DONATE TO THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF BOXING (AAIB):

"The discipline and skills learned in a quality boxing program make students better human beings." – AAIB Founder Stephen B. Acunto

#ImproveBoxing

For almost a half-century, the American Association for the Improvement of Boxing (AAIB) has fought to enhance the sport of boxing and support amateur boxers.

World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Marciano and Hall of Fame boxing coach and professor Stephen B. Acunto founded the AAIB to promote boxing in communities across the country, in higher education, and through research and the advancement of national standards, regulations, and legislation. The organization's biggest impact today is on the lives of students.

The AAIB’s all-volunteer board of directors and staff consists of former boxers, boxing judges, commissioners, announcers, referees, and enthusiasts. One hundred percent (100%) of your donation goes directly to the AAIB's mission to improve the sport of boxing and support young boxers.

The AAIB Boxing Record:

• Founded the AAIB Amateur Boxing Scholarships

• Advanced the New York State Reformed Boxing Bill

• Appeared before the U.S. Congress in support of a National Boxing Commission

• Supported “Uniformity of Boxing Regulations” throughout the United States

• Developed a New York State bill to improve health insurance for injured boxers

• Testified in Albany in support of more stringent boxer medical examinations

• Supported research and advances in neurological and orthopedic boxing medicine

• Taught an AAIB boxing syllabus and curriculum for college level credit

• Created the AAIB Champions’ Boxing Guide for boxers’ safety and guidance

• Designed an AAIB Boxing Moves poster with Muhammad Ali & Roy Jones, Jr.

• Recorded AAIB Boxing Moves films with Ali, Rocky Marciano & Willie Pep

• Established the AAIB Annual “Boxerama” Events honoring boxers and boxing

• Started the AAIB Annual Celebrity Golf Invitational for AAIB Scholars

THE AAIB FOUNDERS

Stephen B. Acunto
Legendary Boxing Coach

For over four decades, Stephen B. Acunto was one of the foremost boxing instructors in the world, teaching alongside Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, and Willie Pep. Steve was head coach of boxing at Westchester Community College, where he developed and taught the only boxing course for college credit in existence. He also taught pugilism at Fairfield University, Concordia College, Sarah Lawrence College, The Purchase Community House, and numerous YMCAs, clinics, and seminars around the nation. Steve has taught over 8,000 boxers – one became world champion, several have been leading contenders, and many have been amateur champions

A former boxer, Steve has been a member of the New York State Athletic Commission since 1945. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1988, the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998, and was an inaugural inductee into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013. Articles about Steve and his activities have appeared in Sports Illustrated, SPORT Magazine, The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Boxing Illustrated, and a host of other publications. Steve will turn 99-years-old on November 15, 2015. No one has given more to the sport of boxing.

Rocky Marciano
World Heavyweight Champion 1952-1956

From Wikipedia: “Rocky Marciano (born Rocco Francis Marchegiano; September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969) was an undefeated American professional boxer and the World Heavyweight Champion from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only person to hold the heavyweight title without a bout tie or defeat during his entire career. Marciano defended his title six times, against Jersey Joe Walcott, Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles (twice), Don Cockell, and Archie Moore. Marciano had a short, blazing career usually accustomed to pressure fighters, and at the end of it he retired with a record of 49-0, a record which stands to this day.

“Known for his relentless style, incredible stamina and a cast iron chin, Marciano has been ranked by many boxing historians as one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time. He was also known for his ferocious punching power, for a man of just 190 pounds; his knockout percentage of 87.75 is one of the highest in heavyweight history.” Rocky was the first of six children of Italian immigrant parents. He was forced to end his formal education at sixteen, but his experiences as a ditch digger, railroad layer, and army soldier made him a beloved public figure. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1959. He died before his time, the victim of an airplane crash.

