HAROLD LEDERMAN’S KO CELEBRATION!

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Boxing Veteran’s 75th Birthday

HaroldBDIt’s not every day you turn 75 years old.

Boxing veteran Harold Lederman marked this milestone birthday with a knockout celebration surrounded by family, friends and associates on the East Coast.

I’ve known HBO’s “unofficial ringside scorer” for years. His natural enthusiasm, never-ending passion for boxing coupled with his distinctive voice has made him many friends through the decades. If you want to “talk boxing” with one of the best, look no further than Harold Lederman. He is a walking encyclopedia of the sweet science. And while many historians read about boxing or watch the fights on TV, Harold’s been fortunate enough to be ringside during countless legendary fights through HBO live broadcasts. Blood, sweat and tears. Glory and defeat. Victory and heartbreak. He’s seen it all and has remained loyal to the sport.

And fight fans have shown their love and appreciation for Lederman with his trademark statements and hearty chuckle (“Back to you, Jim!”) while giving his round by round thoughts and opinions. He can be funny but he can also offer harsh assessments while opining about the fighters in the ring. Fans have listened to the vet as his following has grown through the decades.

His birthday was on January 26 and his wife Eileen, daughters Iris and Julie (a boxing judge) and family all gathered during Super Bowl weekend. The boxing judge and retired pharmacist was fêted at The Cornerstone Restaurant in Hillsdale, New Jersey. I did not attend the party but I shared his excitement as the big fiesta neared. When I first began in boxing years ago, Harold was one of the very first people I met. During the World Boxing Hall of Fame years, I always looked forward to catching up with Lederman and his wife, Eileen, who traveled to California for the banquets. Harold remains humble, unchanged and unfazed by the ups and down of boxing. He treats everyone the same (from the novice to the superstars in the sport). We hit it off immediately and have remained friends for almost a decade and a half.

And through the decades, Lederman has earned his fair share of awards, accolades and honors. The “Hey Harold!” YouTube star is a 2015 Florida Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee and has also been inducted into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. The voice of HBO World Championship Boxing scorecards has also been presented the Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) “Good Guy Award.”

Lederman has battled his share of health issues in the past but has not let anything slow down his love of pugilism–and his love for the people he’s met through the sport.

Sharing toasts with the “Man of the Hour” were boxing writers Jeff Jowett and Muslimah McLendon, former BWAA President Jack Hirsch, Ring 10 President Matt Farrago, Ring 10 Vice President Mike Bernard, among many other notables.

“We had 50 people and so many people made new friends tonight,” the B-day boy told me after the party. “Good food, wonderful service. And everyone loved the goody bags!”

Guest received boxing-themed goody bags. No surprise there from the longtime veteran of the fight game. There was a West Coast connection with surprises included in the giveaways. Thompson Boxing Promotions’ Ken Thompson, who has known Harold since back in the World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF) days (when Thompson served as the WBHF President) and his wife Vera made sure to offer their fondest birthday wishes. Thompson Boxing Executive Assistant Jeanette Gonzales shipped Lederman a huge treasure trove of items including polo shirts, posters and programs of TBP’s stable of champs and fighters to be included in the gift bags.

There were also deluxe Everlast glove bags sent by Ernest Gabion, a SoCal representative of the Everlast company. Gabion has been with the company since 2008 and was happy to help make Harold’s birthday even brighter. The bags were a big hit with all.

And all the collectibles were appreciated by the B-day boy. “I can’t thank everyone enough for sending me all this stuff,” he said. Harold also added items from the World Boxing Council (WBC), the Mohegun Sun, the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Spartan Sporting Goods and Ring 10, thus providing a sports fans’ cache of boxing goodies.

During the fiesta, the Orangeburg, New York resident was cheered on by his family and close friends as he blew out the candles on his birthday cake.

“It was really nice,” the 75-year-old commented. “Great food and everybody got along great…It just makes you want to do it again!”

There you go. That’s the Harold Lederman everyone knows and loves with that non-stop enthusiasm.

It’s not every day you turn 75 and Harold rose to the occasion at this celebration fit for a “KO” king.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAROLD!

Here’s to many more years of good health, friendship and boxing.

Photos courtesy of Harold Lederman and Pattee Mak

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Michele Chong has been involved in the sport of boxing for over a decade. Her “Chatter Box” column covers a variety of subjects in both professional and amateur boxing, and features exclusive one-on-one interviews, recaps of fight events, shows and tournaments, book/film reviews and much more. Inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008, she is also a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, Golden State Boxer’s Association and the Burbank Boxing Club. Michele is also involved in many non-profit and charitable organizations.