On Saturday night Joey Eye (Intrieri) returned to the corner at the 2300 Arena boxing event after having been verbally suspended by PA commission Boxing Director Greg Sirb. Seems Sirb accused Intrieri of holding a Bare Knuckle Boxing event. To that Intrieri’s response was “it was a Showtime 60 minute sport’s special not a boxing event and shot in Delaware.”
Per Intrieri he hadn’t received any official notice but was denied working the Valley Forge Casino & Resort show November 22nd per orders from Sirb.
On November 25th he was in attendance at the 2300 Arena show in Philadelphia but still unable to work. Sirb’s comment to Intrieri after the latter explained the situation was “you are still under state suspension in Pennsylvania until a hearing date is set”.
On Saturday December 6th Intrieri’s Joey Eye Boxing promotion did not go on as usual due to him being kept out of the corner for the third show. Marshall Kauffman’s King’s Promotions and David Feldman’s XFE promotion took the lead. The quality of the show was the worst and the attendance also the lowest in four years.
“We must support Joey’s right to make a living. If we don’t, sooner or later we will suffer the same consequences because someone doesn’t like what we write. Free Joey Eye,” said George Hanson (writer for Mouthpiece and a lawyer).
“Joey Eye is a decent guy. This has nothing to do with the jurisdiction of the PA Boxing Commission. If it weren’t for people like Joey Eye putting on shows the commission wouldn’t have a job. Joey Eye shouldn’t be kept from making a living,” said Dave Ruff (writer for Doghouse Boxing).
Intrieri approached Boxing Commissioner Rudy Battles at ringside and advised him that if the suspension wasn’t lifted by Monday he (Battles) and the commission would be receiving a lawsuit. By Thursday Intrieri’s patience had run out and he contacted Sirb and let him know how illegal he acted and never sending anything in writing! Sirb told him he would get back to him and when he did he said “you’re good”.
