More than 300 people attended this past Sunday afternoon’s fourth annual 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.
NYSBHOF Class of 2015
Boxers
- WBC junior welterweight champion & Vietnam Veteran Saoul Mamby Bronx/Brooklyn
- WBA junior middleweight title challenger Joey Giambra Buffalo
- 1961 National Golden Gloves champion Johnny Persol Brooklyn
- Two-time world welterweight title challenger Harold Weston New York City
- WBO middleweight champion Lonnie Bradley Harlem
(Deceased)
- World light heavyweight champion Paul Berlenbach Astoria
- “Uncrowned” world welterweight champion Billy Graham Manhattan’s Eastside
- 2-Time World flyweight champion Frankie Genaro New York City
- World middleweight & welterweight champion Tommy Ryan Redwood/Syracuse
- World light heavyweight champion Jimmy Slattery Buffalo
Non-Participants
- NYSBHOF & Ring 8 president Bob Duffy Manhattan’s Westside/Massapequa Park
- Journalist Mike Katz Bronx
- Trainer Tommy Gallagher Howard Beach
- Promoter/cutman Bob Miller Albany
- Gleason’s Gym owner Bruce Silverglade Brooklyn
(Deceased)
- Trainer Charley Goldman Brooklyn
- MSG matchmaker Harry Markson Kingston
- Promoter Cedric Kushner Manhattan
- MSG matchmaker Jimmy Johnson New York City
- Journalist Damon Runyon Manhattan
- Manager/matchmaker Al Weill New York City
Renowned ring announcer David Diamante once again served as the event’s Master of Ceremonies.
The 2015 inductees were selected by the NYSBHOF nominating committee members: Jack Hirsch, Steve Farhood, Bobby Cassidy, Jr., Don Majeski, Henry Hascup, Ron McNair and Neil Terens.
Each inductee received a custom-designed belt signifying his induction into the NYSBHOF. All NYSBHOF plaques are on display at the New York State Athletic Commission.
All boxers had to have been inactive for at least three years, in order to be eligible for NYSBHOF induction, and all inductees must have resided in New York State for a significant portion of their boxing careers.
Harold Weston: “I guess there’s no comeback for me because I’ve been told when you go into the Hall of Fame, it’s over. Thanks for this honor. I wondered how long it was going to take (jokingly), you got it right this time. Boxing is my family. My father, Gil Clancy and Emile Griffith, these guys brought me up. Boxing always got me to where I needed to go. Boxing made us the person we are today. This is an honor because there’s no Hall of Fame bigger than New York. Thanks a lot. I’m looking forward to the future.”
Lonnie Bradley: “I’d like to thank everyone, especial these two guys (Bobby Cassidy and Bobby Cassidy, Jr.). I called Bobby for advice. We met and then had a good ride for four years. He wanted a world champion, I wanted to be world champion, and we made the most of it. I’m happy that they’re part of my life and for me to be part of the Cassidy family. The bond is there because it’s a family affair.”
Saul Mamby: “I fought all over the world; one way to see the world. Most do it by taking a vacation. Me, I went around the world fighting people. I went to South Korea and won the world title but nobody knew. In my first title defense against Estephan Jesus, people were stunned to hear Saul Mamby was champion of the world. A lot of people who fought never had a chance to fight for the championship of the world. I lost the title but…I was really ripped off. Thanks for putting me in the Hall of Fame. It’s an honor that I didn’t think would ever happen. I’m too old, 67, to fight but I still go to the gym. I think I can still do it but I’m not going to try. I appreciate this.”
Bruce Silverglade: “I’d like to thank Ring 8 and everybody on the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame nominating committee. I grew-up in Trenton, New Jersey, and my father was a police officer who liked boxing the best. After graduating from college, I worked at Sears Roebuck for 16 years. I called my father asking how I could get involved in boxing. I resigned from Sears Roebuck the next day and bought 50-percent of a gym with my profit sharing.I took over Gleason’s Gym in 1985. My concept of a gym was not just to train fighters, but for politics, heart and sports to come together. We’ve had concerts, off-Broadway plays, weddings and chamber music there. We founded a charity, ‘Give A Kid A Dream,’ in 1981 for kids 8-18 years of age. These kids could come from schools, orphanages, parole officers, or from mothers of troubled kids. Boxing is about discipline. They can go thee seven days a week. We’re not building champions as boxers, but champion citizens in New York City. The inspiration comes from my wife who is the driving force behind the gym. Thank you for this tremendous honor to be a Hall of Famer.”
