[jofre]

Interview with Twin Brothers Pete and Nikos Spanakos Members of Ring 8, the Retired-boxer's Aid Organization outside Hammerstein Ballroom at Cedric Kushner's Heavyweight Explosion Fights
Thursday, April 27, 2000

HOWARD SIROTA: Hi, I'm here today at the Hammerstein Ballroom, we're gonna talk about Ring 8. Can you tell us, how long has Ring 8 been in existence?

PETE SPANAKOS: I think about 40 years. And because of Tony Mazarella it's really swelled up where we get over 200 people coming once a month. The whole purpose of the club is to help indigent fighters, with their medical bills and employment problems. It's the only club that we know of that's actually helping out the fighters that are indigent.

HOWARD SIROTA: What would you like to see done in professional boxing today?

NIKOS SPANAKOS: I'd like to see a pension program set up and medical insurance so that fighters can pay for their medical expenses and in some… get a pension program set up like they did for the protection of ball players. I think the best thing is to federalize it, have a federal boxing czar so that there's no inconsistencies, and less politics and less corruption. 'Cause you have states compete against each other, very difficult, with a federal czar, he would federalize all the admissions and programs and fights and procedures, what have you.

HOWARD SIROTA: Do you have an opinion on Lennox Lewis versus Michael Grant?

PETE SPANAKOS: Not really. Are they fighters?

HOWARD SIROTA: [LAUGHS]

PETE SPANAKOS: Nobody knows 'em, they don't have the charisma of Ali. Nick and I were on teams with Ali when he was Cassius Clay. And unfortunately, I don't see anybody who's charismatic enough to fill the Garden. Just don't have 'em anymore.

HOWARD SIROTA: Well, people would say the superstar is Oscar De La Hoya.

PETE SPANAKOS: Very interesting, but underutilized. All these fighters don't wanna have a lotta fights and they really don't go out to market the fights like Robinson and Ali and all these other guys did. Ring 8.

HOWARD SIROTA: Tell us some of the good guys in boxing who support Ring 8.

NIKOS SPANAKOS: Tony Mazarella. Who else? There's, uh...

PETE SPANAKOS: Bill Gallo.

NIKOS SPANAKOS: And we've got from him at the New York Daily News…

PETE SPANAKOS: Joe. Joe. Come on over here. Why do you like Ring 8.

JOE JARKOVSKI: Excuse me?

PETE SPANAKOS: Why do you like Ring 8.

JOE JARKOVSKI: 'Cause it's fighters talking about fighters, knowing about the game that nobody else knows. In fact boxing is at a loss after Ring 8. Ring 8 is boxing right now. They have the members, like these two gentlemen here, and people of this age group right here. It seems to me, that's when boxing was New York. Coming down here tonight and seeing this and seeing all these people again, kind of reminds me of going to the Garden on a Friday night to see the fights, you know.

HOWARD SIROTA: What's wrong with boxing today?

JOE JARKOVSKI: Not enough people that know about boxing in boxing. I think they scare them out of boxing. Interview with Ali Spanakos daughter of Pete Spanakos outside Hammerstein Ballroom at Cedric Kushner's Heavyweight Explosion Fights Thursday, April 27, 2000

ALI SPANAKOS: I support my father.

HOWARD SIROTA: Do you like boxing?

ALI SPANAKOS: I do. I don't understand all that much, I mean, I'd have to have them explain things.

HOWARD SIROTA: Well, what sports do you like?

ALI SPANAKOS: [LAUGHS] Basketball. Soccer.

PETE SPANAKOS: Gymnastics.

ALI SPANAKOS: I was a gymnast.

HOWARD SIROTA: What do you think about your dad's efforts and involvement in Ring 8?

ALI SPANAKOS: I think they're great. I think it's a great organization. They do a lot to help other boxers and their families. And I think it's a great way to keep involved in a sport that they love and also help the other people.

HOWARD SIROTA: Do they tell you, as they watch the fights, who's winning and losing and how the commentators are doing?

ALI SPANAKOS: Sometimes. [LAUGHS]