Most of our local boxing managers have had other boxing or sports related jobs. Red Carr was manager and longtime promoter and matchmaker for Billy Kelly and Charlie Murray.

In addition to being a manager of such top fighters as Tommy Paul and George Nichols, Jack Singer was a matchmaker and the owner of Singer's Gym.

Hugh Shannon had probably the most varied career. In addition to being a boxing manager, he was a promoter, matchmaker, boxing timekeeper and a manager and owner of minor league baseball teams.

Tommy Timlin managed fighters in Lackawanna and the South Towns. He is most remembered as a football official. He began as an umpire in the mid 1920's in the early days of the NFL. He officiated some games in the American Professional Football League. He then advanced to the position of referee in the All American Football Conference and then became one of the top NFL referees in the 1950's.

This was not the case with Bert Finch. He was exclusively a boxing manager and possibly the best in local boxing history. During a 54-year career he managed such well-known fighters as Lou Scozza, Jimmy Duffy, Frankie Schoell, Bobby Tracey, Joe Korey, Elmer Doane, Tommy Moore, Chip Davis, Teddy Meyers, Joey Joynt, Johnny Sacco, Mike Martyk, Joe Doctor, Hank Zunner, Tommy Mesi, Judy Bock, Charley Pinto and Joe Trippe
At one time Finch managed as many as thirty fighters, which was the largest stable in New York State. On June 16, 1953, 450 boxing personalities paid their tribute to Finch at the Hotel Buffalo to honor him for his 50 years as a boxing manager. It was very obvious that all of his former fighters that were in attendance were part of Finch's extended family. You could sense the fondness that they all had for him and they were all the sons that he did not have. He would continue in his managerial capacity for an additional four years. On July 12, 1960 Bert Finch died of a heart attack at the age of 76 while working at the Grover Cleveland Golf Course. His interest in boxing never waned as he had been in attendance at the recent Bobby Scanlon-Jackie Donnelly fight. We are most honored to induct Bert Finch into the Western New York Boxing Hall of Fame.