International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Larry Hazzard will be the special guest speaker this coming Tuesday night (April 19), starting at 7 PM/ET) for RING 8’s monthly meeting at the historic Waterfront Crabhouse in Long Island City.
In addition, each 2011 New York Golden Gloves Tournament finalist has been invited along with a guest to attend Tuesday’s meeting, as well as becoming an honorary RING 8 member throughout this year.
Hazzard started refereeing amateur matches in 1967 and pro bouts 11 years later. He refereed 40 world title fights featuring “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, Michael Spinks, Dwight Qawi, Sean O’Grady, Riddick Bowe, Matthew Saad Muhammad, and Pernell Whitaker, as well as non-world title fights with all-time greats such as Tommy Hearns, Alexis Arguello, Bobby Czyz, Leon Spinks, Iran Barkley, Hector Camacho, Marlon Starling and Donald Curry.
Hazzard served as commissioner of the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board from 1985-2007. He was later appointed as chairman of officials, education, development and supervision for the International Boxing Federation.
“Larry Hazzard brings so much boxing experience from a wide variety of different positions,” RING 8 president Bob Duffy said. “He’s been a referee, commissioner and chairman of one of the major boxing organizations in the world. We’re honored to have Larry as our guest speaker. He was known for his full support for the safety and health of boxers. What better way for our special New York Golden Gloves finalists to be introduced to what RING 8 stands for than listening to Larry Hazzard? We’re opening the door for these men and women who attend Tuesday’s meeting.”
Formed in 1954 by an ex-prizefighter, Jack Grebelsky, RING 8 became the eighth subsidiary of what was then known as the National Veteran Boxers Association — hence, RING “8” — and today the organization’s motto still remains: Boxers Helping Boxers.
RING 8 is fully committed to supporting the less fortunate people in the boxing community that may require assistance in terms of paying rent, medical expenses, or whatever justifiable need.
