Jimmy Ralston and the Olympia Boxing Club will once again be hosting an amateur boxing show at the VFW Leanord Post in Cheektowaga on February 2nd.  The last few shows have been standing room only and this promises to be another exciting evening!  The Leanord Post is located at 2450 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga, NY.

Buffalo News link here:

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/other/boxing/story/254551.html   

On Friday August 3rd, six new members were inducted into the Ring 44 Buffalo Boxing Hall of Fame.  The ceremonial banquet was once again held at Salvatore's Italian Gardens in Depew.  Buffalo's own "Baby" Joe Mesi and several other local celebrities were on hand for the memorable evening.

Brian LaSpada, who was born in Buffalo, boxed in the cruiserweight division between 1993-2002.  As an amateur, LaSpada trained under Ring 44 Hall of Famer Jimmy Ralston.  As a professional, he was trained by Roger Mayweather and promoted by Buffalo's Rick Glazer for much of his career.  In 1995, he won the NABF cruiserweight title over Art Jimmerson in Las Vegas.  He finished his career with an impressive 28-8-2 record with 13 KOs.

Paul Wielopolski is one of the most accomplished amateur boxers in Buffalo history, winning five consecutive open division Golden Gloves titles between 1967-1971.  In 1979, Wielopolski began a coaching career at the Austin Street PAL that lasted until 1990.  In 1988, he sent six fighters to the National Junior Olympic Championships in Chicago.  The Austin Street Boxing Club won three gold medals and two silver medals that year, more than any other city or state in the U.S. 

Also inducted were middleweight boxer Joey DeJohn, manager Bert Finch and lightweights Steve Halaiko and Jake Schiffer.  Businessman Dennis DiPaolo was named Ring 44 Person of the Year.  Congratulations to all those honored!