Remembering Great Fights At This ‘Garden’
Ring 8, a group dedicated to supporting those who need help in the boxing community, will host a commemorative ceremony for the old Sunnyside Garden Arena on Saturday, Oct. 6 at noon, highlighted by the unveiling of a monument on the site of the former sports venue at 44-10 Queens Blvd. in Sunnyside.
Originally built in 1926 by railroad baron Jay Gould as a private tennis club, the property was sold in 1945 and became a public arena, hosting amateur and professional boxing, wrestling, roller derby and kick-boxing during the next 32 years. Several films were shot there, including Mr. Universe in 1951, starring
Vincent Edwards, and President John F. Kennedy campaigned in front of Sunnyside Garden Arena in 1960.
Boxing, however, was its main attraction, seating 2,000 with tickets back costing only $4 for general admission and $8 for ringside. Before television, Sunnyside Garden Arena served as sort of a minor league system for boxing, noted by the Ring 8 member and late Daily News cartoonist Bill Gallo, whose father reported fights for the New York Sun. Fighters who consistently won fights at Sunnyside Garden Arena often graduated to the Mecca in Manhattan, Madison Square Garden.
Some of the more notable boxers who fought at Sunnyside Garden Arena between 1945 and 1977 included Emile Griffith, Bob Cassidy, Gerry Cooney, Jose Torres, Oscar Bonevena Sr., Eddie Gregory and Archer brothers, Jimmy and Joey. Other Ring 8 members who also fought there included Henny Wallitsch, Bobby Bartels, John Colon, Tommy Englehardt and Lenny Mangiapane.
“Ring 8 is proud to remember Sunnyside Garden Arena and honor the great boxers who fought there for more than three decades,” Ring 8 president Bob Duffy said. “Sunnyside Garden Arena still has a lot of meaningful memories for many of our Ring 8 members. In 1977, Sunnyside Garden Arena was razed to build the Wendy’s franchise that is there now, but boxing memories from that site will live forever. This monument guarantees that Sunnyside Garden Arena will never be forgotten.”
Formed in 1954 by an ex-prizefighter, Jack Grebelsky, Ring 8 became the eighth subsidiary of what was then known as the National Veteran Boxers Association-hence, Ring 8-and today the organization’s motto still remains: Boxers Helping Boxers.
The Sunnyside Garden Arena monument will read: “This monument is in honor and dedicated to those men who fought in the amateurs and professional bouts.”
