Boxing Royalty, Famous Celebrity Friends, a Lifelong Friendship, & The Coveted Chutzpah Award Translates to Packy “Boom Boom” Goldstein – The Interview

Exclusive Interview by Ian “The Boxing Historian” Murphy

“Packy is a guy who the men wanted to be in my heyday and the women wanted to be with!”—Packy “Boom Boom” Goldstein

World class bagels. That is a very apt (and self proclaimed!) description of RSR columnist Packy “Boom Boom” Goldstein. Even being older than Larry Merchant has not slowed this Floridian down and his column “Packy’s World” has been a runaway hit on ringsidereport.com. In a literary world of blind athlete worship, (and blatant nut-huggery), Packy’s candor and no-nonsense attitude is refreshing to say the least. He’s never afraid to knock someone off their high horse if need be. His Packy-isms like “bagels” and his vaunted “Chutzpah Award” make readers crack up on the regular and he reminds many of us of our favorite Jewish uncle (and mine just moved back to NY from Florida!).

In addition to his humor and wit, Mr. G is also a lifelong boxing aficionado. He has been a fan for most of his life and has been actively following the sport since the 1950s, when he was introduced to the great Kid Gavilan by his lifelong pal, Alvin Berkwitt. Packy also has rubbed elbows with some serious celebrities, and was a friend of the late, great Frank Sinatra. Check out the following interview where Packy shoots from the hip (when doesn’t he?) and tells us a little about himself.

IM: First off, a little background on Ol’ “Boom Boom”. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up?

Who is Packy “Boom Boom” Goldstein, huh boychick? Well, let me tell you. Packy is a guy who the men wanted to be in my heyday and the women wanted to be with. World class bagels, let me tell you that, pal. I was born in 1930 on Miami Beach, but my family moved to NYC (Bronx) in 1939 when I was 9. I loved growing up off the Grand Boulevard later to be known as the Grand Concourse. NYC was a magical place back then, and especially for boxing.

IM: In what line of work were you in?

What are you the FBI? I was close with Meyer Lansky and the Boys…enough said. Just breaking your bagels Ian (Boxing Historian?)! I have ties older than you… Who gave you that nickname? I am going to take the 5th on this question, but if you press Ol’ “Boom Boom”, just say I was in the haberdashery business. Yes, that sounds good.

IM: It appears that you knew/know quite a lot of famous people. Who are some of your favorites and why?

Well, as you know, I talk about Bradley’s father Alvin Berkwitt in all my columns. He was not Hollywood famous, but could have been if he stuck to the acting. However, he was famous in our circles because he was the most loyal, honest, and funniest SOB I have ever met. I have stories that if I live to be 100, I still will not be able to write about in “Packy’s World”.

Frank Sinatra is a gentleman I met through Al and Rocky Graziano. Frank was another, who if he liked you, the sky was the limit. Cross him? Oy Vay. I loved that man very much for what he stood for. He always told Al and I in private, “either you stand for something, or you stand for nothing.” Very true words indeed.

Rocky Graziano. Oy Vay, was he a true mensch. The pranks he pulled on Al and I were world class and as I mentioned in a recent “Packy’s World”, Sinatra was in on many. Graziano was a very kind man.

There are so many over the years, but I don’t want to take up 10 pages typing them. Check out my column, I will mention many from time to time.

IM:  You are a seriously funny dude. Did you ever parlay that into any acting and/or comedy?

No, I left the acting for Al. But being around him, you had better be funny or he would bury you in jokes. When we met in ‘49, I learned quick to be funny or get it good! Before I met my Sadie, many of the ladies thought Packy was the cat’s meow especially when I cracked them up. On a serious note, (oh no, me being serious?) I have learned through humor, you can deal with pain so much easier. Try it Ian at sad points in your life since you are still very young, boychick.

IM: What was your first exposure to Boxing?

Al, again. I think it was at a Kid Gavlian fight in the early 50’s. We saw so many back then, that’s for sure.

IM: We know you didn’t get your nickname of “Boom Boom” inside the ring, but did you ever box yourself? Weight class? When?

No, boychick. I got it from this hot piece of ass back in the 50’s who told Al and I over breakfast that she loved my sexual prowess. No, I never boxed, but I used to go to the gym and work out. One of my trainers who oversaw what I did was Ang (Angelo Dundee) at the 5th Street Gym at that time when a young Cassius Clay was training there.

IM: Who were some of your favorite fighters then/now?

Tough question, there are so many. Kid Gavilan, Rocky Graziano, Joe Louis, Tony Zale, Willie Pep, Billy Conn, Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom, Henry Armstrong, Alexis Arguello and Emile Griffith to name just a few.

Today, Gennady Golovkin. This young kid Roman Gonzalez has tons of potential. Andre Ward when he fights. Sergey Kovalev and Terrence Crawford are a few I like today, but again, tough question.

IM: How about your LEAST favorite fighters then/now?

Really none back then that I ever met. But in fairness to fighters today, the world was different. The reason for boxing was a lot different and so on. Some things are the same, but mostly it’s the world.

Such a loaded question boychick with the “today” part of your question. You already know the answer from my columns, but let me tell you why. If Floyd Mayweather, JR. would not pull his antics outside the ring that he does and the worst being that charge of beating his kids mother, I would actually enjoy him at least when he was “Pretty Boy” Floyd. He was a different fighter back then. He went for the KO, not the paycheck. In my day, if a man hit a woman, he would be taken for a long drive, I’ll tell you that. Even at my old age of 85, if I saw a man hit a woman, I would kick their tuckus from pound to ground.

IM: In your columns, you mention Rocky Graziano often. Could you tell us a great story about the Rock?

I kind of told this story in a recent column, but I will elaborate. Frank Sinatra made a detective movie in 67, on Miami Beach, called “Tony Rome”. He cast Sugar Ray Robinson in an opening scene and later in the movie, Rocky Graziano played of all people, Packy, a tie salesman. I have never told this story before. Rocky needed a name for his character and Al turned to Frank and said, “name him Packy”. Frank laughed his ass off and the name was kept for the movie. Watch it, it really is a great flick and at that time, Al worked at the Fountainbleu Hotel where Frank was playing. In fact, Al took Bradley’s mother to see Frank and she was front row along with my Sadie.

When Frank came on stage, he sang one song, and said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, in the crowd tonight are two ring a ding ding ladies, Sadie Goldstein and one of my favorite people, Al Berkwitt’s lady, Joanne”. Needless to say, both Al and I were very lucky that night when we got home.

IM: If there was one thing you could change about boxing today, what would it be?

I would want it to go back to 15 rounds because so many championship belts were won and lost between 13-15.

IM: What is/was your favorite sport outside of boxing?

It used to be Football, but the game and the players are so different today. I no longer follow it. But back then, I was a Jets fan and liked “Broadway” Joe Namath very much.

IM: In closing, is there anything else you’d like to share with the RSR readers?

Live everyday like it’s your last because one day, it will be. Thanks to the readers for the great emails you send about my column “Packy’s World” and thank you Ian for doing this interview with me that had some great questions. I may have to tell Bradley to make you an interviewer on top of your other articles.

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