No robbing ‘Robin Hood 702’ of his fight seats
YOU know how it is in Las Vegas: One moment you’re bickering with an Oscar-winning actor over ringside seats to a title fight. The next, you’re grooving in an uber-vip party where Paul Anka is singing “Diana” with a mariachi band.
And at some point, challenging the Oscar-winning actor to a $1 million boxing match seems a good idea, so you do that, too.
That is the story, or the gist of it, from high roller and self-styled philanthropist R.J. “Robin Hood 702” Cipriani. The high-stakes professional gambler estimates he’s given away “way over” $1 million to needy families in his 40-plus years playing in Vegas.
But Robin Hood 702 was not about to give away his seats to Denzel Washington just before Saturday night’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez-gennady Golovkin bout at T-mobile Arena.
Cipriani held a pair of tickets close enough to the ring that anyone occupying them would probably be seen on the HBO pay-per-view broadcast. He was given tickets for himself and his actress/singer wife, Greice Santo.
But, as Cipriani said Tuesday afternoon, when he arrived at his seats he found Washington, in an area also occupied by such stars as Will Smith, Lebron James, Dave Chappelle and Norm Nixon. (The first version of this saga, which did not name Robin Hood 702, appeared in the New York Post’s Page Six.)
“I said to Denzel, ‘I have some bad news, but you are in my seat,’ ” Cipriani said. “He says back to me, ‘I don’t think so. Let’s take a look. Maybe you need glasses.’ ” The back-and-forth escalated, with Cipriani, a brazen, tough-talking individual originally from Philadelphia, telling Washington, “This is no movie. There is no stuntman here.”
Finally, an associate of Washington broke in and said, “He’s right. We gotta go.”
Cipriani added, “If Denzel Washington wants to settle this in the ring for $1 million, I’m in. Let’s put the gloves on. If he wants headgear, we’ll use headgear.”
Calls and emails to the actor’s public relations representatives have not been returned. Page Six quotes an unidentified Washington rep as saying, “I don’t know a thing about it.”
Two figures who saw it all happen were Mexican tycoons Carlos Bremer and Carlos Slim .Thetwo multibillionaires invited Cipriani and Santo to the VIP after-party they were hosting at the Mansion at the MGM Grand.
Canelo himself showed up, shaking hands and chatting up the well-heeled crowd.
Cipriani was more excited about the event — the entertainment, the food and the revelry — than any dispute he’d had with Washington.
“Denzel was one thing,” Robin Hood 702 said, “but the invite to the party and the party itself is the amazing part of this story.”
Idol punks up Pearl
A pioneer of the punk rock movement, Billy Idol has signed on for 10 dates at The Pearl at the Palms: five in January and five in October 2019. Idol played the venue in 2010 and 2013. He is also a former headliner at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay.
Tickets for the Palms shows start at $34.95 (minus fees) and are on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. Idol is the second extended engagement in the Pearl. Pop punks Blink-182 return in October.
Idol will be joined by Steve Stevens, his longtime lead guitarist.
“Steve Stevens, my band and I have played Vegas many times and it’s always been a blast. We can’t stay away!” Idol said in a statement Tuesday. “Las Vegas keeps us coming back for more.”
Idol’s latest release, “Vital Idol: Revitalized,” is out Sept. 28.
Angel baby on way
Strip headliner Criss Angel and Shaunyl Benson are expecting their second child in January. In a social media post, the couple announced the pregnancy, gender (a boy) and the name Xristos Yanni. It is a mix of Criss’ first name and that of his late father. It is also a reversal of the first and middle names of couple’s first child, Johnny Crisstopher.
The 4-year-old has been treated for a rare form of leukemia since October 2015.
Angel and Benson divorced in 2016 but have been making appearances as a couple for several months. The two were together, with Johnny Crisstopher, at Friday’s Tyler Robinson Foundation Rise Up Gala at Caesars Palace.
Angel declined to say if the two plan to marry again. In a text message, he said, “We’re together that’s all that matters, and that our sons are healthy. Nothing else really matters.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @ Johnnykats1 on Instagram. As of 9 p.m. Tuesday:
1. Florida firm acquires company planning Las Vegas to LA rail line
Xpresswest, the highspeed rail proposal to link Las Vegas with Los Angeles via Victorville, California, has been acquired by a company that provides rail service in Florida.
2. Lawyers for bankrupt Lucky Dragon file motion to close hotel
Several months after its casino building closed, the Lucky Dragon’s hotel tower could soon be shuttered too. 3. Some Clark County schools asking parents to save teaching jobs
At least five Clark County schools have asked parents or local businesses for donations to offset lower enrollment or the budget deficit the district faced earlier this year.
4. ‘Deadhead’ takes up life in Las Vegas after 26 years behind bars
Grateful Dead fan Timothy Tyler received a life sentence for selling LSD, but an order from President Barack Obama set him free in August. He’s now adjusting to a new world in Las Vegas.
5. Clark County school bus driver charged with sexual assault
Las Vegas police last week arrested a Clark County School District bus driver in two sexual assault cases, officials said. As of 9 p.m. Tuesday:
1. Fall fairytale gets cozy at Bellagio Conservatory
Bellagio Conservatory introduces its fall-themed garden titled “Falling Asleep.”
2. Timothy Tyler released from prison after clemency
Timothy Tyler, originally sentenced to life in prison in the 1990s for selling LSD, completed his sentence
Aug. 30 after being granted clemency by President Obama in 2016.
3. Florida firm acquires company planning Las Vegas to LA rail line
Brightline announced plans to take over the rights to Xpresswest’s 185-mile federally approved rail corridor along Interstate 15.