Note! Big Apple well tuned

The World Boxing Council has brought a welcome and musical celebration to New York City to honor Joe Louis, Juneteenth and Gleason’s Boxing Gym’s 84th Birthday.

Taking place in Brooklyn, NY under the Dumbo Annex, people gathered to welcome back boxing and hear those who spoke about these memorable moments in history. Don Majesky, world renowned boxing historian, spoke about Joe Louis, the boxer, the man and one of the greatest icons in American History. Bruce Silverglade, Eric Kelly, Jill Diamond, District Leader Kristina Naplatarsky, Michael Olijade, Junior Jones, Sparkle Lee also spoke.

But the finest moment was when Nakai Santiago, a student from the Eagle Academy of Harlem for Young Men, gave his moving tribute to Juneteent; followed by a beautiful horn solo by Grammy Award winner Nabate Isles. Former Champion and icon, Michael Spinks did the belt presentation to the school. And Champion, Sonya Lamonikis presented Bruce Silverglade a special Belt honoring the 84th birthday of Gleason’s Gym and for his tireless efforts in working with Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams, to reopen our NYC venues..

The WBC has always been a leader in fairness and acceptance, noted by their proclamation to ban boxing during apartheid, and Juneteenth, for which they created the Freedopm Belt, which is another celebration and recognition of the diversity and love in our sport.