Giardello statue announced

(Joey Giardello, center in suit, surrounded by boxing champion friends after a 1972 Charity Exhibition. Son, Carman sits between his dad and great,Willie Pep)

Philadelphia's greatest middleweight boxer will be immortalized with a life-sized statue in his old South Philadelphia stomping grounds and the very heart of South Philly Boxing. The original bronze artwork by world renowned artist Carl LeVotch will be installed on the triangle of East Passyunk Avenue, South 13th Street and Mifflin Street - just one block from where the legendary Passyunk Gym stood and two blocks from the former site of the Alhambra fight club, both of which were Giardello haunts during his legendary Hall of Fame career.

The statue project is a non-profit effort (501.c.3) being conducted by a partnership between the Veteran Boxers Association-Ring One, the Harrowgate Boxing Club and Philly Boxing History. On web site, www.joeygiardello.net you can find up to date information about the project, including the development of the statue, the status of our fund-raising efforts, and ways you can contribute through donations, sponsorships, and the purchase of exclusive Joey Giardello merchandise items.

The finished statue will not only honor Joey Giardello, it will be a tribute to boxing itself and a fine public art piece in the middle of the bustling East Passyunk district. Please get involved and help us make this happen. We can not do this without your interest and support.


To make a contribution, make your check or money order payable to:
"Harrowgate Boxing Club / Giardello Statue" and mail it to: Boxing Statue, P.O. Box 428, Sewell, NJ 08080

Urrea Perpetual Book Tour Packs House

Garrison Keillor doesn’t know it as yet, but the bar has been raised to a near unobtainable height for his appearance later this year at the 14th Annual Writer’s Symposium by the Sea. That’s because he follows in the wake of Urrea, who Tuesday evening packed the auditorium of Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. The spirit of Teresita descended upon the audience as host and moderator Dr. Dean Nelson posed some unusual and, I think, unexpected questions. Luis answered with candor, thoughtfulness, and many times with a humorous story. The event was recorded for telecast on UCSD-TV. I made friends there and will find a way to obtain a copy. Dr. Nelson gushed after the presentation that the “room was throbbing with love.” He noted also that the lobby crowd after the presentation was the biggest that they’ve ever had. Book sales were brisk and many a copy went home with a wildly flapping hummingbird on the title page, after a considerable wait. Sorry you all couldn’t be there. You would have been proud of our Sensei.
--Charlie