Interview with BOOM-BOOM MANICINI

BOOM-BOOM MANCINI
STILL IN THE GAME OF LIFE
an Internet Exclusive
by Neal Hodges

It's 11:00 am PST and former WBA lightweight champion Ray "Boom-Boom" Mancini's voice message informs this caller from the Midwest he's sorry he missed my call but he'll get back to me as soon as he can. And he does 17 minutes later. Boom-Boom, (who received his nickname because legend has it that it was "boom boom" and the lights were out for his opponents) is late because he was having a conversation with neighbor and good friend, the award-winning playwright and screenwriter David Mamet. He promises he will call right back once he makes his destination to the Il Forno Cafe, a Santa Monica secret tucked along a strip mall on Ocean Park Blvd. But he doesn't keep his promise because he never disconnects the call. He just talks.

Mancini is curious yet embracive about why Urban Film Premiere is interested in interviewing me? With an emphasis on the word urban. He emits a half-hearted jokingly laugh yet he is serious. "C'mon Neal, everybody knows what you mean when you say urban. Everybody knows it means..."

I explain to Boom-Boom this is a perfect fit for he is an urban legend who is embraced by the minority community just like the fictitious Corleone familia, just like the destructive Scarface, just like his Italian-American brethrens Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino - you know - things of which urban legends are created. In addition, he is making a progressive, albeit gradual, charge into the film industry as an actor and producer. He laughs in agreement and assures me he really is fascinated to have UFP call him up because he has a few things to say.

Mancini, clearly one of the most exhilarating boxers of the eighties, which many boxing experts call the last period of the golden era of professional boxing, has survived the deadly and manipulative sport of boxing with both purse and brain intact. The death of an opponent (Duk Koo Kim) that resulted from a devastating knockout administered in a brutal 13-round fight and the emotional guilt that followed.

Ray hails from Youngstown, Ohio, a blue-collar town some 70 miles southeast of Cleveland. It is a town that has produced a collection of rags-to-riches stories; including Carmen Policy, President and CEO of the Cleveland Browns; former San Francisco 49'ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. and defunct Ohio State running back, Maurice Clarett. The streets ain't easy in Youngstown but if one is determined and has passion they can persevere and triumph. Boom-Boom did as he displayed those attributes while defeating such fierce competitors as Alexis Arguello, Jose Luis Ramirez and Arturo Frias to win the WBA lightweight crown in 1982.

Currently, Ray is hoping that the film, TURN OF FAITH in which he starred and produced does well in the home video market. While the film is not great, it definitely possesses a well defined story about the streets and those involved from the cops, the mob and people tangled in this web. With gritty dialogue and well-trained actors, I suggest you give it a shot. It is certainly more realistic than most films that attempt to capture some essence of the mob.

Under normal circumstances, a tele-conference interview will last 15 minutes, twenty at tops. You ask as many questions as possible and fill in the blanks. There are exceptions (political commentator Tavis Smiley comes to mind). But like Tavis, Boom-Boom likes to talk and so do I.

NH: Thanks my man for taking the time to talk with us.

BB: It's my pleasure Neal. Really.

NH: I consider you a living legend, a living icon and I'm not saying that lightly. Especially if one considers your career and obstacles you've faced.

BB: Ah man, thank you. Thank you. No one has ever said that to me. That's scary. I never considered myself a legend or an icon. It's very gratifying for you to say that. I'm humbled. I'm flattered. What an honor. Thank you.

NH: It's true. How many living people have a song named after them? The late Warren Zevon composed and recorded "Boom Boom Mancini." In his own words, he described it as a hard-working tribute to a great boxer who could take it as well as dish it out.

BB: Yeah man, that was cool. I mean I never thought someone would write a song about but it just goes to show you never know in this world. I always say "one thing I do know is that I know nothing."

NH: So what's been up with you?

BB: I'm living in Santa Monica, loving and raising my three kids with my wife. I'm producing film and acting. I'm in the business of acting, the business of film. TURN OF FAITH, my latest project, was released on DVD late last month. I produced it and starred in it along with Charles Durning and Tony Sirico (The Sopranos). It was a lot of fun. It's an action/drama about three friends who choose different paths in life. It deals with corrupt officials and organized crime. I portray a police officer.

