Tyson coming home for boxing gym benefit
Published on:
July 28, 2026
Iron Mike Tyson will be doing a meet and greet to support the gym that made him “The Baddest Man on the Planet.” Photo: Mike Tyson.
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CATSKILL―Some of boxing's biggest names are headed to Catskill next month as Cus D'Amato's KO Boxing Gym hosts The Legends of the Ring Autograph Show. Among the prizefighters is Iron Mike Tyson who will be doing a meet and greet to support the gym that made him “The Baddest Man on the Planet.”
The event, slated for Saturday, August 22, will bring together Hall of Fame-caliber champions, former world titleholders and boxing personalities for a day celebrating the sport's rich history in one of boxing's most historic towns.
Tyson’s appearance will mark the third time he has come home to Catskill since last year. In May of 2025, he made a surprise visit to his alma mater Catskill High School to hand out two scholarships in memory of D’Amato, his legendary trainer. In November, he was at the gym to host a celebration in honor of 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 he lived with him just north of the village while continuing to train at the Catskill Boxing Club.
For the gym's current head coach Ed DuPont, The Legends of the Ring Autograph Show is the culmination of a lifetime devoted to boxing.
Among those relationships is “Irish Micky Ward,” the beloved former WBU light welterweight champion whose remarkable 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 with Sydney Sweeney portraying the trailblazing champion. 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 show will feature an impressive lineup of boxing royalty, including former undisputed heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, whose 20 successful heavyweight title defenses remain among the greatest championship reigns in boxing history.
Olympic gold medalist and former heavyweight champion Ray "Merciless" Mercer will also attend, alongside former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, former heavyweight champions Tim Witherspoon and Monte Barrett, former featherweight champion Poison Junior Jones, former middleweight champion Michael Nunn, 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, Chiara "Speedy" Dituri, and numerous other accomplished fighters and boxing personalities.
The event will also feature 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.
This event arrives just behind a ring of successful bouts for the gym and its affiliates.
Leon Lozano captured a unanimous decision victory over Dante Maiello of Schott's Boxing while representing Cus D'Amato's KO Boxing Gym. Lozano trains under DuPont. Dee Hicks also turned in a dominant performance, defeating Jayden Richards of Gail Grandchamp Fitness by second-round technical knockout. Hicks is trained by Carlos Santos. Rounding out the winning performances was Jaream Perry, who earned a unanimous decision over Gregory Mayle of Gail Grandchamp Fitness. Perry trains under Todd Smith.
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 look for more to come.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the gym, located on the third floor of 422 Main Street. Admission is $75 per ticket and all proceeds go directly back into the gym itself. It is being sponsored by Mental Health America of Dutchess County.
To accommodate the event, North Street and Cook Street will be closed, while merchandise and refreshments will be sold outside the gym's entrance on Thompson Street throughout the day.
For tickets, visit https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/cus-damatos-ko-boxing-gyms-the-legends-of-the-ring-autograph-show.
