CONGRATULATIONS MUST go out to Bobby Cassidy Jr. and Dave Schuster for putting together this OUTSTANDING Documentary on Sunnyside Garden. For those who missed it their will be another showing Next Sunday.

The Sunnyside Documentary will air NEXT SUNDAY night, March 25th at 7 pm on SNY – that is the Mets network

The film covers the history of Sunnyside Garden Arena, a boxing arena that entertained fans of pugilism from 1947 until 1977. Legendary fighters came to Sunnyside Garden including Billy Graham, Floyd Patterson, Bobby Cassidy, Vito Antuofermo, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Gerry Cooney, Mustafa Hamsho and Saoul Mamby.

Bobby Cassidy fought at Sunnyside a record 25 times .. This photo was from a fight in 1963, the year he turned pro

“Sunnyside Garden was an important part of my childhood,” said the film’s director, Bobby Cassidy. “My father holds the record for most main events at Sunnyside. It became this mythical building to our family. When they demolished it, it was like they took away part of my childhood. I wanted to make this film to recreate that atmosphere, to bring all those memories back to life.”

The film features Bobby Cassidy, Congress member Peter King and many of the fighters mentioned above.

PS – Many of you wanted to know if their is a DVD on this Documentary. You can contact Boby Cassiday Jr., at cassboxer@yahoo.com

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 20th at O’Neill’s Restaurant located at 64-21 53rd Drive in Maspeth, New York starting at 7 PM

Here’s Sadam Ali in his recent win over Miguel Cotto

Our guest speakers will be Sadam Ali, his trainer Andre Rozier, and Physical conditioning guru Scooter Honig who works with Ali and other world class fighters. Scooter also conditions LL Cool J.

On Sunday, April 29th, 2018, the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame will hold its 7^th Annual Induction Ceremonies at the beautiful Russo’s on the Bay, located at 162-45 Cross Bay Blvd. in Howard Beach, New York starting at 12:30 PM.  Tickets are priced at $150 per person, $70 per child (under 16).

Living boxers heading into the NYSBHOF include (Spring Valley) IBF Cruiserweight World Champion Al “Ice” Cole (35-16-3, 16 KOs), (Long Island) WBA light heavyweight Lou “Honey Boy” Del Valle (36-6-2, 22 KOs), (Central Islip) IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion Jake Rodriguez (28-8-2, 8 KOs), (Brooklyn) world lightweight title challenger Terrence Alli (52-15-2, 21 KOs), and (Buffalo) undefeated world-class heavyweight “Baby” Joe Mesi (36-0, 29 KOs).

Posthumous participants being inducted are NBA & NYSAC World Featherweight Champion (Manhattan) Kid “Cuban Bon Bon” Chocolate (136-10-6, 51 KOs), (New York City) 20th century heavyweight James J. “Gentleman Jim” Corbett (11-4-3, 5 KOs), (Williamsburg) World Lightweight Champion Jack “The Napoleon of The Prize Ring” McAuliffe, (Kingston) WBC Super Lightweight Champion Billy Costello (40-2, 23 KOs), (Beacon) NYSAC Light Heavyweight World Champion Melio Bettina (83-14-3, 36 KOs), (Brooklyn/Yonkers) world-class middleweight Ralph “Tiger” Jones (52-32-5, 13 KOs) and (Port Washington) heavyweight contender Charley “The Bayonne Bomber” Norkus (33-19, 19 KOs).

Living non-participants heading into the NYSBHOF are (Troy) Pulitzer Prize-winning sportswriter Dave Anderson, (Brooklyn) trainer/advisor Pete Brodsky, (Rockaway) boxing historian/editor Herb Goldman, (Bronx) matchmaker Bobby Goodman, (Ardsley) NYSAC chairperson/judge Melvina Lathan, and (Brooklyn) NYSAC Chairperson/matchmaker/promoter Ron Scott Stevens.

Posthumous non-participant inductees are (Brooklyn) ring announcer Johnnie Addie, (Brooklyn) matchmaker Johnny Bos, (Bronx) boxing publicist Murray Goodman, (New York City) boxing writer/historian Bert Randolph Sugar and (Lower East Side) radio & television announcer/journalist Sam Taub.

Each attending inductee (or direct descendant of) will receive a custom-designed belt signifying his or her induction into the NYSBHOF.

The 2017 inductees were selected by the NYSBHOF nominating committee members: Jack Hirsch, Bobby Cassidy, Jr., Randy Gordon, Henry Hascup, Don Majeski, Ron McNair, and Neil Terens.

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 significant portion of their boxing careers or during the prime of their respective career.

The following pictures that were taken by Peter Frutkoff

Vasyl Lomachenko – Muhammad Ali International Fighter of the Year Award

Michael Spinks – Historical Award

Marcus Browne – New York State Fighter of the Year Award

Edwin Torres – Long & Meitorious Service Award

Hector Roca – New York State Trainer of the Year Award

Robert Perez – New York State Official of the Year Award

Bobby Cassidy Sr. – Sunnyside Gardens Award

Mercedes Vazquez Simmons – New York State Promoter of the Year Award

Joanne Doyle Hutchins – Good Guy Award

Dr. Osric King – Ringside Physician of the Year Award

Mike Reno – Community Service Award

Devaun Lee – New York State Prospect of the Year Award

Matt Christie – Sam Kellerman Media Award

Amanda Serrano – New York State Female Fighter of the Year

Richard Kiley – Uncrowned Champion Award

Michael Conlan – International Prospect of the Year Award

George Newman – Ring 8 Member of the Year Award

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

President Jack Hirsch opened the meeting as Paulette Balog led as in our flag salute and John Holden gave the 10 count in memory of Al “Blue” Lewis, Gary Cowburn and Mrs. Laudicina, Pat’s mother!

Guest speakers were Randy Gordon & Cletus Seldin who talked about there careers in boxing, which was Outstanding!!!

(Pictures taken by Stan Janousek, professional fight name Stanley Yanachek)

Randy Gordon & Cletus Seldin will be the Ring 8 guest speakers at its next monthly meeting on Thursday night, February 1st (7 p.m. ET start), at Plattdeutsch Park Restaurant (1132 Hempstead Turnpike) in Franklin Square, New York.

On Sunday, April 29th, 2018, the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame will hold its 7^th Annual Induction Ceremonies at the beautiful Russo’s on the Bay, located at 162-45 Cross Bay Blvd. in Howard Beach, New York starting at 12:30 PM.  Tickets are priced at $150 per person, $70 per child (under 16).

For additional information Bob Duffy, 164 Lindbergh Street, Massapequa Park, NY 11762 – (516) 313-2304
Or E-Mail – Depcomish@aol.com

On a sad note, I was informed by Paulette Balog that Longtime member Pasquale (Pat) Laudicina, pictured here with Renaldo Snipes just lost his mother who was well into her 90’s! Our thoughts and Prayers go out to Pat and all his loved ones!