8/9/06 - article by Mike Indri
Snipes and Savarese prove they're 'Real Champions
By Mike Indri (THE WRITING POLICEMAN)
Post Eagle Newspaper:Boxing Writer
BoxingScene, Boxing2006 & KeepPunching.com:Staff Writer
Retired Boxers Foundation (East Coast representative)
(Left to Right) Kendall Holt, Renaldo Snipes, comedian David Graham and Lou Savarese all came out to
support the 4th annual "RBF Comedy Club Night" at the Bananas Comedy Club in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ.
The Retired Boxers Foundation held their 4th Annual "RBF Comedy Club Night" fundraiser, July 22nd, at the Bananas Comedy Club in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.
Former heavyweight title contenders Renaldo "Mr." Snipes and Lou Savarese, along with current welterweight prospect
Kendall Holt, showed their support by attending the yearly show, which was made possible by the generosity of Arlene
and Harlan Jameson, owners of the Bananas Comedy Club.
Bananas Comedy Club owners Arlene and Harlan Jameson with former heavyweight title contender Renaldo "Mr." Snipes
at the 4th annual "RBF Comedy Club Night".
The large crowd, consisting of many locally supportive policeman, teachers and NJ Boxing Hall of Fame members,
were treated to a night full of laughs by accomplished comedians J.J. Boyd, Steve Lazarus - known not only for
his jokes, but also for his second occupation, as the "Beerman" at Yankee Stadium - and the night's headliner
David Graham. The mega-talented Graham, who has appeared on VH-1 and Showtime TV, could easily have passed
himself off as a current heavyweight fighter, yet not only was Graham, and all those at the Bananas
Comedy Club, big in size - he was also big in heart!
After all the fun-filled hilarity and sidesplitting laughs, Graham and the "Beerman" joined in with Savarese,
Snipes and Holt, mingling with the oversized crowd, and both big-hearted funnymen even made their own personal
contributions to the much needed cause.
The Retired Boxers Foundation is a non-profit organization, which was founded by Alex Ramos, a former 1980's
middleweight title contender and a 1984 USBA champion. Ramos, a four-time New York Golden Gloves Champion endured
many personal hardships after his fighting days and has now devoted his life to being there for other fighters
which haven't been as fortunate as Ramos and have not been able to pull themselves out of the darkness that
torments so many ex-fighters, who find themselves in the toughest fight ever - battling life outside the ring.
The boxing friendly crowd enjoyed listening to the stories from Savarese, (44-6, 36 KO's) who fought Mike Tyson &
George Foreman, and beat former world champions Tim Witherspoon and Buster Douglas, and Snipes, (39-8-1) who was
just seconds away from winning the world heavyweight title, in 1981, after dropping champion Larry Holmes to
the canvas with a monstrous right hand in the seventh round of their championship bout - most people still
don't know how Holmes beat that count!
Holt, (20-1) who fights out of Patterson, NJ and was ranked as high as # 4 in the world before a slew of injuries
sidelined the highly regarded welterweight, impressed the crowd when he brought along his World Boxing Organization
Inter-Continental Lt. welterweight championship belt.
Also on hand was Lyndhurst resident Rocky Holliday, a former middleweight pugilist who fought during the rugged
'60s and '70s and was recently honored by the NJ veteran's boxing organization RING 25 for his career accomplishments.
Holliday, a real-life Rocky, is a popular fixture at the Bananas Comedy Club and still looks like he can step
in-between the ropes and hold his own. All the boxers were available after the show, taking pictures and
autographing Everlast gloves.
All those on hand to support the Retired Boxers Foundation were treated to a great night of comedy and had
the opportunity to meet some of boxing's real stars: Renaldo Snipes, Lou Savarese, Kendall Holt and Rocky Holliday;
fighters of yesterday and today who took the time, and cared enough, to show their support and help their fellow,
and less fortunate, brothers in boxing.
Thanks to all those who purchased tickets and bought the autographed gloves, to Savarese, Snipes, Holt and Holliday
who proved it's all about "fighters helping fighters", to the awesome comedians: Boyd, Lazarus and David Graham,
for the great laughs and touching support, and most importantly to Arlene and Harlan Jameson, and all the staff
at Bananas Comedy Club, who always have an open door and open heart for the cause of the Retired Boxers Foundation,
and for allowing us to have our greatest event yet!!!
(Left to Right) Former heavyweight contender and class guy, Lou Savarese, with the RBF's Danielle Indri
and Lori Indri at the Bananas Comedy Club in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ.
** PHOTOS COURTESY OF: Richard Scheidenbach ** |
