The Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame celebrated its twentieth anniversary at Mohegan Sun with a sold-out gala event, as well as a new president, boxing judge Peter Hary Jr., taking the helm. The Hall had a record induction class this year, having raised the number of honorees from its standard six to eight this year. In addition, “we broke a record on the silent auction,” said Hary. “More than $4,000.” The 50/50 raffle saw an additional $1,000 in sales. Leading the inductees was the late Melio Bettina, 83-14 (36), a Bridgeport-born 1930s and ‘40s era light heavyweight who won the New York State Athletic Commission 175-pound title with a stoppage of Tiger Jack Fox at Madison Square Garden. Boxing judge Don Trella accepted the induction plaque for Bettina, noting that his family was unable to attend due to a family wedding. 

 

Also inducted were New England promoter Rich Cappiello, a second cousin of former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano; the late timekeeper Lou Dell “At the Bell”; referee Ken Ezzo, who has worked nearly 400 pro bouts; former heavyweight contender Fernely Feliz Sr, who now runs Champs Boxing Club in Danbury; Brooklyn-native turned Bridgeport resident Joey Negron, who defeated Cappiello’s brother, Mike Cappiello, in the early 1990s to win the USA New England 130-pound title; New London-based trainer Kent Ward, who established a successful program called Championship Rounds, which helps individuals with disabilities like Parkinson’s Disease; and Luis Rosa Sr., who ran Boxing In Faith Gym (BIF) in New Haven’s Fair Haven section for years.

 

After the death of his professional boxer son, Luis Rosa Jr., in a 2018 auto accident, Rosa and his wife Marilyn opened a new gym in nearby East Haven called KO King Boxing and Fitness, which pays tribute to their son, Luis Rosa, Jr., and features his image on the gym’s sign out front.  Rosa uses faith-based principles in training, but admits he wasn’t always on the right path in life. He acknowledged this in his induction speech.  “I didn’t want to be a boxing coach actually,” said Rosa, adding, “I wanted to make a lot of money and become famous, and very rich, but nor for the right reasons. My intentions were to become like a Godfather, a mafioso, but God didn’t allow me to do that. He took me down a different path. He took me out of the darkness.” 

A humble man, Rosa said, “this award is not for me.” “This award belongs to my fighters,” he said. “Thank you my fighters for doing what you do, for listening to me, for obeying my instructions even when you didn’t want to. You guys are the ones that made me a Hall of Famer.”

 

Different generations of family members of Lou Dell “At the Bell” filled the stage for his induction. Jeff Ferone, Dell’s grandson, took to the microphone and listed various highlights of his life, such as serving in the United States Navy, and key aspects of a life in boxing. As a youth, he had more than 200 bouts in New England and New York areas. Ferrone said his grandfather loved to tell everyone that would a listen a story how George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins weren’t the oldest men to fight in Atlantic City. His grandfather, he said, has that distinction, because he was 82 “when he landed several blows on a mugger” when said individual grabbed Dell’s wife’s purse.  Besides fighting at 82, Dell - a regular face at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods - remained a timekeeper until the age of 90. He passed away in 2007 at age 93. 

 

Fernely Feliz, 23-9 (16), who fought the likes of John Ruiz and Oleg Maskaev during his career, may have been the crowd favorite with his outpouring of emotions, true happiness reflected in a joyful smile, and also sadness at times, reflecting on a brother that passed away last year at 50 and couldn’t witness Feliz’ special night.  “He was a part of my journey,” said Feliz of Christian, who also served as a trainer at Champs Boxing Club. As he spoke about him, he couldn’t hold back the tears. “I promised I wasn’t going to cry,” he said, and added about his brother, “You’re always going to be in our corner.” Trying to compose himself, Feliz went on, “Wow. I’m so grateful. Boxing changed my life. Being around in Danbury, I remember coming from the Dominican Republic as a kid, no English. It was rough. I was bullied many times as a kid.” He added that boxing put him around so many good people.  “That table over there, so many people that have come to support me,” he said. “I’ve got my friend from the Dominican Republic. I’ve got my whole crew here.”

 

He pointed out, among others, his wife, Iliana, his mother, his boxer sons, Ali Feliz and Fernely Jr., who is currently 8-0 (6) as a pro.  “You know, as a coach, we have to go through some things,” Fernely Sr. said. “We have to be a coach, you need to be a psychologist. It takes a lot.” Then, pivoting back to his night of honor, he said, “Wow. I can’t believe that I’m here at this moment, the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame. Thank you so much.”  When it seemed he was done, he continued on just a few minutes more, trying to extend his moment, his utmost career highlight. 