NH: Producing huh? How was that role?

BB: Juice. It was juice - the creative aspect is powerful - you know turning nothing into something. Power, powerful. That's what I mean by juice. It was my second role as a producer. I produced Body and Soul in '98. It's challenging to take a shot at something especially in this business where there really is no formula for success. I must say I do enjoy the challenge.

NH: How do you produce such heavyweights as Charles Durning and Tony Sirico? Wasn't that intimidating?

BB: Oh, Charles Durning. One of the great American actors. Nothing but respect for him. Did you know he was a WW II veteran that received the Silver Star and Purple Heart? People don't know but Charles Durning was actually on the beach at Normandy. It was simply a great experience working with him. He made the process much more interesting and fun. Much respect to Mr. Durning

NH: You shot Turn of Faith in Youngstown, Ohio. For readers who are not familiar with Youngstown it is considered an American mafia town. Lot's of Sicilians. Were you influenced coming up in that environment?

BB: (Laughs) Sure. I am a kid from the street and I write from my experiences. Turn of Faith was written by Lou Eppolitio. His father was a mobster in New York City as was most of his relatives. I'm from Youngstown (laughs again). It can double as the lower east side of Manhattan. It has so much flavor!

NH: Who else have you worked with as an actor?

BB: Oh, let's see, Joe Mantegna, the late great Rod Steiger both in Body and Soul, Jennifer Beals, Tony Danza. I did Hot Shots with Charlie Sheen, I worked with Lou Gossett Jr, I've worked with Samuel L. Jackson. Tupac Shakur.

NH: Tupac?

BB: Yeah, in the film Bullet. It was a gang thriller back in 1996. Mickey Rourke and Oscar winner Adrien Brody also starred in it.

NH: You've been around.

BB: Yeah, I got bit by the bug years ago. I've been blessed. I studied with one of the greats - studying classic actors such as John Garfield and Lee J. Cobb. I've done some off-Broadway theatre, television movies of the week and some episodic television. I have respect for the craft and I definitely have great respect for writers. I have developed some great relationships with writers. Sometimes a good script doesn't necessarily mean a good movie. Motion pictures mean just that - a movie has to be in motion. A good relationship with writers allows you the comfort to make suggestions, additions or deletions to make a good film.

NH: It's a tough business.

BB: Yeah, but there is no rhyme or reason in the movie business. I mean, look at some of the worse movies (in terms of box-office receipts) of all time. Kevin Costner's Waterworld and Postman. Ishtar with Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman and George Lucas' Howard the Duck. Bombs but that doesn't mean the filmmakers are bad. I mean we're talking Costner, Lucas, Hoffman and Beatty. Oscar, Oscar, Oscar, Oscar! I'm just a kid from the streets and I write from the street. I'm just blessed that I have the opportunity to be involved in the creative process.

NH: Yes you are blessed. You say that a lot.

BB: Because I am. More than some and less than most. I have a beautiful family. I didn't lose or blow my money earned as a professional boxer and I can still spell F-I-G-H-T. Let me tell you something. Over a year ago, I began to forget. A lot! I became very concerned so I went for an exam. I endured a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan and no brain damage, and no tissue scarring was found. My doctor advised to keep a notepad with me and jot down things I had on my schedule and I did. I discovered it was just a case of me forgetting things because I was doing too much. I was just racing. He advised me to slow down. I don't need the notepad now but I'm saying all that to say some guys stay in the ring too long. They fight too long. They want more fights because they want more money. If you can't enjoy it (money earned) what's the point.

NH: Evander Holyfield comes to mind. I'm in total agreement. A good case in point is all the money fighters and promoters make from pay-per-view events. They make a great deal of money but some are nearly broke unlike yourself.

BB: Exactly. I don't hate. My era was different and I took advantage of my situation. It's a continuing evolution. They (today's current ranked fighter) may make more money than I did but I can boast that I fought in front of more people because my fights were on network television such as ABC's Wide World of Sports. So I'm cool with it.

NH: Speaking of fighting, what are your thoughts, how do you feel regarding Du Koo Kim's death five days after your bout in 1982. Thinking about, it's almost twenty-one years later to the date of the fight (November 13, 1982 at Caesar's Palace). ESPN lists it as a "classic moment" (the biggest sporting news event of the day in the 20th century).

