Boxing is known as the "sweet science" and the sport once drew large crowds in our cities -- spurring on neighborhood rivalries and banding together immigrant communities.
This hour, we explore Connecticut’s boxing history and we learn of a new effort to rekindle the sport in Bridgeport.
Will boxing fans see a return to the glory day’s of old time fighters like ‘Will o’ the Wisp’ Willie Pep? Or maybe a nod to more recent decades when arenas filled and local heroes like Wallingford’s Sean Malone Jr. and Hartford’s ‘The Iceman’ John Scully took to the ring?
We speak with an author and boxing historian and we hear from the chair of the state’s Boxing Commission about his plans to make boxing big in Connecticut's largest city.
Plus, we hear from former professional boxer and inductee into Connecticut’s Boxing Hall of Fame Sean Malone Jr. himself about his experience in the ring and his work with a new generation of boxers.
Are you a boxing fan? If not, what do you think of state attention to boost the sport in Connecticut’s biggest city?
GUESTS:
- Richard Biondi - Boxing Historian and author of Pugilistic Paisani: A Concise History of the Italian and Italian American Boxing Champions among other books, Social Studies Teacher and Track Coach at Branford High School
- Sean Malone, Jr. - Boxing Trainer and Former Professional Boxer, 2016 Inductee into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame, Wallingford, CT Resident
- Scot X. Esdaile - Chair of the Connecticut Boxing Commission, President of the Connecticut Chapter of the NAACP
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Chion Wolf contributed to this show, which originally aired on December 9, 2016.
