Matt Farrago Ring 10 Interview: September 8 Benefit Event, Boxing Unions and More
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Ring 10 is doing good things. In an international Real Combat Media exclusive, Ring 10 President Matt Farrago spoke out on Boxing Unions, his Ring 10 Annual Benefit Event, and related subjects in an interview just prior to his Ring 10 New York Third Annual Extravaganza on Sunday, September 8, 2013, 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. at Marina Del Rey Caterers at 1 Marine Drive, Throgs Neck, New York. According to Farrago, tickets are still available for $135 via Paypal at the Ring 10 Website http://ring10ny.com/annual-event/ or at the door.
Ring 10, the Veteran’s Boxing Foundation of NY came together to give interested individuals the opportunity to help boxers in need. President Matt Farrago, known as ‘The Beta Bomber’, fought as a professional light middleweight and middleweight boxer from 1983 to 1991, compiling a professional record of 25-2-1 with 11 knockouts. Farrago, who never fought for a world title, drew with Bobby Joe Young (who later knocked out Aaron Pryor), lost a technical decision to Francisco DeJesus, and lost to Joe Gatti during his career, coincidentally whose careers ended and never won again after they were knocked out in world title bouts. Ironically, their careers ended as abruptly as Matt Farrago’s did.
Maqtt Farrago has firsthand experience and much to say about the plight of the ex-fighter’s medical and personal welfare. Farrago, a medical equipment salesman and New York State Athletic Commission Inspector, has championed the cause of retired and injured fighters and their families, backing his caring up with money which goes directly to the fighters in need, more so than any other charitable boxing organization in the world.
Real Combat Media: “Matt, as President of Ring 10, the top charitable boxing organization currently in existence which gets moneys to fighters in need, I wanted to ask your view of the possibility of creating an international boxing union.”
Matt Farrago: “A boxing union would be a great thing! It protects fighters with no protection at all. 75% of fighters will not have health insurance after the fight game is over. They are trying to survive and make a living (post-boxing). Health insurance is the last thing on their mind. Boxing is unique. The brain deteriorates over time. It is less noticeable as fighters are less educated.”
Real Combat Media: “Is a fighter’s medical situation after boxing related to their finances?”
Matt Farrago: “They (ex-fighters) are all in a bad medical situation. Usually rhey don’t have a bright financial future. They’ve only made a living with their hands, and nobdy is preparing them for a life after boxing.”
Real Combat Media: “How does the plight of professional boxing compare with the recent settlement between the National Football Leagues and some of their injured ex-players?”
Matt Farrago: “There is no one entity in professional boxing like the NFL. There’s nobody technically to blame, and there’s no negligence. The NFL withheld evidence that proved chronic head trauma causes lifelong debilitating diseases. They did not want to make the sport safer as they thought they would lose fans. Boxing is unique in that the intent is render your opponent unable to continue. There is no way to minimize the damage, we can only become more aware and treat the damage. I suffer from CTE, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, chronic head trauma (as a result of my professional boxing career).”
Real Combat Media: “Are all boxing jurisdictions the same when it comes to safety?”
Matt Farrago: “There is a strong emphasis on ring safety in New York State where I am an inspector. In many other jurisdictions, the standard of care is far worse. I weighed in on this at the athletic commissioner’s office in Louisiana, located in an insurance sales office because that was the commissioner’s office. There is no standard of carte, no unification of boxing regulations, that’s what’s killing the sport.”
Real Combat Media: “What does Ring 10 do?”
Matt Farrago: “Ring 10 is very big into helping fighters. We are the only organization who truly helps fighters, and we are truly moving towards unionizing the sport, because that’s the most important goal the club has (putting a system of protections in place for professional fighters and ex-fighters).”
Real Combat Media: “Where will revenue for a boxing union come from?”
Matt Farrago: The union revenue has to come from dues, the federal government, the promoters, and the venues.”
Real Combat Media: “Unions will better monitor passage of legislation and subsequent enforcement of safety regulations for boxers.”
Matt Farrago: “In New York State, safety is our number one priority. It should be universal and standard. It should be a judgment call in black and white.”
Real Combat Media: “How does Ring 10 maintain financial accountability?”
Matt Farrago: “We are a 501C3 Corporation. Or financial books are wide open. Any member can look at our books. There are (so-called charitable boxing) organizations out there sitting on hundreds of thousands of dollars which do nothing to help a fighter. My mentors taught me what to do and how to do it (to help fighters and ex-fighters emotionally and financially), and I follow them. Helping the fighters-that’s right-that’s the number one concern of the Ring 10 organization. We have nothing to hide. Everything is done through our bank accounts.”
Real Combat Media: “Should Ring 10 and any created boxing union also help other officials such as managers, promoters, referees, corner personnel, and surviving spouses of fighters and their children?”
