Ring 8 Tribute to Emile Griffith major hit 2013 award winners selected

Louis Griffith was one of the guest speakers at last week's Ring 8 meeting that paid tribute to his father, Emile Griffith.  NEW YORK (September 26, 2013) - More than 100 people turned out last week for at Ring 8's monthly meeting and its tribute to the late, great Emile Griffith, at historic Waterfront Crabhouse, in Long Island City, New York. The six-time, three-division world champion Griffith (85-24-2, 23 KOs) was a fixture at Ring 8. His tribute included speakers such as his biographer, Ron Ross, Emile's son, Louis, boxing historian Henry Hascup and Bobby Bartels, his former sparring partner and past president of Ring 8.  Everyone enjoyed watched some of Griffith's best fights, on a projector screen, against Dick Tiger, Luis Rodriguez, Jorge Fernandez, Andy Heilman, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, and the second Nino Benvenutti fight.                         "We had a tremendous turnout to celebrate Emile's life and boxing career," Ring 8 president Bob Duffy said.  "It was a fitting tribute to a very special man.  We're all better people for having known him." Ring 8 also selected its 2013 award winners at last week's meeting.  These awards will be presented, along with Fighter of the Year (to come), at the 27th annual Ring 8 Holiday & Awards Ceremony on Sunday afternoon, December 8, at Russo's On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York. 2013 Ring 8 Award Winners Uncrowned Champion:  Gasper Ortega Official of the Year:  Deputy Commissioner Robert Orlando Amateur Official of the Year:  Dan Gant Member of the Year:  Carmine Rastelli Professional Judge of the Year:  John McKaie Prospect of the Year:  Sean Monahan Professional Trainer of the Year:  Bob Jackson Amateur Trainer of the Year:  Joe Higgins Emile Griffith Good Guy Award:  Sal Corrente Long & Meritorious Service:  Dr. William Lathan 50th Anniversary:  Bobby Bartels & Lenny Mangiapane The Ring 8 Holiday & Awards Ceremony in December has been dedicated to the the 50th anniversary of the main event fight between Lenny Mangiapane (L) and Bobby Bartels at Madison Square Garden.  Bartels is a former Ring 8 president and Mangiapane is the current Ring 8 vice president. both pictures by Stanley Janousek / Ring 8 ABOUT RING 8: 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 less fortunate people in the boxing community who may require assistance in terms of paying rent, medical expenses, or whatever justifiable need. Go on line to www.Ring8ny.com for more information about RING 8, the largest group of its kind in the United States with more than 350 members. Annual membership dues is only $30.00 and each member is entitled to a buffet dinner at RING 8 monthly meetings, the third Tuesday of every month, excluding July and August.  All active boxers, amateur and professional, are entitled to a complimentary RING 8 yearly membership.

Tribute to Emile Griffith at Ring 8 Meeting Tuesday, Sept. 17

NEW YORK (September 16, 2013) - Ring 8 will pay tribute to the late, great Emile Griffith at tomorrow night's (Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. ET) monthly meeting at historic Waterfront Crabhouse, in Long Island City, New York. The six-time, three-division world champion Griffith (85-24-2, 23 KOs) was born in the Virgin Islands but lived most of his life in New York City.  He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990, and last year into the first class of the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame, which is sponsored by Ring 8. His tribute will include several speakers as well as viewing of some of Griffith's best fights on a projector screen.  Speakers will include his biographer, Ron Ross, Emile's son, Louis, boxing historian Henry Hascup and Bobby Bartels, his former sparring partner and past president of Ring 8. Griffith's fights being shown are against Dick Tiger, Luis Rodriguez, Florentino Fernandez, Andy Heilman, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, as well as the second Nino Benvenutti fight.                                     "Emile was special to all of us at Ring 8 and were excited about paying tribute to this great man and fighter," Ring 8 president Bob Duffy said.  "He was a Ring 8 member for many years and we were all very fortunate to know him." ABOUT RING 8:   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 less fortunate people in the boxing community who may require assistance in terms of paying rent, medical expenses, or whatever justifiable need. Go on line to www.Ring8ny.com for more information about RING 8, the largest group of its kind in the United States with more than 350 members. Annual membership dues is only $25.00 and each member is entitled to a buffet dinner at RING 8 monthly meetings, the third Tuesday of every month, excluding July and August.  All active boxers, amateur and professional, are entitled to a complimentary RING 8 yearly membership.

Dick Tiger's daughter Justina Ihetu Keynote speaker at Tuesday's Ring 8 Meeting

NEW YORK, NY (September 17, 2012) - The daughter of the late, great Dick Tiger,Justina Ihetu, will be the keynote speaker at tomorrow night's (Sept. 18) Ring 8 monthly meeting, starting at 7:00 pm ET, at the historic Waterfront Crabhouse in Long Island City, New York. Ihetu authored a book about her father entitled, "In Africa's Honor: Dick Tiger versus Gene Fullmer III - A Blast from Nigeria's Glorious Past." Tiger (60-19-3, 27 KOs) was a four-time, two division (middleweight and light heavyweight) world champion between1962-1966. During his 18-year professional boxing career, the International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee defeated the likes of Nino Benvenuti, Jose Torres, Joey Giardello (twice), Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, Don and Gene (twice)  Fullmer, Florintino Fermamdez and Terry Downes. The other guest speaker will be 20-year-old wheelchair boxer Ian Cannon, a sophomore at the University of Hartford who created Roll with the Punches five years ago. Roll with the Punches is a special physical conditioning-and training program created for people with mobility problems that use boxing methods to improve their physical and mental states. Cannon will discuss the advantages for those participating in Roll with the Punches, as well as wheelchair boxing and its future as a sport. Ring 8 will also celebrate the appointment of a Ring 8 Board of Directors memberAtty. Keith Sullivan as a Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Athletic Commission. Classic boxing films, time permitting, will also be shown at the meeting. "We're delighted to have Justina Ihetu speak about her father, the legendary Dick Tiger, who was inducted into the first class of the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame last year," Ring 8 president Bob Duffy said. "Justina is also a Ring 8 member. Ring 8 is also happy to give Ian Cannon a platform to discuss what he and his special program are all about. We also want to congratulate Keith Sullivan, who will make an excellent Deputy Commissioner. He has been involved in boxing for many years in a variety of positions. I'd also like to acknowledge the State of New York and, in particular, New York State Athletic Commissioner Melvina Latham for appointing Keith to this important position."

ABOUT RING 8: 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 less fortunate people in the boxing community who may require assistance in terms of paying rent, medical expenses, or whatever justifiable need. Go on line to www.Ring8ny.com for more information about RING 8, the largest group of its kind in the United States with more than 350 members. Annual membership dues is only $25.00 and each member is entitled to a buffet dinner at RING 8 monthly meetings, the third Tuesday of every month, excluding July and August. All active boxers, amateur and professional, are entitled to a complimentary RING 8 yearly membership.