Boyd Rainmaker Melson Interview: WBC Ambassador of Peace
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
*Photo Credit: Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media
In an exclusive interview with Real Combat Media, Captain Boyd Melson, the junior middleweight boxer also known as ‘Rainmaker’ discussed his ‘Team Fight To Walk’ to raise awareness to help cure spinal cord injuries. The 2003 West Point graduate donates all of his purses to the fight to cure spinal cord paralysis. On December 15, 2014, Melson accepted the World Boxing Council’s Ambassador of Peace Award at the annual WBC convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Melson has raised awareness to bring stem cell trials to the United States to cure spinal cord injuries, and has recruited many notable boxers to help in the fight for the cure.
Real Combat Media: “Boyd, you recently traveled with paralyzed former boxer Paul Williams to W.M. Keck Center at Rutgers University to meet Dr. Wise Young.”
Rainmaker Melson: “We were joined at Rutgers by paralyzed 31-3 light welterweight boxer Gary ‘Tiger’ Balletto. It was a private presentation. We saw images of the spinal system before and after via diffusion tenser imagery. The part of the spinal cord that works glows. There are stem cell spinal cord studies underway here in the United States, Norway, and China. In July and August of 2015 they (the studies) are going to start recruiting patients (participants for the spinal cord studies). The locations involved in the medical research include: Kessler Rehabilitation of West Orange, New Jersey; Mount Sinai; Long Island Jewish Hospital; and McGee/Jefferson of Philadelphia.:
Real Combat Media: “Boyd, how much money will your Team Fight to Walk have to raise for the American stem cell study at Rutgers to go forward?”
Rainmaker Melson: “We have to raise five million dollars and change. We have to start pushups for paralysis (to raise some of the money).”
Real Combat Media: “You believe, like the success seen in the first China study, that American paralysis victims will walk again thanks to stem cell research?”
Rainmaker Melson: “Miracles happen when you get the money invested to create them. An athlete is why you get up after you’re knocked down.”
Real Combat Media: “You went to Rutgers with two former boxers, now paralyzed but still relatively young (Gary Balletto is 39, Paul Williams is 33). Could they be candidates for the upcoming Rutgers stem cell study?”
Rainmaker Melson: “They are looking for candidates like Gary and Paul who are injured from C5 to T12 with complete injury, who can stand erect strapped in and bear their own weight, and be between 18 and 65 years of age. You have to have the right mindset to put yourself through the rehabilitation training after stem cell surgery. It’s not like the spinal cord is cut off. when it’s turned back on, you work to rebuild your muscles. Paul wants to get into the study, hell yeah.”
Real Combat Media: “When will the Rutgers University experimental stem cell research study go forward?”
Rainmaker Melson: “Dr. Wise Young has to get approval fromthe Food and Drug Administration. In the meanwhile, Pushups For Paralysis will raise money for the costs of the future participants.”
Real Combat Media: “When will your next bout be, Boyd?”
Boyd Melson: “I’m scheduled to fight Charlie Ota in March 2015 on Broadway Boxing.”
Real Combat Media: Congratulations on your WBC award and best wishes for future success with Team Fight To Walk. Real Combat Media will continue to cover your team’s fundraising efforts for stem cell research.”
Reader’s Note: Team Fight to Walk is comprised of Melson, his friend Christan Zaccagnino, former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand, former world champion Paul ‘Punisher’ Williams, former NBA All-Star Anthony Mason, former world champion Steve USS Cunningham, former world champion Austin Trout, DeAndre Latimore, Edgar Santana, Sonya Lamonakis, Hector Camacho Jr., WBO Junior Middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade, 2008 Olympian Shawn Estrada,and such prospects as prospects Sid El Harrak, Jeff Spencer, Denis Douglin, Will Rosinsky, Floriano Pagliara, Danny McDermott, Vinny O’Brien, Ahmed Samir and Delen Parsley.For more information on Team Fight to Walk or to donate, go to Teamfighttowalk.com. All questions about Team Fight to Walk or Spinal Cord Injuries can be emailed to [email protected].
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