Boxing History for the month of June:
Boxing World Loses Another Champion of the Ring Game: Robert J. Duffy
Bob Duffy, who was a good friend of the AAIB as well as a dear personal friend to some of us, passed away on January 11, 2024. He will be sorely missed in the boxing community, where he had a distinguished career. Among his many achievements in the ring game, Bob was a Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Athletic Commission, President of Ring 8 for over 20 years and, the co-founder of the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame. A man of service his entire life, Duffy was a proud Army Veteran, a retired NYPD Detective and involved in numerous charities. Without words or praised, Bob simply got things done. Our love goes out to his wife, Mary, their three daughters and 8 grandchildren. For information about services go to massapequafuneralhome.com
2021 AAIB Scholarship Winners
The AAIB has awarded sholarships for 2021! This year's class is headlined by Sarah Garrison, who attends the University of Pennsylvania.
Sarah, a first time winner, pictured here, impressed the AAIB Scholarship Committee with her outstanding academic and boxing credentials.
Our ten (10) scholarship winners are both young men and women from eight (8) states, attending such diverse universities as Rutgers, UNLV, University of Portland, Friends University of Central Kansas, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Northampton Community College, and St. John's University Law School.
Congratulations to all of this year's winners!
In Memoriam: Marvelous Marvin Hagler May 23, 1954 – March 13, 2021
The AAIB mourns the loss of Marvelous Marvin Hagler, one of the greats in the middleweight division and champion from 1980-1987. Winner of the 1986 AAIB Fighter of the Year Award, he was a friend and supporter of the organization. The memories below are from the AAIB’s Boxerama in December of 1992 with Steve Acunto and NYSAC Chair Randy Gordon. Godspeed…
In Memoriam: Leon Spinks Jul 11, 1953 - Feb 05, 2021
We are saddened by the loss of World Heavyweight Champion, AAIB supporter and friend, Leon Spinks, who was a familiar face at our annual golf outings. R.I.P...
THANK YOU for your participation in our Auction!
The AAIB would like to thank everyone for their participation in our first-ever online auction. We are grateful for your generosity, sponsorship and friendship to our organization. There will be other auctions to come, so please stay tuned… Meanwhile, the AAIB graciously accepts scholarship donations at any time and welcomes those who would like to become a member. THANK YOU!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS! The AAIB is grateful to our friends and sponsors for their most recent donations:
Mitch Baker ($250), Theodore Granata ($200), The New York Boxing Hall of Fame ($100) and Ring 8 ($100).
We can do more with more. Please donate to our scholarships or become an AAIB member today!
Honorary Donation
Mike Mastandrea gave $1000 to the AAIB to honor the memory of Michael “Mickey Rea” Mastandrea, who lost is life defending our country in Normandy on D-Day at 21 years of age.
Mickey Rea was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017. Thank you Mike, for your generosity and thank you Mickey Rea for your service.
Memories from the 2019 AAIB Celebrity Golf Invitational sponsored by SHOWTIME SPORTS at the beautiful Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey.
“…every component of my life is about boxing, and that’s how I’ve been able to make it to this point in four years.”
Read more about AAIB Scholarship winner Becca Maine and her incredible boxing journey.
Photo: courtesy of Ryan Maine
The Power of Boxing…
The AAIB was a primary sponsor for Olympic hopeful Rebecca Maine to travel and compete at the Olympic Trials in Lake Charles, LA. Although She lost her 2 bouts on points, the AAIB is proud of her because she exemplifies the power of boxing to turn around a young person’s life.
AAIB Scholar Graduates Penn State
2018 AAIB scholarship winner Rebecca Maine has graduated Penn State University with an Associate's Degree. Her inspiring story and The AAIB Scholarship Program received AP News Wire coverage in July… read more
Boxer and College Graduate
AAIB in The New York Times...
The AAIB received some great press in an article by The New York Times, about scholarship recipient Rebecca Maine, who also shared her inspirational story with us at The 2018 Celebrity Golf Invitational. Read the article here.
AAIB just became part of Amazon Smile...
If you use Amazon.com (who doesn't?), please sign up using the links below to have Amazon donate a portion of your Amazon purchases to AAIB. Any friends, family, and co-workers willing to do the same would also be appreciated.
It costs you nothing, and every time you order through the AmazonSmile page, Amazon will donate to AAIB, so we can help needy and deserving amateur boxers with their education. Please sign up today - choose 'AAIB Boxers Assistance Fund' - with our thanks for your support.
In Memoriam...
AAIB Founder
Steven B. Acunto
1916-2018
We're saddened to report the loss of our founder, Steven B. Acunto, who passed away peacefully on February 5th 2018 at 101 years of age of natural causes. Widely identified as the Dean of Boxing, he crusaded for the betterment of the sport of which he was a renowned exponent, regulatory authority and advocate.... (Obituary)
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF BOXING (AAIB) PRESENTS:
The AAIB #BoxingChance
"Boxing gave me discipline; a sense of self. It made me more outspoken. It gave me more confidence." - Sugar Ray Leonard
There are over 28,000 registered amateur boxers in America. Every day, these young men and women step into boxing gyms while facing tremendous obstacles. In the ring, they have their first experiences with self-control, self-analysis, and ultimately, self-worth.
AAIB Scholarships provide the only financial assistance in the country to high school seniors who wish to attend one of the few elite colleges with boxing programs. AAIB Scholars are hard-working students and community members as well as disciplined athletes.
Give Discipline, Strategy, Confidence.
Help us find more of these determined young individuals. Give them the discipline, strategy, and confidence of the sweet science and noble art.
