CATSKILL —Some of boxing's biggest names are headed to Catskill next month as Cus D'Amato's KO Boxing Gym hosts “The Legends of the Ring Autograph Show”, bringing together Hall of Fame-caliber champions, former world titleholders and boxing personalities for a day celebrating the sport's rich history in one of boxing's most historic towns.
The event will take place Saturday, Aug. 22, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Cus D'Amato's KO Boxing Gym, 422 Main St., Third Floor, Catskill. Admission is $75 per ticket and all proceeds are going directly back into the gym itself.
To accommodate the event, North Street and Cook Street will be closed, while merchandise and refreshments will be sold outside the gym's entrance on Thompson Street throughout the day.
For the gym's head coach Ed DuPont the event is the culmination of a lifetime devoted to boxing.
Among those relationships is “Irish Micky Ward”, the beloved former WBU light welterweight champion whose remarkable career inspired the Academy Award-winning film The Fighter, in which he was portrayed by Mark Wahlberg.
Another featured guest is pioneering women's boxing champion Christy Martin, whose life story is the subject of the upcoming feature film “Christy”, with Sydney Sweeney portraying the trailblazing champion. Martin helped bring women's boxing into the national spotlight during the 1990s and was the first female boxer promoted by Don King.
The autograph show will feature an impressive lineup of boxing royalty, including former undisputed heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, whose 20 successful heavyweight title defenses remain among the greatest championship reigns in boxing history.
Olympic gold medalist and former heavyweight champion Ray "Merciless" Mercer will also attend, alongside former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, former heavyweight champions Tim Witherspoon and Monte Barrett, former featherweight champion Poison Junior Jones, former middleweight champion Michael Nunn, former world champions Heather "Heat" Hardy, Melissa "Little Miss Tyson" St-Vil, Ronica "Queen" Jeffrey, Tracy Patterson, Danny "Little Mac" McDermott, Leo "Lion Heart" Loiacono, John "Iceman" Scully, Bobby "Chappie" Czyz, Chiara "Speedy" Dituri, and numerous other accomplished fighters and boxing personalities.
The event will also feature appearances by veteran cutmen Joey Eye and Richie Schwartz, as well as author Dr. Scott Weiss, whose book “Confusing the Enemy” explores the psychological teachings of legendary Catskill trainer Cus D'Amato.
DuPont hopes the autograph show will inspire both longtime boxing fans and young athletes who may be stepping into a gym for the very first time.
This event arrives just behind a ring of successful bouts for the gym and its affiliates.
Leon Lozano captured a unanimous decision victory over Dante Maiello of Schott's Boxing while representing Cus D'Amato's KO Boxing Gym. Lozano trains under coach Ed DuPont.
Dee Hicks also turned in a dominant performance, defeating Jayden Richards of Gail Grandchamp Fitness by second-round technical knockout. Hicks is trained by Carlos Santos.
Rounding out the winning performances was Jaream Perry, who earned a unanimous decision over Gregory Mayle of Gail Grandchamp Fitness. Perry trains under Todd Smith.
Those victories reflect the caliber of athletes and coaching associated with Cus D'Amato's KO Boxing Gym and its affiliated trainers, giving spectators another reason to look for more to come.
With world champions, Hall of Fame-caliber fighters and rising local talent all gathering under one roof, the event promises to celebrate both boxing's storied past and its future in the town that helped make the sport legendary.
