernard Hopkins
Official of the Year (Referee): Eddie Claudio
Official of the Year (Judge): John Signorile
Boxing Writer of the Year: Mike Woods
Long & Meritorious Service: Ron McNair
Man of the Year: Frankie Russo Jr.
Prospects of the Year: Floriano Pagliara & Joe Smith
Comeback of the Year: Adam Willett
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Last year’s Ring 8 award winners included the now late, great Emanuel Steward, who was honored as Trainer of the Decade, as well as 2008 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne, the Amateur Boxer of the Year.

Tickets, priced at $125.00 per person, are available to purchase by calling1.718.729.4862, emailing DepComish@aol.com or mailing checks (payable to Ring 8) to Tony Mazzarella, C/O Waterfront Crab House, 2-03 Borden Ave., Long Island, NY 11101. Donations of any denomination are welcome for those unable to attend the festivities.

Tickets include a complete brunch with cocktail hour upon entry, seating at the awards ceremony, dinner and dessert, and top-shelf open bar throughout the afternoon. There will also be a silent auction of boxing memorabilia. This event is expected to sell-out and everybody is urged to purchase tickets as soon as possible in order to secure favorable seating. Boxing and sports memorabilia will be on display.

Program ads are available for Full Page ($150.00), Half-Page ($80.00), and Quarter-Page ($50.00). The deadline for all ads is January 25 and must be emailed (DepComish@aol.com) or mailed to Bob Duffy (516.313.2304), 164 Lindbergh St., Massapequa, NY 11762.

Go online to www.Ring8ny.com for more information about Ring 8 or its annual Holiday Events and Awards Ceremony.

Russo’s On The Bay is located at 162-45 Crossbay Blvd. in Howard Beach(718.843.5055).