He's a legend. It says so on his telephone voice mail. His name is Johnny Bos and he has been a cult figure around big-time boxing for about 40 years now or since he was a 15-year-old teenager from Sunset Park, Brooklyn, who wanted to meet his ring idols such as Emile Griffith and Dick Tiger.

Now, on Friday, November 17, friends and associates of The Bosman, including many from the boxing press, will gather together at the Waterfront Crab House, just 10 minutes over the bridge from Manhattan in the Long Island City area of Queens, to pay tribute to the colorful matchmaker, agent and adviser's life and times.

He does not fly on airplanes but Bos is known throughout the boxing world for his bleached blond hair, his "Superfly" 1970's style pimpish wardrobe and gold chains and for both his encyclopedic boxing knowledge and ring savvy. He is also well known for his impish sense of humor.

At this point in his life, Bos could use a boost from his friends due to health and financial problems. He has always been a giver in boxing, never a taker and health and money problems have combined to leave Bos against the ropes. He is too proud to ask for a hand out but friends of his have gotten together to plan this "Johnny Bos Celebrity Roast" so that Johnny can get a hand up.

November 17 will be an upbeat affair with speakers, including the Bosman, telling their best stories about boxing and Bos. Those who attend will be avail themselves of several menu choices from boxing guy Tony Mazzarella's excellent menu at the restaurant located at 2-03 Borden Avenue, Long Island City (telephone 718 729 4862).

The Waterfront Crab House is a fitting forum for the Bos affair since it has been the home of the Ring 8 Veteran Boxers group since 1993. The veteran boxers have always found Mazzarella and his staff to be very gracious hosts. And did I mention the food is terrific and there will be wine and beer and soft drinks provided along with a choice of entrees?

Co-chairmen of the Bos Roast are myself (mlcmarley@aol.com) and former NYPD Detective and all-around boxing man, Joe Dwyer (joedwyer@optonline.net).

Individual tickets go for $250 and checks made out to "Johnny Bos Roast" may be sent to Michael Marley, 250 West 100 Street, Suite 1102, NY, NY, 10025. A table may be purchased for $2000 and the table will provide ten people with seats and meals and beer, wine and soft drinks.
 

NO CHECKS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNLESS MADE OUT TO "JOHNNY BOS BENEFIT ROAST." Any checks made out differently will be returned to sender.

All checks must be received by November 11, 2006.

It is extremely important that you indicate in your ticket or table order whether you will actually attend. Space at the Waterfront Crab House will be strictly limited to 200 guests. We know that many people from around the world will not be able to attend but will want to give Bos a needed boost.

When I first circulated an email about a possible Bos Roast, one recipient wrote back that he was in for a whole table because "Bos is a nut but he's one of our nuts."

I had to laugh but it's true. Johnny Bos has been a boxing nut since he was that starry-eyed teenager looking around the NYC gyms for Griffith and Tiger and the other top boxers of that era.

Clearly, Bos is, indeed, one of our nuts so let's roast and toast the living legend on November 17 at the Waterfront Crab House.

Bos deserves no less.

Johnny Bos Celebrity Roast
Friday evening, November 17 2006
Waterfront Crabhouse
2-03 Borden Avenue
Long Island City, NY, NY
tel 718 729 4862
directions www.wfcrabhouse.com/map.html
 
Individual tickets go for $250 and checks made out to "Johnny Bos Benefit Roast" may be sent to Michael Marley, 250 West 100 Street, Suite 1102, NY, NY, 10025. A table may be purchased for $2000 and the table will provide ten people with seats and meals and beer, wine and soft drinks.

NO CHECKS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNLESS MADE OUT TO "JOHNNY BOS BENEFIT ROAST." Any checks made out differently will be returned to sender. All checks must be received by November 11, 2006