NEW YORK (September 9, 2021) – Long Island journalist/producer Bobby Cassidy, Jr. will join his father, Bobby Cassidy, Sr., in the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF). Originally scheduled for April 19, 2019, the induction dinner was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions until Sunday afternoon, September 19 (12:30-5:30 p.m. AND), once again at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.
The 28-member Class of 2019 will be honored at the ninth NYSBHOF induction dinner, which is sponsored by Ring 8. There will not be a Class of 2021 due to pandemic.
New York City guidelines mandates all attendees must be vaccinated to attend indoor events.
Bobby Cassidy, SR. (2013) ndipo Jr. are the fourth son and father tandem inducted into the NYSBHOF, but the first boxer/journalist combination. The others are boxers Floyd and Tracy Patterson, executive administrators Bobby and Murray Goodman, and referees Arthur, SR. and Arthur Mercante, Jr.
“It’s quite an honor to be inducted into the same Hall of Fame as my da.” Bobby, Jr. anati. “He’s the one responsible for my love of boxing. The sport of boxing provides us with so many rich stories. It’s been a privilege to cover the sport.”
Bobby, Jr. has worked in boxing in various roles for Newsday during the past quarter-century. He started covering boxing in 1987, when he started as a reporter for The Ring magazine, and Bobby has written about boxing for Newsday, New York Post, Los Angeles Times, ESPN.com, British Boxing News and Ringside Seat Magazine.
During the course of his decorated writing career, Cassidy has worked more than 200 world title fights and covered a Who’s Who of boxing, including stars such as “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearn’s Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, George wolimbikira, Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar de A La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, Roy Jones, Jr., Bernard Hopkins, Errol Spence, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Vasily Lomachenko.
The Cassidy’s father-son bond led Bobby, Jr. to write the play, “Kid Shamrock,” based on his father’s life, which was produced Off Broadway four times from 2007 kuti 2012. He has worked in Newsday’s multimedia department for the last 12 years and produced numerous award-winning documentaries for Newsday.
Living boxers heading into the NYSBHOF include three-time World light heavyweight title challenger Jorge Ahumada (42-8-2, 22 Ko), of Woodside, Queens by way of Argentina; (1975-78) WBC super featherweight World Champion Alfredo “El Salsero” Escalera (53-14-3, 31 Ko), of New York City by way of Puerto Rico; WBC super featherweight World title challenger Freddie “The Pitbull” Liberatore (20-4-1, 11 Ko), of Bayside, Queens; WBC middleweight World Champion and four-time New York Golden Gloves winner Dennis “The Magician” Milton (16-5-1, 5 Ko), la Bronx; World heavyweight title challenger and two-time New York Golden Gloves winner Lou Savarese (46-7, 38 Ko), of Greenwood Lake; and WBA super middleweight title World title challenger Merqui “El Corombo” Sosa (34-9-2, 27 Ko), of Brooklyn by way of the Dominican Republic.
Posthumous participants being inducted are Brooklyn welterweight Soldier Bartfield (51-29-8, 33 Ko), who fought a reported 55 dziko akatswiri; Bronx middleweight Steve Belloise (95-13-3, 59 Ko); NYSAC and World lightweight champion (1925) Jimmy Goodrich (85-34-21 (12 Ko), wa Buffalo; World heavyweight title challenger Tami Mauriello (82-13-1, 60 Ko), la Bronx; WBA light middleweight World champion (1982-83) and four-consecutive New York Golden Gloves titlist Davey “Sensational” Moore (18-5, 14 Ko), la Bronx; and World lightweight champion Freddie “The Welsh Wizard” Welch (74-5-7, 34 Ko), of New York City by way of Wales.
Joining Cassidy, Jr. among the living non-participants heading into the NYSBHOF are Oneida judge Don Ackerman, Wantah, Buffalo manager Rick Glaser, Rockaway Beach journalist Jack Hirsch, Bronx boxing broadcaster Max Kellerman, Orangeburg judge Julie Lederman, Hyde Park referee Ron Lipton, and Staten Island/Catskill trainer Kevin Rooney.
Posthumous non-participant inductees are Ardsley ringside physician/NY Medical Director Dr. William Lathan, Brooklyn’s Ring Magazine editor Lester Bromberg, New York City sportswriter Dan Daniel, Brooklyn’s Gleason’s Gym founder Bobby Gleason, Sunnyside, Queens boxing writer Flash Gordan, Manhattan journalist A.J. Liebling, Long Island City’s NYSBHOF co-founder Tony Mazzarella and New York City manager Dan Morgan.
