PHILLY BOXING HISTORY

		WHY PHILADELPHIA BOXING HISTORY? Every time I searched the Internet for the names of any of my favorite Philly fighters, I was always disappointed with the results. There was a ton of boxing information on the Web and many great sites that I visited everyday – several times a day. But there seemed to be a real lack of specific info regarding Philadelphia boxing. I was surprised by how little I could find. Really, only the Peltz Boxing site offered any real focus on the subject. For a long time, I wished for a comprehensive source for all things Philly Boxing – records, stories, memorabilia, details, photos, lists, and something that put it all into context. So, I decided to begin this site with the hope that it will become exactly that – a record of Philadelphia’s great boxing past – the characters, events, venues and legends. The site is a work in progress and has a long way to go. However, I am dedicated to developing it into something great. Then when a fan searches a name like 'Bennie Briscoe', they will find some real information about him as well as additional data on his contemporaries, his place among them, his era, his importance, and more. I want Philly Boxing History - everything that took place - to be remembered by all and I want it to be easily accessible. As a teen in the 1970’s, my brother would take me to the Spectrum fights. We saw Jeff Chandler, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Jerome Artis, Curtis Parker, Alfonso Hayman, Youngblood Williams, and many others. The first title fight I attended in person was Mike Rossman vs. Aldo Travesaro at the Spectrum in 1978. Those nights really made an impression. As I continued to follow boxing in the 1980's, one of the best-ever boxing eras, I saw many, many excellent matches on broadcast TV, cable TV, closed circuit TV, and live. But those nights at the Spectrum Fights always stood out. I came to realize how special they really were. For me, nothing came close to Saad Muhammad vs. Richie Kates or the other bouts I attended in Philadelphia. After many years as a boxing super-fan, it is Philly Boxing that has become most important to me, and it is this history that I want to help preserve. So, pursuit of this project is a natural. The Website has become my method for collecting and compiling the details of this topic that I love so much. In time, it will become the definitive resource for Philadelphia boxing information. RELATED PROJECTS I hope that publishing this site will help me to develop other related projects, such as a broad-based general boxing history Web site and a printed Philadelphia boxing history reference. In addition, I am currently conducting interviews with the legends of Philly Boxing - committing their memories, voices, images and stories to video. The information gathered in these interviews will eventually find its way onto this Web site in the form of written bios, narratives, and various fight reports. However, expanding the footage into a documentary film series is a longer-term goal. Such a production would be the ultimate record of this extraordinary subject, and would be a great aid in preserving this important history forever. If you participated in Philadelphia's boxing history, in any way - even as a spectator - and are willing to be interviewed please send an e-mail. Finally, if you have information on this topic that you'd like to share, or if you are interested in helping to advance any of the projects described, please contact Philly Boxing History. Your assistance, interest, and support is needed, and would be appreciated. Thank you, John DiSanto				PHILLYBOXINGHISTORY.COM IN THE NEWS __________________________ Cunningham Presented with Briscoe The Ring Magazine - January 2009 _________________________________ Harold Johnson Receives Briscoe Award The Ring Magazine - October 2008 _________________________________ A Headstone For Sugar Hart Fred Druding, Jr. - Public Record - 06/19/2008 _________________________________ Frazier gym is on the market Michael Klein - Phila. Inquirer - 05/11/2008 __________________________________ Interest in boxing bruised, not broken Mark Kram - Phila. Daily News - 05/07/2008 __________________________________ Requiem for a boxing venue John DiSanto - Phila. Daily News - 04/14/2008 __________________________________ Philly buster Dave Hannigan - Scotland on Sunday - 04/12/2008 __________________________________ Bad Bennie Makes A Comeback Nigel Collins - The Ring Magazine - October 2007 __________________________________ Briscoe to have his own award statue Bernard Fernandez - Phila. Daily News - 05/23/2007 __________________________________ Honoring Gypsy Joe The Ring Magazine - March 2007 __________________________________ A Passion for Boxing Leads to Cemeteries Thomas Parmalee - American Cemetery - Feb. 2007 __________________________________ Blue Horizon: Knocking out the competition Jeremy Drummond - The Temple News - 01/30/2007 __________________________________ A fighter no longer forgotten Don Steinberg - Phila. Inquirer - 10/27/2006 __________________________________ Mark of a legend Bill Gelman - South Philly Review - 07/13/2006 __________________________________ Gypsy Joe, they haven't forgotten Mark Kram - Phila. Daily News - 03/23/2006 __________________________________ A gravestone for Tyrone Everett Ring Magazine - 2006 __________________________________ Fan Buys Tombstone For Philly Boxing Great Jade McCarthy - NBC10 - 01/31/2006 __________________________________ Boxing fan gives dignity to fighters Tim Zatzariny, Jr. - Courier Post - 01/23/2006 ___________________________________ Local fan turns passion into project Tara Murtha - Courier Post - 10/02/2005 ___________________________________ If you build it, they will come Kim Mulford - Courier Post - 05/29/2005 ___________________________________ Web site packs a Philly punch Tim Zatzainy, Jr. - Courier Post - 05/12/2005 __________________________________ Web site is all about Philly boxing Bernard Fernandez - Phila. News - 02/22/2005

		HELP DOCUMENT PHILLY'S GREAT BOXING HISTORY Are you a Philly fight fan? Are you or a member of your family a boxer, trainer, manager, promoter, historian, collector, or some other type of participant in the boxing world? Philly Boxing History needs your help. This web site relies on photographs, memorabilia and other visual elements to tell the story of Philly boxing. If you have any items that you are willing to share, please contact us. Some of the best elements of this Web site have been contributed by the families of former boxers, who have opened their personal archives to us. We need photos, programs, posters, ticket stubs, flyers, handbills, newspapers, magazines, equipment, or any and every other type of relic that is connected to Philly boxing. We would like to scan, photograph, copy or purchase any item you may have. Further, we need to hear your stories and personal accounts of Philadelphia fights and local boxers. We would love to include your experiences and memories in this Web site. We accept written submissions and content suggestions. We also are interested in interviewing anyone with a story to tell. To get involved, please contact us using any of the e-mail links that appear on this site. Any help would be greatly appreciated.				FAIRHILL STREET PRODUCTIONS Philly Boxing History .com was designed and produced by Fairhill Street Productions, LLC, a freelance marketing communications company. Fairhill Street Productions is focused on the development of a variety of projects and creative materials including printed marketing and sales collateral pieces, Web sites, ad copy for print and video, technical documents, training materials, graphic design, market research, and marketing plan development. We have a great deal of experience in a variety of industries, with large corporations and small businesses, and we are available to assist you with all of your marketing needs. For more information about Fairhill Street Productions, or to discuss an upcoming marketing project that you are planning, please contact John DiSanto via this e-mail link. We would appreciate an opportunity to meet with you about your needs. Fairhill Street Productions offers free estimates, competitive consulting rates and personalized service.