Tommy Gallagher: “Thank you to so many people. Boxing has been my life and I wanted my first gym in 1951. I was friends with Rocky Graziano and Billy Graham, who’d drop by my gym to tell us about fighters. This is a wonderful time in my life. I want to thank my wife and family.”
Joey Giambra: “Thank you all for coming out. I want to thank Bob Duffy and Ring 8. I’m honored and thank them for voting me in. I’m so honored and humbled.”
Bob Miller: “Thanks for inducting me into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame. The people who’ve come before makes you realize what this means, I’ve trained, managed, promoted and been a cut-man. The best part is the relationships with fighters from so many different backgrounds. I have so many stories. I thank them for allowing me to be part of their lives and see things most wouldn’t. I’m humbled to be inducted in this class.”
Bob Duffy: “I want to thank Ring 8’s nominating committee for voting me into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame and everybody who helped put this together like Keith Sullivan, Ron McNair, Melvina Latham, Jack Hirsch and so many others. I want to congratulate the guys sitting up here. I had an office in Gleason’s Gym and worked Bobby Miller’s shows upstate. I’m very humbled. I grew up on the East Side of Manhattan in the projects. At 14, I had a chance to go to fights at The Garden because I lived only eight blocks away. This is a labor of love. I want to thank my family that has always been supportive. I’ve always felt family first, boxing second, and that’s been my life.”
During the NYSBHOF ceremonies, the World Boxing Council (WBC) and Ring 8 honored the late Joe Dwyer and Tony Mazzarella, both longtime Ring 8 members who passed away earlier this year. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman made a special presentation to Dwyer’s family. Ring 8 made presentations to the Dwyer and Mazzarella families. Dwyer was president of the North American Boxing Federation (NABF). Mazzarella, who served many years as Ring 8’s treasurer, was a major influence in the founding of the NYSBHOF.
NYSBHOF Notebook
On behalf of FDNY (New York Fire Department), Bob McGuire made a $1000.00 donation to Ring 8.
Boxers in attendance included Iran Barkley, Heather Hardy, Vito Antuofermo, Juan LaPorte, Vinny Maddalone, Alicia Ashley, Sonja Lamonakis, Shawn Miller. Other boxing dignitaries there were Roc Nation CEO David Itskovich, HBO analyst Harold Lederman, NY State Athletic Commission chairperson Melvina Latham.
Hirsch announced that any area at the NY State Athletic Commission will serve as the NYSBHOF home. NYSBHOF fighter plagues and other memorabilia will be on display there.
CLASS of 2012: Carmen Basilio, Mike McCallum, Mike Tyson, Jake LaMotta, Riddick Bowe, Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, Emile Griffith, “Sugar” Ray Robinson, Gene Tunney, Benny Leonard, Tony Canzoneri, Harold Lederman, Steve Acunto, Jimmy Glenn, Gil Clancy, Ray Arcel, Nat Fleischer, Bill Gallo and Arthur Mercante, Sr.
CLASS of 2013: Jack Dempsey, Johnny Dundee, Sandy Saddler, Maxie Rosenbloom, Joey Archer, Iran Barkley, Mark Breland, Bobby Cassidy, Doug Jones, Junior Jones, James “Buddy” McGirt, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Bob Arum, Shelly Finkel, Tony Graziano, Larry Merchant, Teddy Brenner, Mike Jacobs, Tex Rickard and Don Dunphy.
CLASS OF 2014: Floyd Patterson, Tracy Harris Patterson, Billy Backus, Kevin Kelley, Juan LaPorte, Gerry Cooney, Mustafa Hamsho, Howard Davis, Jr., Lou Ambers, Jack Britton, Terry McGovern, Teddy Atlas, Lou DiBella, Steve Farhood, Gene Moore, Angelo Prospero, Whitey Bimstein, Cus D’Amato, William Muldoon and Tom O’Rourke.
