RING 10 WELCOMES


  ED POST

of Spartan Sports

To the Board of Ring 10

CONGRATULATIONS

AND

THANK YOU

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RING10

Veteran Boxing Foundation of New York   

3rd Annual Event

Sunday, September 8th, 2013, 11:30-4:30

MARINA DEL REY
One Marina Drive, Throgs Neck, NY 19465, 718-931-6500

Hosted by HBO’s Harold Lederman

 

Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini

 

 

and


Livingston "Ras I" Bramble
(together after 28 years)

 

Iran "The Blade" Barkley 

plus many more

 

TO BE HONORED

 

S.A.L.D.A. Steve Acunto Lifetime Dedication Award

Joe DeGuardia

Ring 10 Arthur Mercante Award


Ring 10 Bert Sugar Award  

Harold Lederman

 

Ring 10 would like to dedicate this year's event to

 

The "Boxing Belloise Brothers"

 

Steve Belloise   Mike Belloise   Sal Belloise

 

The "Belting Brakeman"

 

Harry Balsamo

 

Enjoy a complete brunch with cocktail hour followed by dinner and dessert. Top shelf open bar.

SILENT AUCTION: ONE-OF-A KIND BOXING MEMORABILIA

Tickets: $135

$160 after August 15th

No Refunds after August 30th

 

Make checks payable to: Ring 10

Mail to:

Ring 10, 30 Bowdon Rd, Greenlawn, NY 11740

For more information

www.Ring10ny.com

or

631.948.6028

The Best Judge in Boxing By Ted Sares on March 13, 2013

The Best Judge in Boxing



By Ted Sares on March 13, 2013

 

Matt’s Disclaimer: “We are not claiming that judges with low Pod Index Scores are bad judges. The Pod Index is simply a measurement of round by round variation compared to other judges.”

If this article had been written years ago, chances are pretty good the name Lederman would have appeared—Harold Lederman to be precise…

“She is the best judge in our household.”—Harold Lederman

If this article had been written years ago, chances are pretty good the name Lederman would have appeared—Harold Lederman to be precise—but he is now a commentator for HBO.

There are many fine judges doing their thing these days, but to name a few is to risk excluding others. Nevertheless, Glen Feldman, Dave Moretti, Joe Pasquale, Hubert Earle, Raul Caiz Jr., Steve Weisfeld (now apparently retired), Benoit Roussel, and a few others quickly come to mind. Connecticut, in particular, seems to use a number of excellent ringside officials and so does Quebec Province.

Others like C.J. Ross, Duane Ford, and Gale Van Hoy also come to mind but for a different reason.

Matt Podgorski, who has officiated amateur and professional boxing as a judge, referee and timekeeper since the fall of 1998, became one of the youngest officials to officiate a world title fight when he judged a bout for a WBF cruiserweight championship in 1999. He has now developed The Pod Index which brings “an objective metric to a subjective activity.” Hopefully, it also means judging the judges based on consistency of performance.

The metric has been refined to now include a breakdown of consistency within each category of fight competitiveness. The competitiveness of the fights is calculated by looking at the difference between the fighters’ total scores. A competitiveness index is then calculated for each bout, whereby the lower the score, the closer the match was. Competitiveness Index scores of 1 or less fall into the most competitive category; scores of 1-2 are considered somewhat competitive; while scores over 2.0 are less competitive.

From my own subjective perspective, one judge does stand out and her name is Lederman, Julie Lederman to be precise. When she first hit the scene, cries of nepotism and politics accompanied her, but those complaints have long since evaporated. These days, when a boxer enters the ring and sees this attractive young lady with flowing blond hair at ringside, he can rest assured that if the fight goes the distance, he will get a fair shake.  Julie Lederman has become a master of her craft.

Lederman also consistently ranks first on the Pod Index suggesting that by any measurement, Julie, in a case of the apple not falling far from the tree, may well be the best judge in boxing. 

