The 88th annual awards banquet of the Boxing Writers Association of America will take place on Thursday, April 11, 2013 at Capitale in New York City. The excitement is building each day as the countdown has already begun to what is considered the Academy Awards of the sport.
The buzz surrounding the event is even greater this year: BWAA’s 2012 “Fighter of the Year,” Nonito Donaire is scheduled to box Guillermo Rigondeaux at Radio City Music Hall just two nights later. Donaire has confirmed his attendance at the BWAA event, as has Juan Manuel Marquez who will be flying in from Mexico to receive his award as a participant in the 2012 “Fight of the Year” with Manny Pacquiao. Donaire and Marquez head an impressive list of honorees, but the non- honorees who will be at Capitale that evening are equally as impressive. Among them will be Roy Jones, Timothy Bradley, Ruslan Provodnikov, Paul Malignaggi, Steve Cunningham, Bob Arum,
A star-studded list of world champions, past and present, as well as many other boxing dignitaries have committed to attending the 88th annual Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) awards dinner on Thursday evening, April 11 at Capitale in New York City.
Limited tickets remain on sale, priced at $200.00 per person, $150.00 for BWAA members. Tables of 10 are available to purchase for $2,000.00. A limited number of special VIP tickets are also available for $400.00 per person and $4,000.00 for a table of 10. VIP tickets include premium seat at dinner, photo opportunity with honorees, and a special VIP gift. Credit card (Mastercard, Visa and American Express), PayPal, check and money order payments must be received no later than April 4, 2013. Checks should be payable to the BWAA and mailed to Boxing Writers Association of America, PO Box 153, Rockaway Park, NY 11694.
In addition to 2012 honorees such as Fighter of the Year, Nonito Donaire, and Fight of the Year winner, Juan Manuel Marquez, a virtual Who’s Who of boxing will be guests at the Apr. 11 gala affair. “The way things are starting to unfold this could be the best BWAA dinner in years” an excited BWAA president Jack Hirsch reported. “Every day it seems like another high profile star has committed to attend. Our growing lineup includes Roy Jones, Timothy Bradley, Ruslan Provodnikov, Paulie Malignaggi, Steve Cunningham, Bob Arum, and Jim Lampley. We have also reached out to a major television star that is a big fight fan. She has expressed interest in attending if her schedule permits.”
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2012 BWAA Award Winners
Nonito Donaire The Sugar Ray Robinson Award Fighter of the Year
Robert Garcia The Eddie Futch Award Trainer of the Year
Juan Manuel Marguez – Manny Pacquiao IV The Ali-Frazier Award Fight of the Year
Al Haymon The Cus D’Amato Award Manager of the Year
Kathy Duva & Bruce Trampler The Barney Nagler Award Long & Meritorious Service
Steve Farhood The Marvin Kohn Award Good Guy
Danny Jacobs The Bill Crawford Award Courage Overcoming Adversity
Peter Finney The A.J. Liebling Award Outstanding Boxing Writer
Dave Kindred The Nat Fleischer Award Excellence In Boxing Journalism
Max Kellerman The Sam Taub Award Excellence in Broadcast Journalism
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Bernie Awards for boxing writing winners will also be presented. A silent auction will be held. Individuals and companies may send items to be auctioned to Andriolo Communications, 1215 76th St., Brooklyn, NY 11228. Those donating items for the Silent Auction will be listed in the event journal and may display their business cards or promotional material on the Silent Auction table.
Cocktails are available at 6:00 p.m. ET, followed at 7:30 p.m. ET by dinner and the awards ceremony.
For further information to online to www.bwaa.org, call or email Gina Andriolo, Event Coordinator at 917.312.6418/ginaandcom@aol.com or Jack Hirsch, BWAA President, at 516.790.7592/ajhirsch5@aol.com.
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
