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RIDGEWOOD, N.J. -- Happy Birthday to Ridgewood's Joe Antonacci!
The boxing ring announcer and emcee turns 56 today.
Born Aug. 9, 1960, the Ridgewood native and resident is famous for his televised boxing ring appearances in a tuxedo on ESPN's "Friday Night Fights," the NBC Sports Network, HBO, Showtime and GoFightLive TV.
Nicknamed "Generous Joe," he donates all of his ring earnings to assist injured and retired amateur and professional boxers in need, to overcome their disabilities incurred as a result of their bouts, and to amateur boxing organizations.
Antonacci also serves as a ring announcer for mixed martial arts fights.
He has worked for all of the major promoters in boxing, including Bob Arum’s Top Rank, Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, Don King’s Don King Productions and North Jersey’s Main Events, headed by Kathy Duva.Antonacci has been a ring announcer from Madison Square Garden to Macau, China, where he announced the first ever professional fight card at The Venetian Macao.
In March 2012, Antonacci was elected as a member of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, headed by boxing historian Henry Hascup. Antonacci also was nominated in 2012 for a 'Good Guy Award' from the Boxing Writer's Association of America.
He is a graduate of William Paterson University with a B.A. degree in English.
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