NEW YORK, NY (Dec. 3, 2014) – Former world champions Aaron “Hawk” Pryor, Carlos Palomino and Tony DeMarco will be special guests Sunday afternoon (12:30-5:00 p.m. ET), December 14 for the 28th annual RING 8 Holiday Event and Awards Ceremony at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York. International ring announcer David Diamante will serve as master of ceremonies.
Other boxing dignitaries expected to attend the Ring 8 celebration include former world champions Junior Jones, Vito Antuorfermo, Iran Barkley, Michael Bent, and Mark Breland.
“This is the annual highlight event of the year for Ring 8 members and guests,” Ring 8 president Bob Duffy said. “Ring 8 proudly continues to lend a helping hand to those in the boxing community who are less fortunate. Each year our Holiday Event and Awards Ceremony celebrates our great sport of boxing, insuring much-needed funding is raised so we may continue our mission for our needy brothers and sisters in boxing. We will never waver from their corners.”
Pryor (39-1, 35 KOs), fighting out of Cincinnati, fought professionally between 1976 and 1990. An International Boxing Hall of Famer, he was the junior welterweight world champion between 1980 and 1985, and is best remembers for his two knockout victories over fellow Hall of Famer Alexis Arguello.
Mexico-born Palomino (31-4-3, 19 KOs), who fought much of his career and lives in southern California, fought between 1972 and 1998. Also an IBHOF inductee, Palomino was the WBC welterweight champion for two years, 1976-1978.
DeMarco (58-12-1, 33 KOs) fought out of Boston as a pro between 1948 and 1962. He captured the world welterweight title in 1955, defeating Johnny Sexton by way of 14th round technical knockout. His second loss to the great Carmen Basilio was the consensus 1955 Fight of the Year and is still considered today by many as the greatest welterweight fight of all-time.
Ring 8’s previously announced 2014 award winners (see complete list below) include former World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri (Fighter of the Year), World Boxing Association (WBA) middleweight titlist Daniel “The Golden Child” Jacobs (Comeback Fighter of the Year), and retired heavyweight “Baby” Joe Mesi (Uncrowned Champion).
Unbeaten junior middleweights “Notorious” Frank Galarza (15-0-2, 9 KOs), of Brooklyn, and Philadelphia’s Julian “JRock” Williams (17-0-1, 10 KOs), respectively, are the 2014 Contender of the Year and Prospect of the Year.
2014 RING 8 Award Winners
Fighter of the Year: Chris Algieri
Comeback Fighter of the Year: Daniel Jacobs
Uncrowned Champion: Joe Mesi
Contender of the Year: Frank Galarza
Members of the Year: John Rohe & Brian Dubecky
Trainer of the Year: Nirmil Lorick
Conditioner & Strength Coach of the Year: David “Scooter” Honig
Co-Promoters of the Year: Felipe Gomez, Kevin O’Sullivan & Wilson Naranjo
Official of the Year (Referee): Sparkle Lee
Official of the Year (Judge): Robin Taylor
Long & Meritorious Service: George Ward
Photographer of the Year: Stan Janousek
Prospect of the Year: Julian Williams
Tickets, priced at $125.00 per person, are available to purchase by contacting Bob Duffy by phone (516.313.2304), email DepComish@aol.com, or mail checks (payable to Ring 8) to him (164 Lindbergh Street, Massapequa Park, NY 11762). Donations of any denomination are welcome for those unable to attend the festivities.
Tickets include a complete brunch with cocktail hour upon entry, followed by seating at the awards ceremony, dinner and dessert, and top-shelf open bar throughout the afternoon. There will also be a silent auction of boxing memorabilia. This event is expected to sell-out and everybody is urged to purchase tickets as soon as possible in order to secure favorable seating.
Program ads are available for Full Page ($150.00), Half-Page ($80.00), and Quarter-Page ($50.00). The deadline for all ads is December 8 and must be emailed (DepComish@aol.com) or mailed to Duffy (516.313.2304) at the address listed above.
Go online to www.Ring8ny.com for more information about Ring 8 or its annual Holiday Events and Awards Ceremony.
Russo’s On The Bay is located at 162-45 Crossbay Blvd. in Howard Beach (718.843.5055).
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, excluding July and August. All active boxers, amateur and professional, are entitled to a complimentary RING 8 yearly membership. Guests of Ring 8 members are welcome at a cost of only $7.00 per person.
