[Simi Valley, CA]   The Retired Boxers Foundation is proud to announce the Fourth Annual “Irish” Micky Ward Celebrity Golf Tournament on Monday, August 27th, 2007 at the Indian Ridge Country Club in Andover, Massachusetts.  This year’s even promises to be even better than the last with the return to a fantastic championship venue and with new and returning celebrity personalities. 

This year’s event will once again be a scramble format with some great contests and prizes.  Early registration is encouraged due to the popularity of the event, which has grown significantly over the years. 

                    

Legendary junior welterweight boxer “Irish” Micky Ward, and the Retired Boxers Foundation have proudly announced that the 4th Annual “Irish” Micky Ward Celebrity Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, August 27, at the luxurious Indian Ridge Country Club in Andover, Massachusetts. All proceeds from this tremendous event will go to benefit the Retired Boxers Foundation.

In his nearly 19-year career as a professional fighter, “Irish” Micky Ward captured a WBU world title, had roughly 30 bouts telecast on ESPN, an additional 7 on HBO, and the first of his three epic fights with Arturo “Thunder” Gatti is considered by many to be the greatest fight of all time. Ward’s historic career captured the hearts and souls of boxing fans, as well as Paramount Pictures. The major movie production company is producing a movie based on the life and career of Micky Ward. Filming for the movie, which is aptly to be named “The Fighter,” will begin this summer.

The Retired Boxers Foundation was established in 1998, by Alex “The Bronx Bomber” Ramos, and assists retired professional boxers in the transition from their glory days in the ring, to a dignified retirement.  “Irish” Micky Ward, former WBU Light Welterweight World Champion, was appointed to the Retired Boxers Foundation Honorary Board of Directors on December 1, 2003 and was the first retired professional boxer to receive the Retired Boxers Foundation first “Undisputed Champions for Dignity Championship Belt”.  

According to RBF Founder and President, Alex “The Bronx Bomber” Ramos, “Micky Ward retired with dignity after a career that spanned nearly 20 years.  He represents everything we want the sport of boxing to be: A sport where world class athletes compete with the best in their class, give the fans what they really want to see, and retire when they want to. “    Ward said he looks forward to hosting the RBF Golf Tournament for the benefit of all the fighters who have retired from the sport of boxing.  His goal is to make sure that those who follow him are allowed the same dignity in retirement that he has claimed.   All proceeds of the 4th Annual Irish Micky Ward Celebrity Golf Classic will go to the Retired Boxers Foundation, an IRS 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to assist retired professional boxers in the transition from their glorious days in the ring, to a dignified retirement. 

Ward is from Lowell, Massachusetts, and started boxing at the age of 7.  He retired with a record of 38 wins (27 knockouts) and 13 losses.   Ward’s most memorable fights will go down in history as the “wars” with Arturo Gatti.  In three fights against Gatti, the fight in May 2002 was named  “2002 Fight of the Year” by Ring Magazine.    Micky is currently training his past nemesis, Arturo Gatti as he prepares for his bout against Alfonso Gomez. 

“This tournament is a heck of a lot of fun, and the proceeds go to support a tremendous cause,” says Ward. “In my 19-years as a fighter, I always gave everything I had to the sport of boxing. I may be retired now, but my fight will continue, with Alex Ramos and the RBF!”

With the return of a terrific championship venue, new and returning celebrities, awards ceremonies, contests, prizes, and an outstanding post-tournament dinner, this year’s event promises to be the best thus far.

For detailed information, to include a downloadable application visit www.rbfgolf.com

                  

For businesses or individuals who want to showcase their company or cause, please visit the Sponsorship at www.rbfgolf.com.     The Retired Boxers Foundation is very excited to be working with Premier Golf Events, who did a fabulous job last year, and of course, “Irish” Micky Ward for standing by the retired fighters as the tournament host.

The mission of the Retired Boxers Foundation, an IRS Nonprofit corporation, is to assist retired professional boxers, in the transition from their glorious days in the ring to a dignified retirement.  Particular attention is made to assist those who have left the sport with physical, emotional or neurological damage; especially those suffering from alcohol and substance abuse problems, homelessness and the affects of pugilistic dementia (the medical term for “punch drunk”). 

The Retired Boxers Foundation was created by Alex “The Bronx Bomber” Ramos, who is himself disabled.  For more information on the Retired Boxers Foundation, please visit our site at www.retiredboxers.org.    The website for the golf tournament can be accessed through the link on the RBF site, or you can visit it independently at www.rbfgolf.com