There is no quit in Angelo Dundee

Posted Sep 4, 2010 by Tom McEwen

Updated Sep 4, 2010 at 03:31 AM

Wife Linda and I have had many people of achievement in our home before. Not sure that any has been as the top of his craft more than our good friend, Angelo Dundee, who with associate, Mark Grisner, were with us yesterday looking over Tampa Bay, recalling past deeds and events and loving every recollection.

Angie, younger brother of the late Chris Dundee, has been at the top of his field for years, and recalled much of that wonderful boxing history he participated in as a world class manager/handler of champion boxers. Of course, Muhammad Ali was Numero Uno through our look back which included the achievement of the Dundee brothers out of their famous Fifth Street Gym on Miami Beach. The graduates of that boxing university include Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Marvelous Marvin Hagler.

Now, the news today is that Angie Dundee, 88, is about to open a rebuilt, modernized Fifth Street Gym, in the same location where stood the original one, made most famous because it produced Ali, or Cassius Clay as he was known before he changed his name to that of the Muslims. Ali has never retreated or expressed any change for that switch in public identity made years ago when he defeated Floyd Patterson, then George Foreman.

“We want to continue the tradition and extend it into the future so long as we can,” said Angie, not one hat size larger now that he wore when the gym opened and became so famous. Now, the new facility will be redesigned and reopened as the Fifth Street Gym, home to so many champions, their handlers and their promoters. A television documentary will be created at that time and made public.

Do not forget that not so long ago, this was the site of the production Cinderella Man, starring Russell Crowe, and celebrated as a masterful production on a subject not easy to present. Always, some eyebrows have been raised by much of anything related to boxing. It has always been and always will be under the microscope.

“I am proud that is being done,” said Angie. “And wherever he is, I am sure Chris is too.”

Fight character, Dr. Ferdie Pacheco, will be at the center of this production, as will be the late Howard Cosell, as will be ring characters such as Bob Arum, such as the entire stable that Dundee cared for, including Hagler, Carmen Basillo, Florentino Fernandez, and artist Leroy Neiman.

Angie recalled how his parents emigrated to the United States from Italy, where he and Chris and others were born and moved to south Philadelphia. After three years in Philly, on a request from Chris, he moved to Miami Beach and the Fifth Street Gym was born.

The Dundee boxing empire was born in Miami Beach, which produced so many of boxing big timers through the years. The Fifth Street Gym became the boxing source when the Dundees moved there and Muhammad Ali made it the boxing factory it became.

Angelo, in time, moved to the west coast of Florida where he and dentist son, Jimmy, and others of his family made their home. “Boxing somehow had a base in this Tampa area,” said Dundee, “surely partly because Lou Viscusi set up shop here and made it the center it became.

“Viscusi added George Foreman and promoter, Phil Alessi, to the mix. Boxing thrived in Tampa ever since with frequent big fights at Curtis Hixon, at Fort Homer Hesterly, then the Shriners Hall, now A La Carte.

“Tampa has always been ready, in the forefront or as a backup, as has been Alessi, the promoter, always available,” said Dundee. “That is one of the reasons Helen and I moved here permanently some years back and where we plan to stay and promote whatever major events become available. You got something to promote, I’ll do it,” said the ever-ready Dundee. We are fortunate that Angelo Dundee chose this area for his closing productions.