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‘Boom Boom’ has vision for boxing, Youngstown
By Greg Gulas
BEAVER TOWNSHIP
The boxing game will always thrive and survive, so says former World Boxing Association lightweight champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini.
Exactly how the current crop of fighters compare to their ring predecessors however, remains a heated debate.
Addressing the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly luncheon at Avion Banquet Center, Mancini noted that 15 rounds remains the true barometer for judging a boxer’s greatness.
“Joe Louis doesn’t beat Billy Conn and Rocky Marciano doesn’t defeat Jersey Joe Walcott, simply because they each needed the 13th round,” Mancini said. “Plus, Sugar Ray Leonard needed the 14th round against Tommy Hearns for his win so had their fights been just 12-round affairs, the outcomes would definitely have been much different and you might never have known just how great those fighters would have been.”
Mancini added that going to 12 rounds was a television decision and wasn’t done for medical reasons.
“If you break it down, 80 percent of the fights don’t go the distance and because of TV, you have an opening, a closing and interviews at the end,” he said. “Plus, there are more commercials.”
He noted that fighters today also need to fight more in-between fights in order to remain sharp.
“You cannot stay sharp unless you fight in between,” he added. “I watched Leo Santa Cruz’s WBA super world featherweight title match with Kiko Martinez on Saturday night and that was his first fight since last August. He should have fought twice between fights.”
Mancini’s Southpaw Wine will unveil its newest selection next month when its Round 5, Knockout Red Blend is introduced and makes it way onto shelves nationwide.
“We’re excited about our newest wine and it will be here within the month,” Mancini said. “We use 100- percent California Napa Valley grapes, so this is definitely an exciting time for all of us.”
Mancini, an actor and producer who owns and operates two movie production companies, added that he is looking to build a full digital media studio in downtown Youngstown and hopes to have it up and running by summer.
“We’re looking for space right now and hope to do a lot of production,” Mancini said. “Everything that you need is right here in Youngstown. The business changes constantly so you have to stay ahead of the curve.
“I’ve sat with studio heads and with distribution companies and tried to learn all aspects of the business. I’m just trying to understand what they’re looking for. Also, I’ve sat with Wall Street executives in order to better understand what they want and need for their investors.”
According to Mancini, Youngstown has exactly what movie makers are looking for while the suburbs remain also remain attractive.
“The ability to create different illusions is what makes Youngstown so appealing,” he stated. “Downtown Youngstown can take on the look of New York’s Lower East Side, and also look like South Street in Philadelphia or the North End of Boston. Our rolling hills take on the look of Nebraska and flat lands give you the feel of New Mexico or Washington State. Someone has to be the gatekeeper and I’m just trying to do my part.
“It would also mean a boost to the local economy in that we can crew up really fast, do our physical and post-production all at one time right here with restaurants, hotels and others the beneficiaries of our work.”
Next week, Gary Housteau of Bucknuts, the Ohio State University sports newspaper, will serve as guest speaker.