GENTLEMAN

“TIGER” TED LOWRY PASSES

Obituary written by Mike Silver

It is with sadness that I report the passing of my friend, the great Ted Lowry on Monday June 14th. Ted’s heart gave out. He was 90 years old. I use the word great in describing him not so much for his extraordinary boxing career but for the type of man he was and the quality of his character. Any of us who were fortunate enough to have had the pleasure of meeting Ted and getting to know him will agree. He was an intelligent, kind and generous individual, who treated everyone he met with genuine warmth and respect.

Ted was a member of what is referred to today as America ’s greatest generation. He was born October 27, 1919 in New Haven , Connecticut , but grew up in Portland , Maine . In high school he excelled in every sport he ever tried, winning letters in track, football, basketball and baseball. He was even the state agate marbles champion and runner-up in the national tournament.

Ted Lowry began boxing professionally in 1939, at the age of 19, to help support his mother and siblings. Even though he had a limited amateur career Ted was such a natural he was fighting main events by his eighth pro fight. He never had another preliminary fight for the rest of his 144 bout career.

MERCANTE, SR REFEREE OF EPIC BOUTS, PASSES AWAY

Westbury, NY April 10: Arthur Mercante Sr. the famous referee who refereed some of the most epic bouts in boxing history, has passed away. Mercante was ninety years old. Details for the wake is as follows:

Monday and Tuesday: 2-4 pm and 7-9pm

Fairchild Sons Funeral Home at 1201 Franklin Ave in Garden City

Funeral mass will be at 10am Wednesday at St Joseph's R.C. Church at 130 Fifth St in Garden City

Mercante, of course , was the third man in the ring on March 8th, 1971 when Joe Frazier defended his title against unbeaten former champion Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden. Other notable bouts refereed by Mercante included Frazier - Quarry in 1969, Foreman-Frazier in '73 and Johannson-Patterson rematch in 1960.

Among the who's who who Mercante was in the ring with included Emile Griffith, Gaspar Ortega, Felix Trinidad, Bobby Scanlon, Joey Archer, Roberto Duran, Billy Backus, and a host of many other famous boxers in the twentieth century.

Arthur retired from refereeing matches in 2001, becoming a judge until 2005, before retiring for good. Mercante was honored on October 19, 2006 for his long standing service to boxing, which started back when he was in the service during the 1940's.

MERCANTE BIO

GUILTY BOXING INCORPORATED

Lorraine Chargin Rest in Peace

April 8, 2010

From The Desk Of:

Jeff Grmoja, Vice President

On behalf of me and staff we send our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to Don Chargin and his family on the loss of our beloved Lorraine. I met the Chargin’s in San Jose, CA in 1982 and have been blessed with their friendship. Lorraine left us as she lived, with class, dignity and fighting to the end. We share Don’s loss, share the pain, share the grief and boxing will miss Lorraine dearly. I think Lorraine would have appreciated these words and thoughts.

OUR TOGETHERNESS

Death is nothing at All. I have only slipped away into the next room. Whatever we were to each other, we still are. Call me by my old familiar name. Speak to me in the same easy way you always have. Laugh as we have always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, and pray for me. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it always was. There is absolute unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of your mind because I’m out of sight? I am but waiting for you. For an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well. Nothing is past, nothing has been lost. One brief moment all will be as it was before, only better. Infinitely Happier. We will be one, together for ever.

With Deepest Sympathy,

Big Jeff

BOXING "GOOD GUY" ALLEN ROSENFELD PASSES AWAY

- Ron Ross

Allen Rosenfeld, boxing historian, writer and author of the highly acclaimed "Charley Burley, The Life & Hard Times of an Uncrowned Champion" lost a hard fought battle to leukemia Saturday on his 79th birthday. Allen was my dear friend and his passing leaves a great void. Then again, Allen was a friend to all who knew him in the boxing community. To know him was to love him. He was this sweet-natured, gentle guy who had that special ability to bring a smile to the faces of all around him.

Next to his loving wife Ruth, his daughters Nancy and Jennifer and granddaughter Millie, the boxing world was his passion, which, in itself, was as easy to accept as trying to squeeze a square peg in a round hole - it simply didn't fit. Allen Rosenfeld conjured up an image of a smile and gentle pat on the cheek, not a snarl and punch on the jaw.

A Michigan native, Allen received a Master's Degree from Wayne State University then joined the family's real estate business, which became his life-long "primary" career, but it was his "secondary" career, that of a "gym rat" that was his true passion. The romantic lure of Times Square, Madison Square Garden and Stillman's Gym drew Rosenfeld like a magnet. Still a teenager, he would make the 300-mile drive from Michigan to New York in a jalopy with some friends just to share in the atmosphere of Lou Stillman's world-renowned fistic emporium. He boxed as an amateur in the 1940's-50's and in the service. He wasn't a champ. He was just a guy doing something that he loved. To Allen, it wasn't about winning or losing - it was about being a part of a world that was his Camelot and all the knights in this world shed their suits of armor for satin shorts and leather gloves. His passion led him to become a boxing writer for Boxing & Wrestling Illustrated and Ring Magazine.

I'm going to miss those frequent packages in the mail of boxing articles and tidbits of interest that he would send to make sure I was kept abreast of all recent and historic information. I'm going to miss his way of making you feel good about yourself and mostly I'm going to miss his true friendship.

From fighters he wrote about to fellow scribes, historians and just anyone that happened to make his acquaintance in the boxing community, his loss will be felt but Allen Rosenfeld will not be soon forgotten. His strongly researched and magnificently crafted biography of Charley Burley will serve as his legacy to that world.

Farewell, dear friend.

MOSLEY BOUT OFF FOR NOW. . .

Andre Berto’s Statement on his January 30^th Bout

"Since the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday evening, I have been focusing on my family and the Haitian people who are facing an inconceivable battle for survival while still trying to continue to prepare for an opportunity I have dreamt of since childhood. I lost several family members to the earthquake and after two days without word, was relieved to learn that my sister, Naomi and her daughter, Jessica survived, but were left homeless. I have seen the pain in my parents’ eyes as they attempt to understand what has happened to our homeland and recognize a place they once called home.

As a result of this disaster, I am mentally and physically exhausted and therefore I have no choice but to withdraw from my bout on January 30.

Throughout the past six days, I have received an incredible outpouring of support, and I sincerely appreciate everyone’s prayers for the people of Haiti. I hope that everyone will continue to keep the Haitian people in their thoughts and prayers as we work to rebuild this proud nation. The rebuilding of Haiti is not something that will happen overnight, but I am fully dedicated to helping the Haitian people recover from this catastrophic event."

JLM. . . No word if Shane Mosley will fight another opponent at this time

BERTO TO ASSIST IN HAITIAN RELIEF EFFORTS

JANUARY 13, 2010 WBC Welterweight Champion Andre Berto and his family have been hit hard by the Earthquake in Haiti. Berto has cancelled media interviews and we do not know if training has been suspended for his upcoming unification bout with WBA champion Shane Mosley, scheduled for January 30th.

One thing we do know. Berto has released a statement showing concern for the missing citizens in Haiti, of which some may be family members. A member of Haiti's Olympic team, Berto will be developing a relief effort to assist the devastated people of the small island nation.

JLM