August 8, 2005

Joint Association of Boxers (JAB) board member and former world cruiserweight champion Al “Ice” Cole fought two rounds Thursday night as part of “In The Ring With A Pro,” a fantasy fundraiser sponsored by BoxingRanks.com. Proceeds from the auction were split between the JAB charity arm, which raises money for injured boxers, and an appearance fee to Cole.

Jamie Majeski of Princeton, New Jersey entered the winning bid on the eBay auction. Once he had won the bid, he asked friends and colleagues to pledge money to The Majeski Foundation, started by Majeski and his wife, Barbara, in 2002. If Majeski made it through his round in the ring, the foundation expected to receive $30,000, enough to send 15 disabled young adults to Camp Horizons, a Connecticut camp for mentally disabled children and adults. The foundation will also put some of the donations toward scholarships for inner-city students.

“My wife and I started our foundation in 2002, and we raise money for programs for disabled and inner-city kids,” Majeski said. “I figured it would be fun to put myself in harm’s way, while at the same time doing something for kids.”

Majeski is the grandson of a former business agent at Local 460. His father was also a Teamster until he passed away when Majeski was 16. In the wake of that death, the truck drivers who worked with his father banded together to raise money to put Majeski through school.

“That’s why I do things like this,” Majeski said. “I want to be able to give something back.”

Majeski, who said his last fight took place in sixth grade, performed admirably in the ring, including landing a body shot that clearly took Cole by surprise in the first round.

“He was very surprising,” Cole said. “He came right at me!”

Howard Sirota, Chairman of BoxingRanks.com, said he hopes to have more of these events. Not only do they raise money for a good cause, he said, but they also provide the JAB members who participate with an additional source of income.

“Boxers don’t have a regular income, so this is a great way to do something for boxers,” Sirota said. “If Mike Tyson was a Teamster, he wouldn’t be broke. JAB is boxing’s best hope. We’re hoping the Teamsters will continue to be a positive force.”

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