 

RING 10

Welcomes Sharon Scrima

to the board of Ring 10 as

Secretary and Treasurer

 

 



www.worldboxing101.com 

 

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rest in peace, Ray Bonti

October, 24, 2012
By Michael Woods | ESPNNewYork.com
Welterweight Ray Bonti of Bayside didn't often tell his family when he was fighting, because he didn't want to worry them.

Yes, the fighter was no Sugar Ray Robinson, and his record in three-plus years as a professional stands for the ages at 7-22-5; however it appears that even if his pugilism skills weren't destined to make him a champion, Bonti's heart, and sensitivity to his kin, was of top caliber.

There is no word on whether or not he told family that he was gloving up against Al Dunbar at the Fort Hamilton Arena on Aug. 14, 1941. Bonti had fought twice in the last four weeks, losing by TKO1 to Tippy Larkin on July 18, and by points against Jimmy Bell on July 28. So, if his mom and dad and wife were not there, then that may have been best. Dunbar scored a KO of the 24-year-old welterweight Bonti, who had lost nine straight, in round five.

Bonti was ahead in the faceoff, a newspaper report says, but went down in the fifth. He rose, and got knocked to the mat for a second time. Again, he got to his feet, and fought on. For a third time, Dunbar punched him to the canvas, and the ref stopped the bout. Bonti lost consciousness because of the KO, and was taken to a local hospital. He died two days later.

The local papers covered the event, but of course, life goes on, and but for his family, the name Ray Bonti faded from memory. He was buried in a Flushing cemetery, without a headstone, because the family couldn't afford one. But now Ray's memory will be honored properly. Rosemarie Saenz, the daughter of one of Ray's two surviving sisters, reached out to Ring 10, a veteran's boxing association based in NY. The daughter of Ray's youngest sister, Frances, hoped for closure for her mom, who is in hospice, and wondered if Ring 10 could help.

The association offered to pay the remaining half for a headstone, and will put together a memorial ceremony in the coming weeks to give proper respect to the fighter who died in battle. "All we desire to do is put a marker on his grave so that his memory and life counted and existed," Saenz wrote, in a letter which made its way to Ring 10.

"We are in the process of finalizing a date for the ceremony which will take place in Flushing where he is buried," said Ring 10 president Matt Farrago. "Ring 10 paid off the balance needed to complete the tombstone. Rosemarie will be flying up from Florida for the ceremony. I am still trying to locate any descendants of Al Dunbar to invite them. We are just trying to help put his soul to rest and give his sister who is 91 peace of mind after all these years."



Ring 10 to Honor Fallen Fighter 71 Years Following Death

 

October 8th, 2012 at 11:00 AM
By Sharon Scrima

 

With a professional record of 7-22-5 (2 KO's), it is unlikely that any boxing fan knows of former fighter Ray Bonti.
The 24-year old welterweight tragically died on August 16, 1941 from head injuries sustained during a preliminary fight at Fort Hamilton Arena in Brooklyn, New York. The fallen fighter was quickly forgotten by
the boxing community but now, with the help of Ring 10 Veterans Boxing Foundation, he will finally be respectfully honored and his family given the closure they have been seeking for the last 71 years.

Bonti, a Bayside, Queens resident, had been fighting professionally for over two years in primarily preliminary bouts. He did not achieve any notable success during his career, fighting once at Madison Square Garden and seeing some action in main bouts at lesser clubs. He was an active journeyman who fought in an era where little emphasis was placed on fighter safety. He fought 15 times in six months during 1940 and 16 times over the course of eight months in 1941 as recorded in BoxRec.com. In the seven-week period leading up to the fateful fight against Brooklyn boxer Al Dunbar on August 14, 1941, Bonti fought four times. This included a first round knockout by future champion Tippy Larkin only four weeks prior to the Dunbar bout and a sixth round decision loss 10 days after that. Bonti was back in the ring only two weeks later to face the 42-47-5 Dunbar for a $25 share of the total $50 purse. Bonti was ahead on points entering the fifth of the six round scheduled bout when he was floored by a right hand to the head. He arose and was knocked down twice more before the referee stopped the fight.

