The Legends of the Ring Autograph Show
To Be Held At The Cus D’Amato’s KO Boxing Gym
August 22nd Catskills, New York!
(August 14th) CATSKILL, N.Y. — Some of boxing's biggest names are headed to Catskill next month as Cus D'Amato's KO Boxing Gym hosts the inaugural Legends of the Ring Autograph Show, a fundraiser benefiting the historic gym where legendary trainer Cus D'Amato developed world champions including Mike Tyson and Floyd Patterson.
The event will take place Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the third floor of 422 Main Street in Catskill. Today, the gym continues to operate under head trainer Ed DuPont, who has spent decades preserving its boxing legacy while training amateur competitors.
Mike Tyson Special Appearance
Iron Mike Tyson will make a special appearance and meet fans in support of Cus D'Amato's KO Boxing Gym, the gym that made him "The Baddest Man on the Planet." Tyson will not take part in the autograph-signing session with the event's featured fighters.
This will mark the third time Tyson has returned to Catskill since last year. In May 2025, he made a surprise visit to his alma mater, Catskill High School, to hand out two scholarships in memory of D'Amato. In November, he was back at the gym to host a celebration honoring D'Amato, who passed away 40 years ago.
For Tyson, D'Amato was more than a coach — he was a father figure. When Tyson was 16, D'Amato became his legal guardian, and Tyson lived with him just north of the village while training at the Catskill Boxing Club.
A Lineup of Boxing Royalty
For DuPont, the Legends of the Ring Autograph Show is the culmination of a lifetime devoted to boxing, built on relationships with champions across the sport's history. Among them is "Irish" Micky Ward, the beloved former WBU light welterweight champion whose career inspired the Academy Award-winning film The Fighter, in which he was portrayed by Mark Wahlberg.
Another featured guest is pioneering women's boxing champion Christy Martin, whose life story is the subject of the upcoming feature film Christy, starring Sydney Sweeney. Martin helped bring women's boxing into the national spotlight during the 1990s and was the first female boxer promoted by Don King.
The autograph session is expected to feature an impressive lineup of fighters, champions and other notable figures from the boxing world, including former undisputed heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, whose 20 successful title defenses remain among the greatest championship reigns in boxing history; Olympic gold medalist and former heavyweight champion Ray “Merciless” Mercer; former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik; former heavyweight champions Tim Witherspoon and Monte Barrett; former featherweight champion Junior “Poison” Jones; former middleweight champion Michael Nunn; and former world champions Heather “Heat” Hardy, Melissa “Little Miss Tyson” St-Vil, Ronica “Queen” Jeffrey, Tracy Patterson, Danny “Little Mac” McDermott, Leo “Lion Heart” Loiacono, John “Iceman” Scully, Bobby “Chappie” Czyz and Chiara “Speedy” Dituri, among others.
The event will also include appearances by veteran cutmen Joey Eye and Richie Schwartz, as well as author Dr. Scott Weiss, whose book Confusing the Enemy explores the psychological teachings of legendary Catskill trainer Cus D'Amato.
DuPont hopes the autograph show will inspire both longtime boxing fans and young athletes who may be stepping into a gym for the very first time.
Details: Tickets, Autographs and Photos
Admission: $75 general admission
Autographs: One autograph per participating boxer, with the program advertised as 15 autographs total. Attendees must bring their own items to be signed.
Photos: Not included with admission — photo opportunities are available at an additional cost
Merchandise: Sold separately
Tickets will not be sold at the door. Tickets can be purchased at zeffy.com.
Supporting the Gym's Future
The fundraiser benefits Cus D'Amato's KO Boxing Gym, with proceeds intended to support gym equipment and travel for its fighters, as well as continued youth boxing programs.
"This is going to be a great day," DuPont said, noting that fans will have a rare opportunity to meet numerous champions in one location. "Where are you going to go on the East Coast to find this many guys all in one place at one time?"
DuPont also revealed that Scrap Collectibles will unveil a special presentation honoring a boxing legend during the event. While he declined to share details, he said the surprise has "never been done before" and could be an emotional highlight of the day.
Auction items, including custom boxing jackets, will also be available to raise additional funds.
Sponsors
Sponsors include Long Island Boxing and Mental Health America of Dutchess County, Annarella Ristorante, with additional support from Ring 8, Untouchables Boxing, Sullivan Boxing, Catskill Dental Care and Wava Water.
Recent Wins for the Gym
The autograph show arrives on the heels of a strong run of bouts for the gym and its affiliates. Leon Lozano, who trains under DuPont, captured a unanimous decision victory over Dante Maiello of Schott's Boxing while representing Cus D'Amato's KO Boxing Gym. Dee Hicks, trained by Carlos Santos, turned in a dominant performance with a second-round technical knockout of Jayden Richards of Gail Grandchamp Fitness. And Jaream Perry, who trains under Todd Smith, earned a unanimous decision over Gregory Mayle, also of Gail Grandchamp Fitness.
Those victories reflect the caliber of athletes and coaching associated with Cus D'Amato's KO Boxing Gym and its affiliated trainers — giving spectators another reason to expect more to come.
Looking Ahead
Beyond this fundraiser, DuPont hopes the event will become the foundation for a larger annual boxing celebration in Catskill, with future plans including outdoor boxing events, a multi-day boxing festival, a banquet and professional boxing cards — all aimed at keeping the sport's rich Catskill history alive while creating opportunities for young athletes.
Event Details at a Glance
What: Legends of the Ring Autograph Show
When: Saturday, August 22, 2026, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Cus D'Amato's KO Boxing Gym, 422 Main Street (3rd floor), Catskill, N.Y.
Admission: $75
Tickets: zeffy.com listing — advance purchase only, no day-of sales
Note: North Street and Cook Street will be closed for the event; merchandise and refreshments will be sold outside the gym's entrance on Thompson Street throughout the day.
Ed DuPont is a long-time American boxing trainer and the head coach at the iconic Cus D'Amato’s KO Boxing Gym (formerly the Catskill Boxing Club) on Main Street in Catskill, New York.
Shelving a professional career in the ring, he built his legacy behind the scenesspending decades as a trainer, cutman/corner worker, and administrator, eventually taking over as the head coach and caretaker at Cus D'Amato’s KO Boxing Gym.
DuPont has been associated with the Catskill Boxing Club for over 30 years, preserving the legendary training center made famous by trainer Cus D'Amato and championship fighters like Mike Tyson and Floyd Patterson.
As head trainer, DuPont trains both amateur and active competitive fighters representing the Catskill gym. Under his leadership, the gym's amateur team continues to compete across regional bouts, including fighters like Leon Lozano.
In addition to coaching, DuPont plays an active role in organizing benefit events and community initiatives to keep the historic non-profit gym funded, maintained, and accessible to local youth fighters.
See you there!
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