“If the ref (who spoke before him) talked three hours (cracking the room up), I can talk a little more,” he said. “I’m going to start jumping rope.” He then mimicked skipping rope and began throwing combinations.  “This only happens one time in life,” said Feliz. He wrapped up his time by noting he tells his sons, as well as other aspiring boxers, “If you want to be a great champion, you’ve got to put the work in, give everything you have. Don’t leave nothing behind.” 

 

Ezzo was a longtime referee before more recently becoming a judge. His speech went about 20 minutes but the 400-plus in attendance were patient, as Ezzo spoke from the heart and tried not to leave anyone out who helped him along the way to this career milestone.  He refereed more than 1,000 amateur bouts, went pro in 1992 and refereed more than 500 bouts in New England, New York and overseas. Ezzo is now a respected pro boxing judge with more than 400 bouts to his credit.  There was a time in Connecticut, decades back, when officials were not plenty, where Ezzo was “the only referee for four years.” Included among the many Ezzo listed off in his speech were veteran pro referees Steve Smoger and Frank Capuccino.  “They were not just friends. They were not just fellow referees. They were teachers,” said Ezzo.  “They taught me the ins and outs of what it means to be a referee. And let me tell you, refereeing is an art. It really is. You don’t just go be a referee. You work at it. You’re in the gym. You’re watching films. You’re doing everything because it’s you out there.” 

 

One poignant moment of Ezzo’s speech was when he thanked his ex-wife, Cynthia.  “She was there for me for 20-plus years,” he said. “Every responsibility that I needed, she took it off the table. I didn’t have to worry about haircuts. I didn’t have to worry about getting my uniforms clean. Whatever I had to do, she was [right there], so I’d like to publicly thank her, because even though things didn’t work out right, it doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate what you’ve done. Thank you.”

 

Former USA New England featherweight and junior lightweight champion Joey Negron, originally from Brooklyn, NY, was a ball of energy during his induction speech. He began by noting there’s a lot of good solid boxers in every state, but not all can become world champions like Marlon Starling and Jose Antonio Rivera, who were seated out in the crowd. “There’s a lot of fighters that just don’t make it,” he said. “Whether it was due to injury, or because they have to go work for the family, or even addiction. It runs in the sport.”  Negron, 14-7 (7), never won that world championship he may have desired, but he seemed to beam with pride when vocalizing that he’s “in the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame...  I did what I had to do. I paid my dues in this boxing game,” he said. “Some don’t make it. I’m here today. I’m going to name some names.”

 

He said those in the crowd may have no clue who they are, but out of respect, he was going to mention them. After doing that, he gave props to all of the trainers out there, including the ones from Bridgeport’s Ortiz Boxing Gym that came to lend their support.  “Keep doing what you’re doing. Keep making a difference. Keep helping these young kids stay in the gym…It’s not easy being a trainer. There’s a lot of time put in, and sometimes you don’t get back what you put in. So if you’re a trainer, thank you for your service.” 

 

Trainer Kent Ward, out of New London’s Whaling City Athletic Club, was given an epic introduction by referee and boxing coach Johnny Callas.  At one point, Callas said, “Look at this guy. 78 years young. It’s like he walked off the cover of GQ magazine. He’s a monster. Unbelievable. A true debonair.” Callas added, “And if you mention the name Kent Ward to anybody in New London, in Connecticut, in the Northeast, they will shower you with words of reverence, and references of greatness. Kent Ward. Legend. Cornerstone. Yoda. The G.O.A.T. The original heavy hitter. Community leader. Mentor. Work ethic. Moral compass. Respect for oneself. The Iron Man (as Ward was an iron worker). And my favorite, Sir Kent of Ward…”  Callas added that what makes Kent Ward “royalty” amongst boxing coaches throughout Connecticut is “this compassionate strength for working with all ages of people, in all life circumstances, in helping better their lives through combat sports.” 

 

Ward came to the podium noting, “Wow…That was an extraordinary introduction.”  Like Callas, Ward said he believes in making individuals champions in life, not just champions in the ring.  “If you make these young people champions in life and champions in the arena, that’s like the Super Bowl,” he said. “But if you have once choice, it needs to be champions in life. That’s forever.” He added, “that’s you taking care of your family. That’s you helping in the community. That goes on forever. A champion in the arena, that’s wonderful but if you’re not solid, and aware of all the things you need to do, like conduct yourself properly, then we’re not doing our jobs as coaches.” 

