Cassidy & Cassidy: FOND MEMORIES OF SUNNYSIDE GARDEN
By Uncategorized November 21st, 2005
Former light heavyweight contender “Irish” Bobby Cassidy, fight analyst for The Sweet Science, is instantly identified with the legendary fight venue of Sunnyside Garden in Queens, having fought there an incredible 25 times! Today on this edition of Cassidy & Cassidy, he reminisces with his son Robert Cassidy Jr., a featured writer for The Sweet Science, on what that arena meant to him.
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November 27th, 2005 at 9:03 am
Bob & Bob
Great story and podcast. I also have terrific memories of Sunnyside Garden. I saw your father fight there several times, and am pretty sure I saw you and your brother cheering him on at least once. I definitely saw you at the Commack Arena when he fought Christy Elliott.
My most vivid memory of Sunnyside was when a very flashy boxer named Justice Ortiz got robbed against Johnny Sears in 1977. Ortiz ran up to each of the judges, shoved his middle finger in their faces, and threatened to kill them.
The crowd, who was made up of Ortiz’s Puerto Rican fans and Sears’ Irish stalwarts, started fighting among themselves. I’m surprised the judges, and everyone else, made it out alive. I’ll never forget Sears standing proudly in the ring with nary a look of concern or emotion on his face, as if he was above the fray. I marveled at what balls I thought he had.
By the way, Ortiz did get robbed.
Great story.
Best regards,
Bob Mladinich
November 28th, 2005 at 3:27 pm
Hi Bobby,
You probably won’t remember me but I had one fight at Sunnyside where you were suppose to be in the main event, but I think you got injured and they made Bobby O’Brien the main event. I was a friend of Ray Elson, at the time, and I was also a cop. Paddy Flood got me the fight because I wanted to see if I had the balls to go inside those ropes. I got knocked out in the end of the first round. Leonard Lewis, of the Post, wrote it up the next day saying,”John ODonohue had his first professional fight at the age of 29 and he’s not destined to reach his 30th birthday if he keeps it up”. I’m not sorry for that experience because I did have the balls and it gave me an even more respect for real fighters like yourself. When I would meet you back in those days you were always extremely nice and a true gentlemen. All the best, Bobby.
Peace,
johnnyO
November 28th, 2005 at 9:43 pm
Whom would the winner be, if Carlos Ortiz and robert Duran had fougth each other in their primes?
November 28th, 2005 at 9:43 pm
Who would the winner be, if Carlos Ortiz and Roberto Duran had fought each other in their primes?
April 15th, 2006 at 8:03 am
Hio Bobby just want to wish you a happy 62th birthday on April 19 and many more. Love Neil
July 28th, 2006 at 5:41 pm
Hey, Im from Dublin, Ireland and was wondering if you could give me information or send me information via e-mail, video, pics, article’s, posters, links, anything about Christy Elliott. Anything inclueding memories would more than do. Thanking you, Stephen Cumberton
September 29th, 2006 at 5:45 pm
Hi
I am the niece of Christy Eliott. My father Tony is a brother of Christy.
If you would like more information please email me at cecilia-ek@hotmail.co.uk where I would be glad to assist you.
Cecilia
June 27th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Bobby, I was made aware of this website today by Paul McCarthy. I listened to the “Cassidy & Cassidy” interview “Fond Memories of Sunnyside Garden” and it brought back fond memories hearing your voice again after all these years. The last time we saw each other was at “Uncle Sam’s” the night of Coach Jerry Jewels celebration in 1993, at least I believe it was’93. I was at Sunnyside Garden that summer night in 1963 with Chez, Billy Maxwell, Doug Duffy et all. It was a proud moment for all Levittown Division Ave guys to have one of our own in that ring. I’ve lived in Indiana all these years & can only hope life has been good to you. Hi to your brother Neil from me. take care & God Bless….Skippy
July 14th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
dear bobby- thinks for the memories, cant forget the elmwood gym of woodhaven blvd vito, ray, and all the memories you had a trmendous left hook and took on all the best lightheavyweights in an era of really great fighters with bob foster leader of a pact most of the younger fans dont remember there was only one belt and the old felt forumn by the garden you fought a great fighter in jorge a. i was at that fight on the undercard of vito a. beating a guy names john sullivan thanks of the memories very sorry to think about jerry and mike quarry untimely deaths happy to known you are still in ther i remember bobieo brien he beat the hell at of me sparring in the elmwoodthat lightheavyweight divison during your time had a top 20 who could wear all these cardboard belts-james cassidy we are not related but everyone always asks me ami related to bobbie cassidy the marthon runner happy 62 bobbie
July 27th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
I would like to know if Bobby Chez was the boxer who got his neck broken in a auto crash? Please send me a Email.
March 29th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
bobby, what great memories I have of sunnyside gardens; As a young kid in the early 70’s, my father would take me to the fights & wrestling matches; would you know of any place where I could get any photos of sunnyside? What about any old programs from sunnyside? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank You. James from Brooklyn.
April 4th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Vinny Paz is the only fighter I know of that suffered a broken neck in a car wreck and came back to fight.
April 6th, 2008 at 1:59 am
Do you have contact information for Bobby chez? I use to drink with him at the surf club.