Marciano's Gym Closed; Other Ohio Notes
Paul Dalrymple
Monday, July 19, 1999
By JOE MAXSE\, CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER REPORTER
Another sign of the ring times was the closing last week of Marciano's Gym
at W. 25th St. and Clark Ave.
Open since 1970, trainer Johnny Avon Jr., along with partners Joe Freytag
and Joe DelGuyd, said they could not make ends meet any longer.
"I think it's unfortunate for the area to lose a major gym like this," said
Avon, who estimated his monthly costs at Marciano's at $900. "We paid all
the utilities for the whole building for two years with donations and out of
pocket."
Avon said he had about 10 amateurs, 10 professionals and a few "older guys"
working out to stay in shape. Dues ranged from $20 to $30 per month, youths
under 18 free.
Temporarily moved to Giachetti's Athletic Club on Fulton Rd., Avon said he
hopes to find a new home for Marciano's.
"I've got a lot of phone calls out," Avon said. "We want to stay on the
lower West Side."
Contact Avon at (216) 888-5641.
STILL VACANT - Tom Jelepis, mayor of Bay Village, took over as chairman of
the Ohio Athletic Commission last week.
Jelepis, 44, said his boxing career was minimal during workouts as a kid at
Cleveland's long-gone Old Angle Gym. He classified himself as a fan of the
game.
"Utmost is the safety of the fighters," said Jelepis, appointed to replace
resigned chairman Jeff Hastings. "I would like to see good cards. There is
nothing worse than a guy getting his clock cleaned in 30 seconds."
Jelepis will get his first on-the-job view during the Aug. 6 show at the
Ohio State Fair in Columbus.
The OAC is still in need of a fifth commissioner after Dr. Michael DiCello
of Mentor decided to turn down his appointment at the last minute. The
comission is mandated to have a member with a medical background. Interested
physicians should contact the OAC office in Youngstown at (330) 742-5120.
OAC Commissioner Gene Weiss and Executive Director Paul Amodio attended the
Association of Boxing Commission's annual meeting in Baltimore last week.
The OAC has scheduled a clinic for its officials at the Holiday Inn in Kent
on Aug. 7. ABC President Greg Sirb of Pennsylvania will make a presentation.
BEAN TOWN - Eric "Butterbean" Esch is scheduled to appear today at noon in
Damon's Restaurant on Bagley Rd. in Berea.
The 311-pound 'Bean (43-1, 33 KOs) will meet Jason Farley as part of the
Aug. 6 show. Esch weighed 331 pounds when he decisioned Farley in four
rounds in June 1997.
Headlining in Columbus will be junior bantamweights Eric Morel (21-0, 15
KOs) and Francisco Espitia (15-1, 11 KOs). Eight other bouts are scheduled
on the 10-fight card, with the headliners shown on ESPN2 at 9 p.m.
Tickets at $30 and $25 include admission to the fair and are available by
calling Ticketmaster (614) 431-3600. VIP tables are available through (614)
766-5203.
AMATEUR SHOWS - The Rubber City Boxing Club has a Thursday show set for the
Springfield Lake Party Center in Lakemore at 7:30 p.m. Contact coaches Clay
Rexrode (330) 922-5564 or David Kennamore (330) 803-6229.
On Saturday in the Brunswick Recreation Center, 3637 Center Rd., Samson's
Boxing Gym will stage its card at 7 p.m. Contact coach John Price at (330)
722-6444.
(Snipped: Weekend results)
THIS DATE - Tim Witherspoon stopped Frank Bruno in the 11th round to win the
WBA heavyweight title in 1986.
FRIDAY - Light heavyweights headline the ESPN2 "Friday Night Fights" when
David Telesco (21-2, 17 KOs) meets Drake Thadzi (30-9-1, 25 KOs) in Des
Moines, Iowa, at 9 p.m.
DEBUT - Is boxing returning to its mob roots? Sort of.
For the first time in its history, the famed Flamingo Hilton in Las Vegas
will stage a boxing card Saturday. The house built by gangster Benjamin
"Bugsy" Siegel has a championship doubleheader, with WBA welterweight
champion James Page (24-3, 18 KOs) meeting veteran Freddie Pendleton
(44-23-4, 32 KOs), and IBF super lightweight titlist Terronn Millett
(21-1-1, 18 KOs) facing Virgil McClendon (21-1, 8 KOs).
The Showtime Network telecast begins at 8 p.m.
d...@cheetah.net
<Paul...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>Marciano's Gym shut down, but not knocked out
>
>Monday, July 19, 1999
>
>By JOE MAXSE\, CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER REPORTER
>
CLIPPED
>
>BEAN TOWN - Eric "Butterbean" Esch is scheduled to appear today at noon in
>Damon's Restaurant on Bagley Rd. in Berea.
>
>The 311-pound 'Bean (43-1, 33 KOs) will meet Jason Farley as part of the
>Aug. 6 show. Esch weighed 331 pounds when he decisioned Farley in four
>rounds in June 1997.
CLIPPED
Actually, this report is in slight
error. My main man Eric "Butterbean"
Esch will be appearing at noon,
1:00 PM, 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM without
moving one foot in any direction.
DCI