Following the knockout, doctors of the Army Medical Corps at Fort Hamilton attempted to revive the
unconscious Bonti for 20 minutes before ordering he be taken to nearby Norwegian Hospital. The Bayside fighter never regained consciousness, dying in the hospital two days later from a brain injury.

Coming from a meager background, Bonti's family was unable to provide the fallen fighter with an adequate memorial or proper burial. A small vigil was held in the living room of Bonti's home in Bayside where he lived with his young wife and her parents. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Flushing due to cemetery policy at the time that prohibited burial with an individual headstone, something the family was unable to afford.  Bonti's premature and tragic death had an inexplicable effect on his family, with his bereft father passing away a short five months later. Their inability to put a marker on Bonti's grave and the lack of acknowledgement from the boxing community of the ultimate sacrifice the brave fighter made to the sport has left them without a sense of closure. Recent changes in cemetery policy now allow markers to be placed on the grave site, prompting Bonti's niece, the daughter of one of his two surviving sisters, to reach out to Ring 10 for assistance.

"This family tragedy is still active and alive in the hearts and minds of the two remaining siblings, two sisters. Over these many years and decades, it has led to many unresolved emotions and desires for closure,"
Bonti's niece, Rosemarie Saenz, wrote in a copy of a letter sent to Ring 10 president Matt Farrago.

With half of the money saved for a headstone, Saenz contacted Ring 10 in August soon after the 71st anniversary of Bonti's death asking for the participation of their member fighters in honoring her uncle so he could be formally recognized by the boxing community while her aging mother is still alive. Farrago and Ring 10 Board of Directors agreed to be a part of the memorial and did one better by offering to pay for the remaining half of the expenses for the headstone. "We're not going to reposition him. We're just going to give him a nice headstone and an honorable send-off at the plot with a "10 count" so he gets closure as a fighter. You never know, maybe his soul has been waiting for this for 71 years," said Farrago, a former fighter himself. A date for the services to be held this Fall is being coordinated by the family while Farrago gathers together a group of fighters who will attend to pay respects to one of

their own. Ring 10 is once again demonstrating that this brotherhood extends to all fighters regardless of professional record, status and era.

All of Ring 10,

 

Just a little note with a very big thank you. We can't seem to find the words to adequately express our gratitude. With the help of Ring 10, his boxing brothers, we were able to place a marker. With the help of Father Ed, who presided the memorial service brought our Uncle Ray's life into the present moment once again.

 

You are truly an exceptional group of people. You go about doing so much good.

This has brought such a peace to my mother and my aunt, her sister. It was worth it all, and I'd do it all over again, just to accomplish that one aim. The Parkinsons has pretty much taken her voice. In her low, low whisper she said you are angels, and you are. You are angels with boxing gloves! My mother expressed that she can't believe it is finally done-after all these years. She said, they did this for me and my brother. Now we know, he was here.

 

Although it was a long awaited and necessary day, it will forever be a lasting memory for our family. It was an awesome day. It was a privilege to meet all of you. May God bless you for all the good you do for others. With hope to keep in touch with Ring 10.

 

With grateful hearts, sincerely,

Rosemarie, Joe and all the Family of Ray Bonti

Ring 10's Annual Fundraiser, Marina Del Rey, Bronx, NY, 8-18-12

 

RENARD RAY BONTI 

11-17-12

 

Ring 10's Eulogy

 

At a time where the boxing world lost some great fighters, Carmen Basilio, Michael Dokes, Emanuel Stewart, Jimmy Santangelo, and our very own Herbie Kronowitz, today we are here to honor the life of one of our brothers who died and was left in an unmarked grave for 71 years.

 

Ray Bonti, whose real name is Renard Ray Bonti, turned professional in 1938 with two straight wins. Times seemed good until a series of losses, while throwing in a couple draws and a rare win every once in a while and Ray’s hopes of the “Big Time” have dimmered.

