NYC To Host Boxing History Symposium
Press Release: On Tuesday, November 20, 2007, boxing history buffs will want to attend “Fighters and Families,” a symposium discussing boxing families at New York City's South Street Seaport Museum. The panel will include: New York Times Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Dave Anderson; author Jay R. Tunney, the son of former heavyweight champion Gene Tunney; Tim Conn, the son of boxing Hall of Fame champion Billy Conn; Doug Graham, the son of perennial welterweight contender and uncrowned champion Billy Graham; and Charlie Sharkey, the great, grand nephew of legendary Irish champion “Sailor” Tom Sharkey, whose two fights with James J. Jeffries have become legend, especially the 25 round Coney Island championship fight in 1899; exhibit curator Jim Houlihan will serve as the moderator.
This event will begin at 6:00 PM with light refreshments and an opportunity to tour the exhibit and the panel discussion gets underway at 7:00 PM. Tickets are priced at $50 for V.I.P. seating and $35 for general admission. To purchase tickets, email
reservations@southstreetseaport.org, or order on line at
http://www.southstreetseaportmuseum.org/index1.aspx?BD=9353, or call 212-748-8786.
Jay Tunney offered these recollections of his heavyweight champion dad: “The first time it came home to me that my Dad was a celebrity, that is someone different from other dads, was when we went to Madison Square Garden to see Roy Rogers during the World War II,” says Tunney. “I was about seven years old and Roy was my hero. Roy rode into the arena and I was in awe. “Suddenly there was a big spotlight on us sitting in the stands and Roy was pointing in our direction, introducing my Dad,” he continued. “Dad stood up in his Navy commander's uniform and waved, and the Garden broke into a thunderous applause. People in nearby seats waved and shouted at him, cheering. Even Roy clapped. Dad smiled, tipped his hat and sat down. I couldn't imagine why, with all the people in the Garden, Roy singled out my dad?”
The widely popular Fighting Irishmen: Celebrating Celtic Prizefighters 1820-Present exhibit is a collaborative effort between the South Street Seaport Museum and the Irish Arts Center.
The collection of boxing photography and artifacts – which will continue through December 31 – is once again open to the public, also enjoyed a four month run at the Irish Arts Center last year. It is a veritable stroll down memory lane for fight fans and historians alike. Of course, certainly the most unique item in the exhibit – the late, great Irish fighter Dan Donnelly’s mummified right arm – is on display thanks to Josephine Byrne. Among the artifacts and pictures on display will be the legendary John L. Sullivan's fur coat; a blazer specially made for Jack Dempsey; photographs from the archives of Sports Illustrated and MSG photographer George Kalinsky; Charlie Nash's Olympic jersey when he was fighting for Ireland; photographs of the classic Micky Ward vs. Arturo Gatti trilogy; and historic photos of such memorable Irish fighters as John L. Sullivan, James J. Braddock, Billy Conn, Jerry Quarry, Gerry Cooney, Barry McGuigan and Bobby Cassidy, just to name a few.
The expanded exhibit will also include: a heavy bag from Gene Tunney’s training camp; equipment from current female fighter Maureen Shea, used for training actress Hilary Swank for the acclaimed film Million Dollar Baby, and three original oil painting’s from the Tunney collection by the artist Mahonri Young, Brigham Young’s grandson. In addition, visitors will be able to view video of historic fights during their tours of the exhibit.
Winter hours, beginning November 1, for the South Street Seaport Museum are Fridays through Mondays from 10 AM to 5 PM.