 

Ward said his career in boxing has been “unbelievably rewarding.”  “This has been a long run,” he said, adding, “It has  been a very enormously rewarding life for me. To be involved in boxing, to be invested in boxing, to help as many people as I could help with the neurological disorder program, and everything that we have done since that time.”  Ward also thanked his wife, a former physical education teacher at New London High School , for being very understanding of his efforts.  “My wife had the finger on the pulse of what it took to help these kids,” he said. “So when I’m working overtime on jobs, coming home and going to the gym, she was doing homework with the kids, giving them dinner, eating dinner by herself, and never said a word to me, because she knew what it was all about…It’s been the most amazing journey with this woman.” 

 

Promoter Rich Cappiello was taken aback by the induction gala turnout.  He began his speech, “I thought there was going to be three or four tables. I walked into this (400-plus in attendance). I can’t believe it. This is quite an honor.” Noting that his second cousin, Rocky Marciano, always instilled in him and his brother Mike to “always work your hardest to be successful,” Cappiello said he always followed that rule.  “I just gave 100 percent of myself, always,” he said. Cappiello noted some highlights of his career, which included the Mohegan Sun Fight Night USA boxing series and promoting the show on which Massachusetts-based Kevin McBride defeated former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. Cappiello was also behind Micky Ward challenging Vince Phillips for the IBF junior welterweight title at The Roxy in Boston in 1997 and was matchmaker for the first two seasons of NBC’s The Contender. He later joined forces with Jimmy Burchfield to create a powerhouse promotional team. “Jimmy was one of the guys that when I started promoting, I paid attention to him,” said Cappiello. “He doesn’t know it, but I shadowed him for many, many years. I’d go to his shows and I’d watch what he did.” He added, “He totally motivated me to be successful in this business, cause this guy does it right, and that’s the way he is, and I love him for it.” 

 

Cappiello also said he learned a lot from his partner Joe Lake.  “I’ve been doing this for 35 years,” said Cappiello, adding about Lake, “I think he’s one of the smartest guys in boxing, and he’s one of the guys that really taught me everything I know in this business, and he’s currently working with me on this new project, doing the management thing.” He said the award should be half his and half Lake’s, because “without him and all the education I got from him all these years, I would never be up here tonight.” 

 

Queried by BoxingTalk.com days later as to what the induction truly meant to him, Cappiello responded, “It just reminds me of all the hard work and effort that I put in to get in there that night. I do this for the passion of the sport. I truly love boxing like no other.” He added, “I feel I’ve mastered the game. I’ve done it all and to be recognized at that level was a great experience, something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.” 

 

In addition to the inductees, seven individuals were honored for their achievements and dedication to the sport. Kamaree Kemp, fighting out of Manchester Ring of Champions Society, was recognized as The Roland Roy Amateur Boxer of the Year; Chordale Booker, 25-2 (13), was honored with the Marlon Starling (Professional) Boxer of the Year Award, multi-decade writer Kirk Lang received the George Smith Contribution to Boxing Award; Marilyn Rosa, wife of inductee Luis Rosa Sr., received the Amateur Official of the Year Award; Phyllis Roy -who took over USA Boxing (Region 1) following her husband Roland’s death eight years ago – received the William Hutt Official of the Year Award; Paul Cichon, founder of the Manchester Ring of Champions Society, was honored with the Brian Clark Trainer of the Year Award; and Marcky “The Fighter” Foster, who battled an embryonal tumor with multi-layered rosettes (ETMR), and passed in June ahead of his 5th birthday, received The Willie Pep Courage Award. Foster’s aunt and uncle accepted for him. 

 

Hary, presiding over an induction gala for the first time – having been promoted from first vice president -  said the event was “pretty flawless.”  Famed boxing judge Glenn Feldman, the Hall’s founding president, who preceded Hary and attorney John Laudati, concurred. He said Hary “did a great job putting the event together.”  Feldman added, “It was the first time in 20 years where I got to sit back and enjoy the night. The future of the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame is in great hands.” 

 

Hary had a great support system. He told BoxingTalk.com, “ It was a spectacular evening celebrating the rich history of boxing in Connecticut. I couldn’t be happier with our dedicated Board of Directors. It takes a village to put on an event of this magnitude and everyone really stepped up. The Class of 2026 was a tremendous class. We really have our work cut out for us to top this one.”