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In Boxing’s Champion, legendary boxing advocate Stephen B. Acunto brings the reader back to his initial introduction to the sport of boxing and the New York City boxing scene in the 1920’s. He shares his impressions and experiences of boxing royalty, with whom he trained, advocated, and worked closely to improve boxing itself. Acunto, the first inductee into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame, delves into what really happened behind the scenes, relays personal conversations, and offers a view of nearly
a century of his observations inside and outside the boxing ring, from Gene Tunney to the present.
Boxing’s Champion also offers a valuable historical perspective of early 20th century New York City, through the eyes of a young Italian American boy. Acunto provides a unique picture of Catholic School education and discipline, growing up in Staten Island, cultural references, and work opportunities. He even confesses his foray into bootlegging during Prohibition before he was even a teenager.
However, Stephen B. Acunto is anything but a lawbreaker. His story, as the reader will see time after time, is guided by his strong family values and rock solid moral compass. Whether as a deputy sheriff, as an inspector for the New York State Boxing Commission, or as a boxing trainer, Steve Acunto stood tall and resisted countless opportunities to make money or to look the other way. Rather than go along to get along, Steve Acunto courageously took up the cause of protecting fighters. He stood with Rocky Marciano as he testified before Congress (actually whispering an answer to the Heavyweight Champion of the World that he used). He “shuffled” Muhammad Ali away from a mobster in a restaurant. He shadow boxed with Ali, Willie Pep, and Roy Jones, Jr., to create instructional videos, booklets and posters in English and Spanish, to educate young boxers on proper techniques. Then, after former Heavyweight Champion Greg Page tragically and unnecessarily suffered permanent (and ultimately fatal) injuries in the ring, he joined with his widow, Patricia Page, to advocate for stricter athletic commission and medical standards in Kentucky and other states. Acunto closes out his life story with a series of bios of Italian American boxers, a list the likes of which has never before been compiled.
All told, Boxing’s Champion offers both a personal journey of a fascinating man dedicated to the betterment of the “sweet science” and his own candid assessments of decades of boxers and those around them. Thankfully, this story has been memorialized for the sake of history and sport.
Charles D. Wood
July 29, 2014
a century of his observations inside and outside the boxing ring, from Gene Tunney to the present.
Boxing’s Champion also offers a valuable historical perspective of early 20th century New York City, through the eyes of a young Italian American boy. Acunto provides a unique picture of Catholic School education and discipline, growing up in Staten Island, cultural references, and work opportunities. He even confesses his foray into bootlegging during Prohibition before he was even a teenager.
However, Stephen B. Acunto is anything but a lawbreaker. His story, as the reader will see time after time, is guided by his strong family values and rock solid moral compass. Whether as a deputy sheriff, as an inspector for the New York State Boxing Commission, or as a boxing trainer, Steve Acunto stood tall and resisted countless opportunities to make money or to look the other way. Rather than go along to get along, Steve Acunto courageously took up the cause of protecting fighters. He stood with Rocky Marciano as he testified before Congress (actually whispering an answer to the Heavyweight Champion of the World that he used). He “shuffled” Muhammad Ali away from a mobster in a restaurant. He shadow boxed with Ali, Willie Pep, and Roy Jones, Jr., to create instructional videos, booklets and posters in English and Spanish, to educate young boxers on proper techniques. Then, after former Heavyweight Champion Greg Page tragically and unnecessarily suffered permanent (and ultimately fatal) injuries in the ring, he joined with his widow, Patricia Page, to advocate for stricter athletic commission and medical standards in Kentucky and other states. Acunto closes out his life story with a series of bios of Italian American boxers, a list the likes of which has never before been compiled.
All told, Boxing’s Champion offers both a personal journey of a fascinating man dedicated to the betterment of the “sweet science” and his own candid assessments of decades of boxers and those around them. Thankfully, this story has been memorialized for the sake of history and sport.
Charles D. Wood
July 29, 2014