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Celebrating J Russell Peltz and the 50th Anniversary of Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc.
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WHEREAS, October 4, 2019 marks the 50th Anniversary of Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc. This Anniversary celebrates the contributions of J Russell Peltz, President of Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., native Philadelphian, and legendary boxing matchmaker; and
WHEREAS, J Russell Peltz, “The Boy Wonder”, promoted his first boxing match on September 30, 1969 and sold out the Blue Horizon, a historic 1,300-seat boxing center on North Broad Street. Over the course of his distinguished career, J Russell Peltz earned numerous honors including the James J. Walker Award from the Boxing Writers Association of America in 1999 for his “long and meritorious service to boxing”, the Career Achievement Award from the Philadelphia Sportswriters Association in 2000, and induction into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000; and
WHEREAS, J Russell Peltz is a graduate of Temple University, where he received a B.S. in Journalism in 1968. That year, he was also named the winner of the Sigma Delta Chi Award, honoring him as the Outstanding Male Graduate in Journalism. Throughout his time at Temple, J Russell Peltz progressed from Assistant Sports Editor as a freshman, to City Editor as a junior. By the time he was a senior at Temple, J Russell Peltz worked full-time on the sports desk of the Evening Bulletin where he would stay until he promoted his first boxing match; and
WHEREAS, J Russell Peltz is the President of Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., one of Philadelphia’s leading professional boxing organizations since 1969. Over the years, Peltz has promoted boxing matches in Philadelphia and beyond, including the Arts Palace at Broad & Pine Streets, the Arena at 46th and Market, and in nearly every casino in Atlantic City. By 1997, Peltz facilitated the first-ever world championship fight in Philadelphia where it was hosted at the Blue Horizon. Over the course of his career, Peltz has both promoted and co-promoted over 40 world championship contests. His matches have been televised on ESPN, USA, HBO, and Showtime. In 2002, the Boxing News described Peltz as “arguably the greatest of his era” and a matchmaker with “few rivals”; and
WHEREAS, The City is grateful for the contributions of J Russell Peltz and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc. and hopes that the next generation of Philadelphians follows in the footsteps of J Russell Peltz and continues our proud boxing tradition; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby celebrates J Russell Peltz and the 50th Anniversary of Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of the resolution be presented to J Russell Peltz as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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