Matt Farrago: “Our priority is helping the fighters.. Their priority is helping their family. If the two work well, that’s great. Our responsibility at Ring 10 is to help the fighter. Other officials besides the fighters should not be covered. There the ones not having a shelf life of five years like a fighter does.”
Real Combat Media: “Do gay ans lesbian boxers have the same rights and entitlements?”
Matt Farrago: “Fighters are entertainers. If you are a fighter with seven or more fights, you qualify for our services, and anyone else in need-that is open to discussion. That’s a general rule.”
Real Combat Media: “How long will it take for a boxing union to gain worldwide recognition?”
Matt Farrago: “Less than three years. It will be done, and Ring 10 will be in the forefront. I’m getting calls from all over about helping fighters. The Lou Ruvo Center For Brian Health in Cleveland is flying a bunch of our fighters out to Las Vegas soon to participate in a head trauma clinic.”
Real Combat Media: “In boxing, fighters are away of the risks incurred by such a physical contact sport, correct?”
Matt Farrago: “Absolutely. That’s any sport. Rewards come with risks, but there’s got to be a backup plan for those who suffer the risk. Former world middleweight champion Paul Pender (1930-2003) died from CTE head trauma. Years before he died, Pender was spearheading awareness in the sport of brain injuries before his condition deteriorated. This has been surpressed forever by people who make money off of the athletes who suffer and want no responsibility for taking care of them later on.”
Reader’s Note: The speech of former WBC and IBF world light middleweight champion Terry Norris was noticeably slurred even in his early thirties, and quite startling to anyone who remembered him from just a few years earlier. After his last defeat, the Nevada State Athletic Commission turned him down for a new license, basing its decision on his impaired speech, which was indicative of brain damage. Norris settled a lawsuit for damages out of court with boxing promoter Don King for $7.5 million in 2005.
Real Combat Media: “Matt, how many disabled boxers out there are there like Gerald McClellan?”
Matt Farrago: “Disabled boxers due to head trauma are more noticeable, it’s only in the last ten years we’ve become more connected with who and what due to the internet. Ring 10 has helped Wilfredo Benitez, Lisa and the late Carmelo Negron, Larry Barnes, Wilfredo Benitez, Gerald McClellan, and many other boxers. A food account is set up for Gerald, his sister withdraws what he needs, and I get a fax of the recepits and his individual medications. Every fighter suffers from CTE to different degrees. I fully function at work and at Ring 10.”
Real Combat Media: “Is Alex Ramos still doing boxing charity work on the west coast?”
Matt Farrago: “Alex still goes, he survives. We will survive. A year ago, we had Alex at our fundraiser. We are technically broke. We give the Ring 10 money out to fighters in need. There will always be a need for us to be around. Every expenditure is traceable. Our funds are almost depleted, that was the goal. I‘m proud of that. Our long term goal is to setup annuities for the organization. In the present, I’m dealing with fighters in need on an individual basis-helping these guys survive. That’s why we went through our funds in one the past calendar) year.”
Real Combat Media: “As a medical supply salesman, do you use your connections in the medical field help the fighters?”
Matt Farrago: “With our connections in the medical industry, and our funds, we make it work. I sell medical spine implants. I’m in the operating room every day. My connections in the medical field help me to help fighters.”
Real Combat Media: “Have you sought corporate sponsorship for Ring 10?”
Matt Farrago: “I have my feelers out to get corporate sponsors. It would make a huge difference, since we are a 501C3 Corporation and it is legally acceptable for them to donate to us.”
Real Combat Media: “Without funds remaining, how can Ring 10 hope to survive now?”
Matt Farrago: “We don’t think that way. We get it done. We have monthly outlays factored in. We have financial assistance needs that go out on a per case basis. We have no expenses. No money is taken out other than for the fighters. I never know what our outlays are going to be for the year. If for some reason we get financially depleted early, we have to do what we have to do before the next year’s fundraising event. We discuss our situation twice a month on Tuesday at Rino’s Ristorante in the Bronx. We are planning our ‘run with the champs’ to make it a fundraiser.”
Real Combat Media: “Are Ring 10 and the future boxing union to be closely related?”
Matt Farrago: If a fighter is part of a boxing union, he can be part of Ring 10 too. The boxing unions and Ring 10 will be separate. I don’t see any way for them to merge, other than the fighters and ex-fighters being participants in both.”
Real Combat Media: “Are most fighters that you help from the New York area?”
Matt Farrago: “We hear from the surrounding New York City area fighters and we have a high concentration of contacts in the immediate geographical area, so we have a higher chance of hearing from someone who needs help locally. We help people from all over, such as Wilfredo Benitez and Angel Manfredy. We appreciate any help. We’re just an organization who wants to step up and help boxers when nobody else is helping. 100% of our money goes to fighters. If somebody donates us a space, fine. We have no administrative costs. The goal of Ring 10 is to help the fighter. Go to Ring10ny.com and buy tickets to our fundraising event for $135 on Sunday. Walk-in tickets will be available.”
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