Rhode Island Boxing Event Honors Late Trainer

ByBoxing Press

The Rhode Island Boxing Gym will present the first annual “Tiny Ricci Memorial Show,” a special night of amateur boxing on Saturday, October 28th at the historic Columbus Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island.

The event is being presented as a fundraiser for the Rhode Island Boxing Gym in Warwick, and is in memory of Robert “Tiny” Ricci, who started the gym over 15 years ago. Ricci passed away two years ago and left the gym to his world champion Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt and her husband, Ted Panagiotis.

“We have been looking to do a show in memory of Tiny for awhile,” said Jaime, who trains 12 of the fighters featured on the show, including 6 female fighters. “We are so excited and everyone at the gym is tremendously excited about this fight. We are going to have some great fights at a great classic venue.”

According to Clampitt, there will be plenty of action as a minimum of 15 bouts will be featured.

“There are so many people looking to fight on this show,” said Jaime. “We could probably have 40 fights if we allowed it, but we are probably looking at between 12 and 20 bouts that night. It will be a great night and the fans will definitely get their monies worth.”

Amongst the fighters featured will be Clampitt’s husband Ted Panagiotis, who has been involved in the professional game since the age of 13 when he began as a boxing journalist. He would go on to become of the world’s top matchmakers, becoming the youngest to ever be named NABF “Matchmaker of the Year” in 2003.

“One thing that Tiny used to always say to me was that he wished he could have seen me fight,” said Panagiotis. “So, this is for Tiny. I’ve pretty much done everything else in boxing and this will complete my “Master’s Degree in boxing’ so to speak. Plus it will be fun!”

As for Jaime’s return to the ring, she is still undecided, however her decision will have to wait until next year. An injury to her right hand in her last bout will require surgery. The operation is scheduled for September 18th and will be performed by Dr. Steven Margles at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass. Margles is best known for repairing the hands of Micky Ward, Vinny Paz and Paul Malignaggi. Margles also operated on Clampitt’s left hand last December.

Tickets to the event October 28th are priced at just $10 and $20 and are available by calling the Rhode Island Boxing Gym (401) 823-3770 or Dr. TKO Boxing (866) 588-3957. Additional information on the event is available online at RIBoxingGym.com.