Boxing manager Rich Masini Sr. of Holmdel, New Jersey passed away on Sunday after battling an illness. Only 56 years old, Masini was a fixture on the New Jersey / Pennsylvania boxing circuit. He managed fighters such as heavyweight John Lennox, super middleweight Gabriel Pham, cruiserweight Jaywon Woods and junior welterweights Anthony "Juice" Young and Danny Murray. Masini also helped a lot of local promoters put on shows. He is survived by his wife Joanne and five children. According to an obituary, Masini loved boxing so much, his dogs were named Apollo and Rocky.

 

Ray McCline, president of The Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame hads these kind words to say about Masini: "I was introduced to Rich Masini through a mutual friend Paul Pape in 2011 at the Paul Williams vs. Erislandy Lara fight at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. His heavyweight John 'The Breed' Lennox was fighting on the undercard. I had Anthony "Juice" Young attending with me that night. Rich and I spoke about me training John and Rich managing Anthony's career. From there, we began a friendship as well as a partnership working together to develop and guide the careers of John, Anthony [as well as] Jaywon Woods, Gabriel Pham and Dan Murray. Rich Masini was a hard working and passionate manager that believed wholeheartedly in his fighters and would go the extra mile to help them in and out of the ring. His presence and voice will be dearly missed in our boxing community. My prayers and condolences go out to his wife Joanne and his son Richie and his entire family during this time of great loss."

 

Boxer / promoter Thomas LaManna added,"Rich was one of a kind and a great friend and mentor. He will be deeply missed around the boxing world."

 

There will be a public viewing for Masini which will take place this Friday at the Paul Ippolito Berkely Memorial (646 Springfield Ave, Berkeley Heights, NJ) between 4 PM and 8 PM.

 

Boxingtalk sends its sympathies to the family and friends of Rich Masini.