Happy Birthday to Youngstown, Ohio boxing champ Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini. Ray talks with Fast Freddie about boxing Rock and Roll Hall Of Famer and Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan. Ray is friends with many rock stars. While hanging out with The Red Rocker Sammy Hagar, Ray came up with the Title for Van Halen's album "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge." CHECK OUT THE STORY BEHIND THAT ONE RIGHT HERE.
The late Warren Zevon who is best known for the song "Werewolves Of London" wrote a song about Ray that mentions Youngstown, Ohio. HERE IS RAY TALKING ABOUT THE FIRST TIME HE MET WARREN.
Ray was born March 4, 1961. He was raised on the Southside of Youngstown, Ohio and attended Cardinal Mooney High School. Ray captured the heart of the city at a time when Youngstown was going through some really tough times after the mass plant closings at the local steel mills. Ray's climb to success gave us all something to think about instead of the massive job losses that rocked the town.
Ray won his first pro fight in October of 1979. Ray accomplished his goal of winning a championship for his father in 1982 beating Arturo Frias. One of the best days in Youngstown sports history was when Ray battled Ernesto Espana in a nationally televised boutErnesto Espana of Venezuela, a former champion and perennial challenger, at Mollenkopf Field, named after a at Mollenkopf Stadium in Warren. Mancini hung up the gloves in 1985 at the age of 24 but returned to fight Macho Camacho in '89.
Ray finished his career with a record of 29-5 with 23 knock-outs. He is in the Boxing Hall Of Fame.