NYSBHOF Class ntawm 2019: (L-R – seated) – Bob Jackson, John McKaie, Dick DiVeronica, Regilio Turr, Don King and Michal Olajidfe; (L-R – sawv) – Nplhaib 8 president Charles Norkus, Jr., Monte Barrett, Arthur Mercante, Jr., Steve Albert and NYSBHOF president Bob Duffy
(all pictures by Peter Frutkoff / NYSBHOF)
Inimitable promoter Don King led the 24-member Class of 2019 into the NYSBHOF
TSHIAB YORK (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 30, 2019) – A record turnout honored the Class of 2019 at this past Sunday’s eighth annual New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF), txhawb nqa los ntawm nplhaib 8, at Russo’s On the Bay in Howard Beach, New York.
“We had our largest attendance, 402 neeg,” a happy and proud NYSBHOF president Bob Duffy said at the event. “This is the way we show our appreciation with this special belt for these New Yorkers for what they’ve given boxing through the years. Thanks to a lot of peoples’ efforts this is our eighth year. I hope we can do another 50. I’d like to thank everyone of these inductees, and their family members for their support. It’s all about family.”
Nyob boxers mus rau hauv lub NYSBHOF muaj xws li (Bronx-born) three-time, ob-faib lub ntiaj teb no yeej Wilfredo Benitez (53-8-1, 31 Kos), (Hempstead) WBO super featherweight world champion Rogelio Tuur (46-4-1, 30 Kos), (Bronx) 1968 U.S. Olympian Davey Vasquez (19-15, 6 Kos), WBO super middleweight world title challengerMichael Olajide (27-5, 19 Kos), of Manhattan, New York welterweight Dick DiVeronica(44-13-1, 13 Kos), thiab poj vaj’ world heavyweight title challenger Monte Barrett (35-11-2, 20 Kos).
Posthumous participants being inducted are (Bronx) three-time lightweight world championJimmy Carter (84-31-9, 34 Kos), Brooklyn welterweight Al “Bummy” Davis (65-10-4, 46 Kos), (Schenectady) lub ntiaj teb no Welterweight champion Marty Servo (47-4-2, 14 Kos), (Bronx) world heavyweight title challenger Roland LaStarza (57-9, 27 Kos), Brooklyn world lightweight champion Paddy DeMarco (75-26-3, 8 Kos )and Manhattan’s Lower East Side lightweights Sid Terris (94-13-5, 12 Kos) thiab Leach “The Fighting Dentist” Cross (35-10-4, 22 Kos).
Living non-participants heading into the NYSBHOF are New York City-based promoter Don King, Flushing judge John McKaie, referee Arthur Mercante, Jr. Brooklyn sportscasterSteve Albert, and Bronx trainer Bob Jackson.
Posthumous non-participant inductees are Utica matchmaker Dewey Fragetta, Crown, Queens referee Johnny LoBianco, Garden City referee Wayne Kelly, Flushing sportsman Harry Hill, award-winning journalist Jimmy Cannon, of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and NYSAC official/former NABF president Joe Dwyer, ntawm Brooklyn.
Txhua mus kawm inductee (los yog ncaj xeeb leej xeeb ntxwv ntawm) received a custom-designed belt signifying his or her induction into the NYSBHOF.
Lub 2019 inductees raug xaiv los ntawm cov NYSBHOF nominating pawg neeg:Randy Gordon, Henry Hascup, Don Majeski, Ron McNair, thiab Neil Terens.
Tag nrho boxers yuav tsum tau mus yuav tsaug zog rau tsawg kawg peb lub xyoos yuav tsum tau tsim nyog rau NYSBHOF induction, thiab tag nrho cov inductees yuav tsum tau nyob rau hauv New York State rau ib tug tseem ceeb feem ntawm lawv boxing hauj lwm los yog thaum lub sij hawm lub prime ntawm lawv cov hauj lwm.
INDUCTEES’ QUOTES & DUAB
Bob Jackson: “It’s hard to speak at times like this when being honored by friends. It’s been a great run. I live on memories and I have thousands. They keep me going. Never give up, always keep punching.”
(L-R) presenter Vinny Maddalone & 2019 NYSBHOF inductee Bob Jackson
Regilio Tuur: “I was a black kid from Holland fighting in the Olympics. Pretty much a nobody fighting the U.S. champion. They bought my return plane ticket before I even fought because they though my opponent was unbelievable. I trained to fight him, a southpaw, for a year and had a big fight hand that nobody knew of. I wanted to come to American and make by father proud. I retired from the pros) undefeated and make a lot money. I’m honored today. I had a great manager, Stan Hoffman, who is a man who made us men. Standing here today is a dream.”
(L-R) — 2019 NYSBHOF inductee Regilio Tuur & presenter Stan Hoffman
John McKaie: “I have a great job and to be honored for something I really love doing is a great honor. I’d like to thank various commissions for licensing me, but New York is my home. I’d like to thank all the boxers because it’s been a pleasure judging them.”
L-R) – Presenter Melvina Latham, 2019 NHSBHOF inductee John McKaie and
NYSBHOF president Bob Duffy
Monte Barrett: “Congratulations to everybody up here. There’s so much history in this room. I’ve been in boxing 18 years and have a select memory, but there have been so many amazing experiences and accomplishments. I love this guy (trainer Jimmy Glenn). A lot of managers don’t even ask how you’re doing. My manager was the great Stan Hoffman. He gave me $50,000, $3000 a month and another $1000 for insurance without a contract. Stan said: ‘How you doing? I believe in you and love you.’ Nyob rau hauv 2005, I was having an argument with Don King about money. He said, ‘Life is a negotiation.’ Zoo, I’m negotiating now, and I’m in the Hall of Fame.”
