On Wednesday, January 5, three boxers from the Main Street Boxing Club (310 Main Street, New Rochelle), Kevin Martin of New Rochelle, Mikey Brogan of Yonkers, and Bryant “Pee Wee” Cruz of Port Chester, participated in an event at Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall with fighters from the Freeport PAL in Long Island. The show promoted the upcoming the FX channel series “Lights Out”, which will premiere on Tuesday, January 11. Holt McCallany and Pablo Schreiber, the series’ leading men, made an appearance, but the late morning crowd of about 1000 was stunned by the surprise promenade of fistianic legends: Mickey Ward, Wladimir Klitschko, Lennox Lewis, Gerry Cooney, Larry Holmes, and Joe Frazier.
According to Main Street Boxing Head Coach Ryan O’Leary, the first fight had ended when the celebrities made their way to the ringside of the makeshift arena. While wrapping the hands of the 152 lb Brogan, O’Leary exclaimed to the passing Ward, “Hey Mickey, the Irish guys are over here!” Ward quickly came over and was “genuinely friendly and interested in Brogan and the other fighters, asking questions about them and hanging out with us for the remainder of the event,” stated the appreciative cornerman. Markey Mark’s garment change from Calvin Klein to Everlast recently brought Ward a much greater fame than even the Gatti trilogy, yet he seems unaffected by Tinseltown’s attentions.
Former heavyweight kingpin Lewis followed in giving encouragement to Mikey, tapping him on the abdomen and advising him not to mind the “butterflies.” Onetime top heavyweight contender, Huntington native Cooney counseled Brogan that “he has got to use the jab.” This was wisdom that Gentleman Gerry certainly wished he had heeded in his own career, as his one-armed bandit style would limit his attainable heights. If his nemesis, the “Easton Assassin” Holmes was not obstructed by a bodyguard, Brogan could have received instruction from the practitioner of pugilism’s greatest jab.
Boxing buff O’Leary, “feeling like a child in a candy store”, waved over to Heavyweight Champion Klitschko indicating that the fight was about to start. Surrounded by inquiring scribes, Wladimir parted the scrum, and raced directly to ringside, exhorting Brogan to administer a samovar of Olde Odessa Arse Vhoope. The usually taciturn Brogan, on seeing Frazier counsel his opponent, asked that he “don’t tell him any tricks.” Forty years ago at MSG, Frazier buttoned the Louisville Lip, but time seems to have mellowed Joe, and Mikey received an appreciative guffaw in response. It is quite possible that Frazier was trying to remain inconspicuous from Mayor Bloomberg and his anti-Smokin’ crusaders, who were, fortunately, still preoccupied by the Abominable Cleanup.
The fights were appreciated greatly by the commuter crowd. Although the fighters were a bit nervous by the surroundings and the celebrities, O’Leary felt that the bouts were exhibitions of fine boxing skills and “played out like chess matches.” Few heavy punches were landed and no one was hurt. Cruz fought particularly well and was the most relaxed of the contestants. Martin won his decision in the 165 lb. class over Patrick Aristhene. Brogan lost his bout to Konard Harris. The 134 lb. Cruz lost a questionable decision to 141 lb. Metro champ Patrick Day. Cruz was so ecstatic over his own performance, the crowd’s plaudits, and the opportunity to meet boxing immortals, that the typhlotic verdict did not perturb him.
To inquire about the upcoming Golden Gloves schedule of the Main Street Boxing Team or regarding membership in Main Street Fitness and Boxing and its various exercise programs, please call 914-636-2811. You also may contact owner Michael Stellate at michael@mainstreetboxing.com or Ryan O’Leary at ryan@mainstreetboxing.com.
