The inaugural New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (“NYSBHOF”) induction dinner, sponsored by Ring 8, will be held Sunday, April 1 at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.
Legendary “Sugar” Ray Robinson, arguably the greatest boxer of all-time, leads a star-studded list of 12 boxers and eight non-participants to be formally inducted.
Boxers joining Robinson in the inaugural NYSBHOF class are Mike Tyson, Jake LaMotta, Carmen Basilio, Riddick Bowe, Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, Emile Griffith, Mike McCallum and the late Gene Tunney, Benny Leonard and Tony Canzoneri.
Non-participant inductees are judge/HBO analyst Harold Lederman, coach/instructor Steve Acunto, trainer/cutman Jimmy Glenn and, posthumously, trainers Gil Clancy and Ray Arcel, The Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer, New York Daily News boxing reporter/cartoonist Bill Gallo, and referee Arthur Mercante, Sr.
“We’re doing this to honor New York fight people,” NYSBHOF president Tony Mazzarella said. “This is a dream come true for so many people who’ve worked hard to make the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame a reality. On April 1st we will be setting the foundation for years to come. All of the inductees will be immortalized with plaques showcased on a dedicated wall at the Waterfront Crabhouse and in the New York State Athletic Commission.”
Inductees who have committed to attending the festivities include Bowe, McCallum, Griffith, Ortiz, Antuofermo, Acunto, Glenn and Lederman. The families of Arcel, Gallo and Mercante will also be represented.
The inductees were selected by a six-member NYSBHOF nominating committee comprised of Jack Hirsch, Steve Farhood, Henry Hascup, Bobby Cassidy Jr., Ron McNair and Neil Terens.
In order to be eligible for NYSBHOF induction, all boxers needed to be inactive for at least three years, and all inductees had to have resided in New York State for a significant portion of their boxing careers.
Tickets, priced at $150.00 per person, include a complete brunch and cocktail hour upon entry, starting at 12:30 PM/ET, as well as dinner (prime rib, fish or poultry) and open bar throughout the evening. Tickets are available to purchase at the Waterfront Crabhouse (2-03 Borden Ave in Long Island City), or by calling Mazzarella at 718.729.4862 or Ring 8 president Bob Duffy at 516.313.2304. Ads for the NYSBHOF program are available, ranging from $50.00 to $250.00, by contacting Mazzarella and Duffy.