BB: You know Neal, I wish I could say it was a classic moment but it wasn't in my eyes because Kim died and after his death I simply lost all passion for the sport. I really did. It was eerie because Kim had taped to his door a sign that read: Kill or Be Killed. I'm glad you mentioned it because I just brought closure to that situation last year (May, 2002). I visited Korea to support a film about the life of Du Koo Kim. I was apprehensive, to be honest, but I couldn't believe what happened. The Koreans treated me like a national hero. They treated me with love and respect. You see, in their eyes Du Koo Kim died a warrior, a hero. He died honorably for something he believed in, something he defended. I was able to explain my situation and my feelings. There was no animosity toward me what-so-ever. It was rewarding because my kids are taunted sometimes by their classmates parents.

NH: Not your children's classmates but the classmates' parents?

BB: Yep. The adults were saying things like "your father is a killer or murderer" just insane stuff to say to a kid. They would come home crying and upset and it's tough having to explain to them something I wasn't ready to talk about at their young age. Real-tough. I had to show them the fight, explained it was a sport and that I was defending myself. It was hard. But after making the journey to Korea and meeting with Kim's manager, I feel like a heavy burden has finally been lifted off my shoulders.

NH: So the Koreans showed you some love?

BB: It was nothing but real love and I feel so much better. So much better now. Oh, the film is entitled Champion and stars the "Tom Cruise" of Korean film, Yu Oh Seong.

NH: Are you involved in boxing now?

BB: It's funny you should mention that. There's a kid in Youngstown named Billy Lyell. He's 6' 5" and a tough kid. I think he can fight. He's good looking and can fight. You don't find that too often. Either the fighter is good looking and can't fight or can fight and is ugly. (Laughs)! We'll just have to see. There is a boxing venture in promotions I'm considering out of Chicago. I'm still a fan!

NH: Are any endorsements knocking at your door? You're a good looking guy with good grammar and you still have all of your motor skills.

BB: No not really. Send them my way (laughs).

NH: Who were (or are) your idols in boxing?

BB: My dad of course (Lenny Mancini), Henry Armstrong (an African-American and the only boxer to hold world titles in three weight classes at the same time; featherweight - October 29, 1938, welterweight - May 31, 1938 and lightweight - August 17, 1938), Tony Canzoneri (lightweight champion 1930 - '33, '35 - '36), Rocky Marciano and my favorite of all time, Roberto Duran.

NH: I'm going to toss out some names of professional boxers and you throw back a quick response. Cool?

BB: Okay.

NH: Oscar de la Hoya.

BB: Good, not great.

NH: Roy Jones, Jr.

BB: Good, not great. He has never challenged greatness or great fighters. You can't become great until you challenge greatness. I would like to see Roy Jones compete with a Tommy Hearns or a Roberto Duran of today and then we'll see what he's made of.

NH: Mike Tyson.

BB: A warrior. A true animal. Fast hands, hard hands. A kid from the street who is disciplined in the ring and undisciplined outside the ring. A great heavyweight.

NH: Lailah Ali.

BB: Beautiful girl. Legs for days! (laughs). I don't like to see women fight. I don't like to see them beat up on each other.

NH: Her dad.

BB: The greatest.

NH: Du Koo Kim.

BB: A warrior. A great fighter. Kim rose to the top of his game as a poor street kid to a world-class fighter. Nothing but respect.

NH: Okay, let's go back to the current profession. Do you have any advice for the aspiring filmmaker?

BB: As a rule of thumb, have at least three projects ready. Be prepared to have something ready if the first proposal is rejected. Develop and utilize your contacts. You gotta come to the table with something and "something" most of the time is money. Have passion for the project. Have passion about the business of film. Learn the business of the film industry. I've been chasing money for three years for my projects. Be prepared. It's about the journey. We all know our destination. We're all gonna die so you might as well take it to the bridge. It's about the journey and what you do with it. Wow. I can't believe we've been on the phone for nearly an hour.

NH: Neither can I. It's been real!

BB: Yeah, it sure has. Stay in touch with me Neal.

NH: You bet I will.