 

It wasn’t until April of 1941 that Ray took his first loss by TKO. It happened from a bad cut over his left eye that forced the stoppage. His heart and the need to earn money for his family seemed to drive him back into the ring each time. Two more losses by decision from extremely tough fighters, and yet Ray was still presented with an opportunity to fight legendary champion, Tippy Larkin. Tippy had 74 wins with only 7 losses at the time. Coming off an 8 round decision loss just 10 days prior, Ray took the fight and stepped in the ring again. I can only speculate that Ray could accept losing a decision but he ain’t going down. Tippy Larkin jumped first and caught Ray early. Ray was knocked out for the first time in his career and lost the fight. The details of what happened in that fight we will never know as we weren't there, but what we do know is that Ray needed to make a living. Instead of taking time off to heal and regroup he entered the ring again 10 days later losing another tough decision to a fighter named Jimmy Bell.

 

Only a matter of days went by when he entered the ring yet again against another journeyman who had been knocked out 14 straight times. It was assumed that this would be an easy fight for Ray. Back then no one knew that the brain does not heal like other injuries to the body. On August 14th he stepped into the ring
against Al Dunbar. Four rounds of battling back and forth when Al caught Ray with a great shot and knocked him out in the fifth round. He lapsed into a coma and passed away two days later.

 

Renard Ray Bonti, a 24-year old club fighter from Queens, was buried in an unmarked grave in Flushing after he tragically died from injuries sustained in the boxing ring in 1941. Coming from a meager background, Ray Bonti's family was unable to provide him with an adequate memorial or proper burial with a headstone. A private vigil was held in the living room of Ray’s home in Bayside Queens, where he lived with his young wife and her parents. The inability to put a marker at his grave and the lack of acknowledgement from the boxing community left Ray’s family without a sense of closure. Attempts made by Ray Bonti's siblings to rectify the situation years later were unsuccessful due to a variety of legal, administrative and logistical challenges.

Bonti's aging and ailing sister, Frances, asked her daughter, Rosemarie Saenz, to take over the effort
five years ago. Rosemarie, who has resided in Florida since 1956, grew up with stories about "Uncle Ray" that were shared by her bereaved mother. Rosemarie willingly embarked on a mission to obtain the desired closure for the entire family.There were still many obstacles to overcome. One such obstacle was the cost of the marker. With half of the money saved, Rosemarie contacted Ring 10 and asked for their support and
participation in the ceremony. Ring 10 graciously agreed to do whatever had to be done, and would take part in the memorial service to honor Renard Ray Bonti with a "10 count" and give him the respect that any true fighter deserves.

 

Renard Ray Bonti, Rest in Peace. 10 count

Donny Lalonde Iran Barkley Livingston Ras-I Bramble Dewey Bozella Michael Olajide Matt Farrago
Livingstone Ras-I Bramble - Nancy
Iran Barkley - Sharon Scrima
James Bonecrusher Smith - Matt Farrago - Joe Santarpia, Recipient of the 2012 Ring 10 Arthur Mercante Award
Joe Soto - Dewey Bozella
Donny Lalonde - Sharon Scrima
Rob Garris and Michael Olajide
Nancy and Holt McCallany
Iran Barkley Doug DeWitt and Richie Schwartz
Chuck Williams of the WBC
Donny Lalande Michael Olajide Livingston Bramble

Ring 10 would like to thank Dewey Bozella for sharing his story with us.  He has inspired us all, and we welcome him into our club for he is true fighter both in and out of the ring.