(L-R) – Presenter Melvina Latham, 2019 NHSBHOF inductee Monte Barrett and his wife, Shaneka, and NYSBHOF president Bob Duffy
Arthur Mercante, Jr.: “What a great honor it is to be recognized by Ring 8 and the boxing community. Nyob rau hauv 2012, my dad was inducted into the New York Boxing Hall of Fame Now he’s looking down today and he’s so proud. I entered the Golden Gloves at the age of 17. Un the quarterfinals I lost to a great fighter and Hall of Famer, Juan LaPorte. Like any boxer, I thought that I had won, and wanted aa rematch. My father told me I didn’t like road work and just lost a three-round fight. He asked if I’d like to be a referee. I started in 1979 and my father made me work five years before turning pro. I went on to ref so many great fights, including one on the same card with my father at Radio City Music Hall. My greatest fight was Lennox Lewis versus Evander Holyfield.”
(L-R) – 2019 NYSBHOF inductee Arthur Mercante, Jr. and presenter James Mercante
Michael Olajide: “I’m really honored to be here today. My history in boxing goes back a little now. There’s nothing better to be honored by those who are a part of your profession. Ua tsaug rau koj. I’ve had an incredible journey: Liverpool to Canada to New York. Boxing has given me so much. I wouldn’t be the person I am without boxing. To live is to fight. Boxing and life are synonymous”
(L-R) – Presenter Jack Hirsch and 2019 NYSBHOF inductee Michael Olajide
Steve Albert: “It is a tremendous honor to be honored by these luminaries. To be recognized in your own state is special. This is a celebration of all of New York. I worked 23 years for Showtime Championship Boxing, los ntawm 1987-2010, and the most dramatic was Corrales-Castillo I, one of the greatest fights of all time. I got the see the world because of boxing, but it was the lighter moments I remember most. Only in boxing do you have these characters and amazing experiences.”
(L-R) – Presenter Randy Gordon and 2019 NYSBHOF inductee Steve Albert
Don King: “Only in America, txoj cai? I’m happy to be inducted into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame. O got into boxing with Muhammad Ali for his first fight and he stayed with me. A black and a Jew, me and Al Braverman, revolutionized boxing. Mario Cuomo gave me my license to promote in New York. One of our three offices was at 30 Rockefeller Center overlooking this great city. New York is a great city and stayed, so good they named it twice, New York, New York. I’m proud and privileged for all the young men and women honored here. I’m so proud to be inducted with them today. I’m here because New York played such a vital role in my career. I’m happy to be here today to accept this award. I got my belt!”
Presenter Don Majeski, 2019 NYSBHOF inductee Don King and
Master of Ceremonies Dave Diamante
NYSBHOF
HOOB ntawm 2012: Carmen Basilio, Mike McCallum, Mike Tyson, Jake LaMotta, Riddick Bowe, Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, Emile Griffith, “Qab Zib” Ray Robinson, Noob Tunney, Benny Leonard, Tony Canzoneri, Harold Lederman, Steve Acunto, Jimmy Glenn, Gil Clancy, Ray Arcel, Leej Fleischer, Bill Gallo thiab Arthur Mercante, Sr.
HOOB ntawm 2013: Jack Dempsey, Johnny Dundee, Sandy Saddler, Maxie Rosenbloom, Joey Archer, Iran Barkley, Mark Breland, Bobby Cassidy, Doug Jones, Junior Jones, James “Phooj ywg” McGirt, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Bob Arum, Shelly Finkel, Tony Graziano, Larry ua lag luam, Teddy Brenner, Mike Jacobs, Txhab Rickard thiab Don Dunphy.
HOOB NTAWM 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, Noob Moore, Angelo Prospero, Whitey Bimstein, Cus D'Amato, William Muldoon thiab Tom O'Rourke.
HOOB NTAWM 2015: Xa-u 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 thiab Al Weill.
HOOB NTAWM 2016: Aaron Davis, Charles Murray, Vilomar Fernandez, Edwin Viruet, Hector “macho” Camacho, Rocky Graziano, Rocky Kansas, Joe Lynch, Joe Miceli, Ed Brophy, Joe DeGuardia, Randy Gordon, Dennis Rappaport, Howie Albert, Freddie Brown, Howard Cosell, Ruby Goldstein thiab Jimmy Jacobs.
HOOB NTAWM 2017: Gaspar Ortega, Renaldo “Mr.” Snipes, Doug DeWitt, “Lub Bronx Bomber” Alex Ramos, Dick Tsov, Jose Torres, “Nonpareil” Jack Dempsey, Don Majeski, Ron Katz, Stan Hoffman, Bobby Bartels, Hank Kaplan, Al Gavin, Arthur Donovan thiab Dan Parker.
HOOB NTAWM 2018: Lou “Honey tub” Valley, Jake Rodriguez, Terrence Alli, “Tus me nyuam” Joe Mesi, Kid Qhob noom xim kasfes, James J. “zoo Jim” Corbett, Jack McAuliffe, Billy Costello, Melio Bettina Ralph “Tsov” Jones, Charley Norkus, Dave Anderson, Pete Brodsky, Tshuaj ntsuab Goldman, Bobby Goodman, Melvina Lathan, Ron Scott Stevens, Johnnie Addie, Johnny Bos, Murray Goodman, Bert Randolph Sugar and Sam Taub.
