The Ten Count

I asked Frank Garza to describe the respect he shows and feels by being the “Ten Count” guy in Detroit.

“As part of a personal outreach program for the sport of boxing I have tolled the traditional 10 count for any person who has had any affiliation with the sport either professional or amateur.  From world champions, club fighters, seconds, managers, commissioners, timekeepers, referees, judges and all around good guys the old Benlee bell left me by my old trainer Nick Torres has tolled the count. 

All that is necessary is for word to make its way to me or one of my friends and we will try to make contact with the family to see if they would like to have the traditional 10 count as part of their services or if they desire at the next boxing event in which we speak to the promoter. 

Afterwards, many of the family members go out of their way to express that the ten count is a moving moment for them. That it emphasizes how important boxing was to their loved oned and they were to the boxing community.

  Recently two traditional 10 counts were performed one for amateur star Art Robbie and the other for former NABF champion Brett Lally.  Art received his count at Sindbad’s Restaurant in Detroit from Frank Garza, Emanuel Steward and Dennis Davison.

  Detroit Free Press Sports writer Mike Brudenell read the following fromhis column:
 
  
Art Robbie, 83, died July 12 following a stroke. The Hamtramck native attended Wayne State and was a member of the Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. A producer of musical and theatrical events, Robbie also worked for the Hiram Walker Co. for 34 years as a salesman. He was a member of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association and owner of Art Robbie Productions.
Robbie was a member of the Armed Forces, serving in the U.S. Navy Reserve (1944-46), the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves (1947-49), the U.S. Army (1950-52) and the U.S. Army Strategic Army Command (1952). During his time in the Army, Robbie captured the corps’ middleweight and light heavyweight championships, finishing with a 47-1 record; overall, he was 80-4 and was never KO’d.
 
  Brett Lally’s 10 count was preformed at St. Richard’s Catholic Church, Westland MI by Frank Garza at the request of the family.  The following was read to the congregation prior to the count:
 
Brett “The Irish Hawk” Lally, light middleweight.  Ring Record of 32-12, 19 wins by way of knockout.  He became the NABF light middleweight champion on June 25th, 1991.  He successfully defended his title then challenged for the WBC World light middleweight championship.  On behalf of the boxing community worldwide, the North American Boxing Federation of which Bret was one of our champions, The World Boxing Council and its WBC We Care Program, we now honor one of our fallen warriors with boxing’s traditional 10 count.  “