"Ringside in the Mountains" uncovers the untold story of a quiet corner of upstate New York that became an unlikely epicenter of boxing greatness. Long before Cus D’Amato reshaped the future of the sport by mentoring a young Mike Tyson in Catskill, generations of prizefighters made their way to the Catskills — not for the spotlight, but to train, and prepare for Championship fights.

From the 1930s through the 1990s, the famed “Borscht Belt” — known for its bustling Jewish resorts and vibrant summer crowds — doubled as the training ground for some of the most celebrated boxers of the 20th century. Fighters set up camp at storied hotels like Grossinger’s, Kutsher’s, the Pines, and the Concord, where city vacationers could catch open sparring sessions between poolside cocktails and comedy acts. For the boxers, it was perfect conditioning. For the press, a short trip upstate. For guests, ringside seats to the making of legends.

This documentary brings that golden era back to life through rare archival footage, historic photos, and first-hand interviews with boxing champions, journalists, and historians. "Ringside in the Mountains" doesn’t just revisit a forgotten chapter in boxing history — it reveals how this once-idyllic resort region helped shape the sport, and how echoes of its past still reverberate in today’s Catskills.

A story of grit, glamour, and the unlikely intersection of sport and summer retreat — this is where the Sweet Science met the soul of a generation.

Director Biography - Evan Haiman

Evan Haiman is an accomplished producer with more than 30 years of experience creating original content across television and digital platforms. His career spans an impressive range of genres — from sports and comedy to live music and entertainment — with creative roles at Major League Baseball Productions, HBO, The Comedy Channel, AXS TV, and Warner Bros. Most recently, he spearheaded the launch of Circle, a country music lifestyle network developed in partnership with the Grand Ole Opry & Gray Television Stations.

A veteran storyteller with hundreds of hours of broadcast programming to his name, Evan now leads Baker Street Productions, an independent company dedicated to documentaries, series, and specials that explore culture, community, and the human experience. Ringside in the Mountains: The History of Boxing in the Catskills marks his documentary directorial debut, bringing his lifelong passion for storytelling to the screen in a fresh and deeply personal way.