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Celebrity Boxing Fan: Chuck Zito

By Scoop Malinowski

Hell’s Angel President, actor, former bodyguard of Muhammad Ali, Michael Jackson, Sylvester Stallone, Sean Penn, Charlie Sheen and Mickey Rourke.  Chuck Zito discusses his association with the fistic sport he loves…
Question: What was your introduction to boxing?
Chuck Zito:  “My father was a professional boxer in the 30s and 40s. So I was boxing when I was five years old. I had my first ring fight when I was 12. It was at Southside Boy’s Club in New Rochelle, NY. So I’ve been a big fan of boxing and a big historian of boxing. My dad’s name was Al La Barba.”
Question: What is the appeal of boxing for you?
Chuck Zito:  “I grew up with the sport. My dad was a fighter. He was a great fighter. He had 220 fights, 12 losses. He was gonna fight Marty Servo for the welterweight title and he got drafted in World War II and went to the war for two and a half years. And came back and actually had a few more fights and retired. So that’s how I got into the sport. I mean, I don’t know any other sport but boxing. I don’t know football, baseball, nothin.”
Favorite Boxers To Watch:  “There’s a few. Arturo Gatti. The greatest of all time was Muhammad Ali. MY second of all time would be Joe Louis.”
Favorite Fights:  “Oh there’s so many great ones. The fight with Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns is great. Hearns and Hagler was great. Ali and Frazier the trilogy. The Gatti-Ward trilogy was great, they remind me of the fighters of yesteryear. The throwback fighters, that’s what’s great about it.”
Greatest Boxing Moment:  “I really enjoyed when George Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer and won the title at 45 years old. That was a great moment for me. ‘Cause I remember jumping up in my living room and going crazy [smiles].”
Most Painful Moment:  ‘When I watched Boom Boom Mancini knock out Duk Koo Kim. That was memorable and painful.”
Favorite Boxing Movies:  “There’s a lot of them. I love the Rocky Graziano story, Somebody Up There Likes Me. Body & Soul with John Garfield. Of course, the Rocky movies, of course. They’re all great.”
Ringside Memory:  “I remember when Jerry Quarry fought Joe Frazier at the Garden. Joe Louis was the referee. That was a very exciting moment. I took my wife there. We were way up in the nosebleed section. I gave the guy 20 bucks and we were right at ringside and I was next to, to my left was Muhammad Ali. And to my right was Evel Knievel. And in front of me was Telly Savalas. So I got a picture with my wife on his lap. So that was a great ringside moment.”

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