Friday Night Fights: Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini helps veterans at upcoming Boardman fundraiser
In honor of his beloved father, a Mahoning Valley boxing icon is giving back to veterans needing assistance this year.
Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, a Youngstown native, is hosting Friday Night Fights at 6 p.m. on Jan. 24 at Mr. Anthony’s of Boardman in partnership with the Veterans’ Outreach of Youngstown.
“This will be our first fight night in hopes of making it an annual event,” Mancini said. “Our local veterans desperately need mental, physical or financial assistance and it is our hope to raise much-needed funds to support their well-being.”
All proceeds from Friday Night Fights will be donated to help veterans in the Mahoning Valley.
Honoring Leonard Nicholas Mancini
In preparation for the fundraiser, Mancini released a photo of his father, Leonard, a veteran and boxer who inspired his son’s career.
Mancini said his dad’s impressive boxing career was cut short when Leonard went to fight on the front line.
“My father was in the prime of his career,” Mancini said. “Leonard Nicholas Mancini was called to serve in the U.S. Army, taking away his opportunity to fight for the world title. Instead, he went to fight on the front lines in the Battle of Metz.”
Mancini said his father was hospitalized for a year recovering from injuries.
He said his nephew, a Navy Seal who served nine deployments to Iraq inspired him to help veterans.
“[My nephew] has given me a certain passion and incentive to help and aid our military survivors in whatever way feasible that I can,” Mancini said. “We feel that Fight Night will bring a certain interest and attention to helping our military veterans who survived foreign wars that our country has engaged in and share a light on their struggle once they made it back home.”
Tickets for first Friday Night Fights
During the fundraiser and dinner at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman, there will be several special appearances by champions from around the world, an amateur fight show, entertainment and a silent auction.
Tickets are available on Eventbrite for Friday Night Fights, which starts with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. followed by entertainment and the fight show.
Veterans who want to attend the fight show can watch for free with proof of military I.D.
Tickets at the door for the show cost $25, and anyone coming just for the fight will want to come around 8:30 p.m.
Check donations to the Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini Foundation can be directly mailed to: The Ray Boom Boom Mancini Foundation
Attention: Tina Mancini
1193 Preserve Blvd. Suite #201
Youngstown, Ohio 44514
For more information, call (330) 718-1046.
Since it started in 2016, the foundation has awarded thousands to children and adults in the Mahoning Valley in need, especially those with physical and financial difficulties.