 

Alleged offence and conviction

In 1977, 92-year-old Emma Crapser was murdered in her Poughkeepsie, New York apartment. Police alleged that Crapser walked in on a burglary that was being committed by a then 18 year old Bozella, who then killed her. In 1983, Bozella was convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. He continued to claim he was innocent and refused to admit to the crimes he was alleged to have committed, even when in front of the parole board, who denied him parole on four occasions. Bozella contacted the Innocence Project who agreed to examine his case. When the IP discovered that there was no DNA evidence remaining to be tested they referred the case to WilmerHale. Lawyers at WilmerHale discovered new evidence that had been suppressed by prosecutors showing Bozella was innocent. Supreme Court Justice James Rooney of Putnam County agreed that the Dutchess County district attorney had failed to disclose crucial evidence which would have proved Bozella’s innocence.[1][2][3] In October 2009, Bozella was released from prison after serving 26 years.[4]

 Prison life

Bozella was imprisoned at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York. While incarcerated at Sing Sing, he became the prison's light heavyweight boxing champion.[3]

While in prison Dewey took the advice of a fellow Sing Sing prison resident, who told him to better himself. He went on to get his Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, and 52 certificates, some in trades.[5]

 Life after prison

In October 2009, after being released from Sing Sing, Bozella began working with youths at a local gym in Newburgh, New York. At the gym, which is now closed, he worked with teenagers teaching them about boxing and about the dangers of joining a gang. He frequently visits various organizations to deliver speeches about his life experiences.

Bozella currently lives in Fishkill, New York with his wife, Trena. While accepting an award in 2011, he told an ESPN reporter that he still dreamed of having at least one professional fight one day.[3]

His application for compensation from the State of California was turned down.[6]

 

Ring 10 wins by KNOCKOUT

 

 

August 20, 2012

 

Dear Ring 10 Members, Honorees and Attendees,

 

Ring 10 would like to extend our sincerest thanks for your time, support and inspiring attitudes at our 2nd annual event.

 

Your dedication and positive feedback made all the difference in our flourishing organization. Ring 10 has received many compliments and expressions of gratitude regarding our mission. We think it’s safe to say that your presence had a generous impact on the success of the event.

 

It is Ring 10's pleasure and honor to thank each of you for your generous efforts in supporting our cause.

 

Your participation will allow us to relentlessly pursue innovative means that will benefit all boxers in need. Ring 10's ability to provide the necessary assistance would not be possible without the dedication of our Board of Directors, our volunteer members, and the support and encouragement of people like yourselves.

 

Ring 10 truly appreciates your participation, and we hope to see you all at next year's event!

 

Our sincerest thanks to you!

 

Ring 10 Board of Directors
 Matt Farrago, President 

Mike Bernard, Vice President 

Iran Barkley, Ed Gersh, Tyrone Jackson, Harold Lederman, John Marano, Ron Ross, Richie Schwartz, Vinny Serratore,

Dick Thornblad, John Zervos 

Ring 10's First Annual Fundraiser, 2011

Jake LaMotta and the son of Sugar Ray Robinson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Champ Iran "The Blade" Barkley

John Marano and John Zervos

 

 

 

Dr. Doug Farrago and Matt Farrago with

actor Devin Harjes "Jack Dempsey" from

Boardwalk Empire

 

 

 

 

 

Who is making who "LAUGH" ?

 

 

 

 

Heavyweight Champion

of the World

Riddick "Big Daddy" Bowe

and Ring 10 member Joe Soto

 

 

 

 

 Mike Bernard and Steve Acunto

 The 1st S.A.L.D.A. Recipient

(Steve Acunto Lifetime Dedication Award)

   

         

 

            Mike Tripani

          Earnie Shavers

        Richard Thornblad

 

 

 

 

Welterweight Champions of the World

               Tony DeMarco

                      and

     Aaron "Superman" Davis

    

 

                    "BIG DADDY"

                   RIDDICK BOWE

 

 

 

 

Jake LaMotta - Tony DeMarco

Matt Farrago

 

 

 

 

 

Legendary Comedian Pat Cooper

                                           

 

 

Bert Sugar and Lou DeBella

 

 

 

 

Welterweight Champion Aaron "Superman" Davis

Middleweight Champion Iran "The Blade" Barkley

 

If you have questions, comments or suggestions about our foundation, please contact us at 631-948-6028 or send us an email at MattFarragoRing10@yahoo.com