ONE OF boxing's all-time great press agents. Irving Rudd began working in boxing at the Rockland Palace and then the famed Eastern Parkway Arena in Brooklyn, New York. From that small, hallowed fight club, he reached boxing's summit -- publicizing his fighters and his sport every step of the way.
Rudd has worked with numerous world champions, among them were Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Ray Mancini and Thomas Hearns. So endeared was Rudd to boxing's "Hit Man" that Hearns presented Rudd with a Kronk Gym jacket and named him an honorary member of the Kronk boxing team.
Rudd also served as a press agent for three of the greatest promoters in history -- Mike Jacobs, Don King and Bob Arum. Later in his career, Rudd worked exclusively as a publicist for Arum's Top Rank Inc.
Irving also worked as a press agent for Yonkers Raceway in New York and for the Brooklyn Dodgers, where he became one of Jackie Robinson's confidantes. He authored a book about his career called, The Sporting Life: The Duke and Jackie, Pee Wee, Razor Phil, Ali, Mushky Jackson and Me.
Born: Oct. 13, 1917
Died: June 2, 2000
Induction: 1999
Irving Rudd