There are a number of other firsts regarding some Class of 2020 inductees: husband-wife Dr. William and Melvina Lathan (Maphunziro a 2018), and daughter-father Julie and Harold (Maphunziro a 2012) Lederman.
Welch is going into the NYSBHOF as a boxer, but he also managed fellow Class of 2020 inductee Goodrich.
Each attending inductee will receive a custom-designed belt signifying his or her induction into the NYSBHOF.
The 2020 inductees anasankhidwa ndi NYSBHOF nominating m'Komiti: Randy Gordon, Henry Hascup, Don Majeski, Ron McNair, Jim Monteverde and Neil Terens.
boxers anafunika kukhala anafooka kwa zaka zosachepera zitatu kuti kulandira NYSBHOF kupatsidwa ulemu, ndipo inductees onse ayenera kukhala ku New York State kwa mbali yaikulu ya nkhonya ntchito zawo kapena pa pachimake pa ntchito awo.
Matikiti ndi wogulira pa $150.00 pa wamkulundi $60.00 ana (pansi 16) and IT includes a complete brunch and cocktail hour upon entry, kuyambira pa 12:30 p.m. AND, as well as a full course dinner (chachikulu nthiti, fish, or poultry) ndipo bala yotsegula tsiku lonse. Tickets are available to purchase by contacting NYSBHOF president Bob Duffy at 516.313.2304 kapena depcomish@aol.com.
NEW YORK STATE BOXING HALL OF FAME
Maphunziro a 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 ndi Arthur Mercante, SR.
Maphunziro a 2013: Jack Dempsey, Johnny Dundee, Sandy Saddler, Maxie Rosenbloom, Joey woponya mivi uja, Iran Barkley, Mark Breland, Bobby Cassidy, Doug Jones, Junior Jones, James “Buddy” McGirt, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Bob Arum, Shelly Finkel, Tony Graziano, Larry Malonda, Teddy Brenner, Mike Jacobs, Tex Rickard ndi Don Dunphy.
Maphunziro a 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, Ti D'Amato, William Muldoon ndi Tom O'Rourke.
Maphunziro a 2015: Saul Mamby, Joey Giamba, Johnny Persol, Harold Weston, Lonnie Bradley, Paul Berlenbach, Billy Graham, Frankie Genaro, Bob Miller, Tommy Ryan, Jimmy Slattery, Bob Duffy, Mike Katz, Tommy Gallagher, Bruce Silverglade, Charley Goldman, Jimmy Johnston, Cedric Kushner, Harry Markson, Damon Runyon, and Al Weill.
Maphunziro a 2016: Aroni Davis, Charles Murray, Vilomar Fernandez, Edwin Viruet, Hector “Macho” Camacho, miyala Graziano, Miyala Kansas, Joe Lynch, Joe Miceli, Mkonzi Brophy, Joe DeGuardia, Randy Gordon, Dennis Rappaport, Howie Albert, Freddie Brown, Howard Cosell, , and Jimmy Jacobs.
Maphunziro a 2017: Gaspar Ortega, Renaldo “Mr.” Snipes, Doug Dewitt, “The Bronx Bomber” Alex Ramos, Dick Amabereka, Jose Torres, “Nonpareil” Jack Dempsey, Don Majeski, Ron Katz, Stan Hoffman, Bobby Bartels, Hank Kaplan, Al Gavin, Arthur Donovan, and Dan Parker.
Maphunziro a 2018: Lou “Honey Boy” Del Valle, Jake Rodriguez, Terrence Alli, “Baby” Joe Mesi, Mwana Chocolate, James J. “Gentleman Jim” Corbett, Jack McAuliffe, Billy Costello, Melio Bettina Ralph “Tiger” Jones, Charley Norkus, Dave Anderson, Pete Brodsky, therere Goldman, Bobby Goodman, Melvina Lathan, Ron Scott Stevens, Johnnie Addie, Johnny Bos, Murray Goodman, Bert Randolph Sugar and Sam Taub.
Maphunziro a 2019: Wilfredo Benitez, Dick DiVeronica, Rogelio Tuur, Davey Vasquez, Michael Olajide, Monte Barrett, Jimmy Carter, Al “Bummy” Davis, Marty Servo, Roland LaStarza, Paddy DeMarco, Sid Terris, Leach “The Fighting Dentist” Cross, Don King, John McKaie, Steve Albert, Arthur Mercante, Jr., Bob Jackson, Dewey Fragetta, Johnny LoBianco, Wayne Kelly, Harry Hill, Jimmy Cannon, and Joe Dwyer.
ZAMBIRI:
www.nyboxinghof.org