By Peter Lyons Hall
On Saturday, May 11, 2024, Greenwood Lake’s reputation as a destination training ground for many of the top professional boxers will be celebrated at the Greenwood Lake Middle School, where the Floyd Patterson Boxing Club, together with USA Boxing, will present a sanctioned match of 10 bouts, from 4-6:30PM.
Each of the 10 bouts will be three rounds each, from pee-wee categories (8 years old) to masters (over 40). The pee-wee rounds last 1.5 min each; masters are 2 min each, featuring both men and women boxers, at all age groups. USA Boxing’s mission seeks to “promote and grow Olympic-style amateur boxing in the United States and to inspire the tireless pursuit of Olympic gold and enable athletes and coaches to achieve sustained competitive excellence. Additionally, USA Boxing endeavors to teach all participants the character, confidence and focus they need to become resilient and diverse champions, both in and out of the ring.”
The May 11th event will feature limited ringside VIP seating tables that include a specially selected menu from among the top restaurants in the area, with beverages and dessert. In addition, a bleacher section will enable kids and their families to enjoy an array of bouts for all age groups. All attendees will also be able to purchase food and beverages during the event held at the Middle School’s excellent facility at 1247 Lakes Road in Monroe, NY 10950.
Many boxing greats had trained at The Long Pond training camp in Greenwood Lake in the 1940s and 50s. Sugar Ray Robinson, the welterweight, had never been KO’d, but many of his opponents had greeted the floor of the ring including Fritzie Zivic, Maxie Shapiro, Ruben Shank, Joe Curcio, and several others. On December 9, 1956 the Steve Allen show televised Sugar Ray Robinson from Greenwood Lake, now a middleweight champion, going through a sparring session at Long Pond Training Camp, in preparation for his upcoming title bout against Gene Fulmer.
Greenwood Lake’s reputation as a famous boxing training ground continued right up into the 1960s, until the training camp burned down in 1971. Tickets for the upcoming match on May 11 are available at GWLCentennial.org. The Saturday afternoon event will offer VIP ringside seating, bleacher seating for fans young and old, and sponsorship packages for businesses wishing to participate in the historic occasion.
