From left: Dino Spencer, Matt Baiamonte, Ken Drodvillo, with Angelo Dundee (seated).
Hall of Fame boxing trainer Angelo Dundee was reunited with a piece of his glorious past thanks to boxing fan and Grovite Ken Drodvillo. Turning 90 today, August 30, 2011, Angelo Dundee was all smiles as Ken presented him with a birthday gift -- a mounted red brick from the old 5th Street Gym that will serve as a link between the old and new 5th Street Gym which opened last September in Miami Beach.
The legendary 5th Street Gym in Miami Beach which produced Muhammad Ali and countless other champions under the watchful eye of Angelo Dundee was no more. It was thought that nothing was saved except for the iconic window that was painted with the gyms name which is now mounted on the wall at the recently reopened 5th Street Gym. Ken, an avid boxing and Muhammod Ali, fan kept the spirit of the old gym alive. He was driving by the site one day after it was demolished in 1994 and noticed the rubble. Ken thought to himself, "What a shame, all that history gone in a flash." He grabbed one of the bricks and mounted it as a reminder of boxing memories past and gave it to his attorney and fellow boxing fanatic Tim Anagnost.
Fast forward 17 years and a new modern 5th Street Gym is reopened at the same address on 555 Washington Ave. Angelo Dundee is part owner but spends much time with family as his partners and head trainers Matt Baiamonte and Dino Spencer oversee day to day operations. Ken, now a consultant for Capt. Jimmy’s Fiesta Cruise Boat in Miami ,one day walks in to speak to Matt about a cruise promotion when naturally they shift their conversation to the old 5th Street Gym. Ken who arrived to Miami in 1963 when stationed at the Homestead Air force Base shared with Matt his memories of the old gym. It was at this moment when Ken had the idea to ask his friend Tim Anagnost to donate the brick to Dundee for his birthday.
Matt arranged the meeting between Ken and Angelo at the gym for the brick exchange. The still spry Angelo was grateful as he took out time from mentoring a young boxer to receive the brick. The always engaging Angelo chatted with Ken about years past as he posed for pictures and signed autographs for everyone that asked.
Ken said, "What a pleasure it was to meet a living legend and to present him with a part of the 5th Street Gym for his 90th birthday. I felt like I was part of boxing history, and that Angelo appreciated that we donated the brick. I am sure people who visit the 5th Street Gym, will get a kick out of seeing the brick."
Ironically, the day that Ken met Angelo Dundee, he also met boxing great Ferdie Pacheco at his art opening right here at the AC Gallery in Coconut Grove (story here).
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