Joe Antonacci
{{Short description|American boxing ring announcer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
Joe Antonacci (ring announcer) (born August 9, 1960 in Ridgewood, New Jersey) is a noted boxing ring announcer and emcee famous for his televised boxing ring appearances in a tuxedo on ESPN's Friday Night Fights, NBC Sports Network, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, HBO, Showtime, and GoFightLive.TV.{{Cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Joe_Antonacci|title=Joe Antonacci - BoxRec|accessdate=2 July 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/Gofightlive/featured|title=Combat Classics - YouTube|website=www.youtube.com|accessdate=2 July 2023}} 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 bouts in the ring, and to amateur boxing organizations.{{Cite web|url=http://blog.timesunion.com/boxing/joe-antonacci-its-all-about-the-fighters-and-the-show/7248/|title=Joe Antonacci: It’s All About the Fighters, and the Show - Boxing in the Capital Region - Michael Rivest - timesunion.com - Albany NY|accessdate=2 July 2023}} Antonacci also serves as a ring announcer for mixed martial arts fights.{{Cite web|url=http://www.northjersey.com/community/139073264_Comic-strip_icon_is_back_on_his_feet.html|title=Comic strip hero Joe Palooka brought back by village resident - NorthJersey.com|accessdate=2 July 2023}}
Biography
=Career=
Antonacci 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. His adventures as a ring announcer have taken him from Madison Square Garden to Macau, China, where Antonacci announced the first ever professional fight card in that venue, from The Venetian Macao.{{Cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Derrick_Rossy_vs._Ray_Mercer|title=Derrick Rossy vs. Ray Mercer - BoxRec|accessdate=2 July 2023}} In March 2012, Antonacci was elected as a member of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame,{{Cite web |url=http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/172165-lems-latest |title=Ring TV |access-date=April 2, 2012 |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717150622/http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/172165-lems-latest |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/03/lou-esa-inducted-into-new-jersey-boxing-hall-of-fame/|title=Lou Esa Inducted Into New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame|accessdate=2 July 2023}} headed by boxing historian Henry Hascup. Antonacci was also nominated in 2012 for a 'Good Guy Award' from the Boxing Writer's Association of America.
=Comedian and actor=
Antonacci is also an award-winning comedian based in Chicago who has played the top comedy clubs in Chicago and New York City. He was a finalist in The Clean Comedy Challenge in Pasadena, California. Joe’s brand of humor appeals to audiences of all ages. Joe has appeared in over a dozen television series, films and music videos.
=Personal life=
Antonacci is a graduate of William Paterson University with a B.A. degree in English. He resided with his wife Diane and two children in Ridgewood, New Jersey for many years before moving to Lombard, Illinois.
Filmography
Ring announcer Joe Antonacci has appeared as himself in four motion pictures:
- Lights Out (2011 TV series)
- They’re Just My Friends (2006) {{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473402/|title=They're Just My Friends|date=28 April 2006|accessdate=2 July 2023|via=IMDb}}
- Orthodox Stance (2007) {{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1104700/|title=Orthodox Stance|date=25 January 2008|accessdate=2 July 2023|via=IMDb}}
- The Challenger (2012) {{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1974382/|title=The Challenger|date=11 September 2015|accessdate=2 July 2023|via=IMDb}}
Joe Palooka comic book
Antonacci owns the trademark to and has recreated Joe Palooka, an American comic book, formerly about a heavyweight boxing champion that debuted in 1930 and ran until the 1980s.
A brand new comic book version of the character is currently being offered for sale online, created by Antonacci and his creative team. Palooka is reborn as a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter. Antonacci's team has also created a sister series of MMA-themed comic books entitled 'Legion of Combat.{{Cite web |url=http://fightnetwork.com/news/11956:introducing-full-length-mma-comic-book-joe-palooka/ |title=Introducing Full-Length MMA Comic Book 'Joe Palooka' - The Fight Network |access-date=2012-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728090102/http://fightnetwork.com/news/11956:introducing-full-length-mma-comic-book-joe-palooka/ |archive-date=2015-07-28 |url-status=dead }}
Death
Joe Antonacci passed away on April 25, 2024 https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/joseph-antonacci-obituary?id=54987657
References
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Category:American sports announcers
Category:American boxing commentators