THE AAIB VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS (3/19/2022)

Melvina Lathan - President
Former NYSAC Chair & Professional Boxing Judge

Melvina Lathan has served on the AAIB Board for over 10 years. She was New York State Athletic Commission Chairwoman from 2008 through 2015. Melvina was raised in a house that loved watching boxing. Her husband, William, was a ringside physician for Golden Gloves. She started judging amateur fights in 1988, completed a two-year apprenticeship, and became the first African American female boxing judge in the State of New York in 1991. She is licensed in numerous other states and by the Pequot and Mohegan Tribal Nations. She has judged for all major sanctioning bodies, working 235 fight cards (883 bouts) including 83 World Title fights in the United States, Great Britain, South Africa, Argentina, and all over Europe. She has conducted seminars for officials at the invitation of the First Tianjin International Boxing Exhibition Games, the Washington D.C. Boxing Commission, and the International Boxing Federation, amongst others. Melvina was part of the consulting team for the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville. She was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008. She is also a mixed media artist. Melvina and William have four children and thirteen grandchildren.

Steven A. Weisfeld - Vice President
Professional Boxing Judge & Legal Counsel

Steve Weisfeld has served on the AAIB Board since the 1980s. He is also legal counsel and a vice-president of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. Steve has been a professional boxing judge for almost 25 years. He was formerly the rules expert for HBO Boxing and the unofficial scorer for HBO’s Boxing After Dark. Steve is a commercial attorney for Beattie Padovano, LLC, a law firm in Montvale, New Jersey. He has given presentations before the International Council of Shopping Centers on commercial leasing issues and is on the Board of Advisors of the Commercial Lease Law Insider.

Frank Lombardi - Treasurer
Professional Boxing Judge & Former Welterweight Boxer

Frank Lombardi has served on the AAIB Board as Treasurer since the 1980s. When he was 17-years-old, he met AAIB Chairman Steve Acunto in his YMCA Boxing program. Frank started boxing as an amateur at 15 and went professional at 19. He fought on the undercard of Champion Elisha Obed in the Bahamas and on the Jimmy Ellis/ Ernie Shavers card at Madison Square Garden. Frank boxed in exhibition bouts for charity with pugilists like Chico Vigar until he retired to get his teaching degree at CUNY Lehman. Frank worked as a judge and referee in the amateurs, then became an official timekeeper and judge for NYSAC. He has scored close to 500 bouts including the Ward/Gatti I and Ruiz/Golota Heavyweight Championships. Experienced in every aspect of boxing, Steve calls him, “one of the best coaches I know.”

Thomas J. Tortora
Nursing Home Administrator & Boxing Enthusiast

Tom Tortora has served on the AAIB Board since 1989. On his high school soccer and swim teams, Tom thought he was in great shape until he stepped into his first boxing ring. A friend was training to be an amateur and Tom boxed with him for under two rounds without hitting him once. He was exhausted and hooked. A Boston College graduate, Tom boxed in a number of clubs in the Boston and Brockton areas. Back home, he joined the Bridgeport, Connecticut Police Athletic League Boxing Club, trained under George Russo as an amateur, and then became an amateur referee and coach. Tom is a licensed nursing home administrator at The Carolton Chronic and Convalescent Hospital in Fairfield, Connecticut. Rocky’s nephew, Louie Marciano, Jr., invited Tom to his first AAIB event and introduced him to Steve 26 years ago.

Hon. Charles D. Wood
Supreme Court Justice & Boxing Enthusiast

Charles Wood has served on the AAIB Board since 2010. He is a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Ninth Judicial District, which encompasses Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, Putnam, and Orange Counties. He grew up in a family that loved watching boxing, and the enthusiasm he felt watching Ali, Norton, Leonard, and Mancini continues to be renewed by boxers today. In 2005, Charles was elected to Yonkers City Court, where he served for four years. He was the Supervising Judge of the Matrimonial Part in Westchester County in 2013, and is a member of the Committee on Gender Fairness for the Ninth Judicial District.  He is a graduate of Vassar College and New York Law School. He completed training from the Advanced Science & Technology Adjudication Resource Center (ASTAR), National Resource Judge Program, and was elected as a Fellow in 2013.

#BoxingLegacy