Havoc Boxing: Melson Devotes Pro Debut To Stricken Friend

On Saturday night November 20th one of the most unique and exceptional young men ever to step in a boxing ring as Jr. Middleweight Boyd Melson will make his pro debut in a four round bout that will be part of a big night of boxing promoted by Robert Diaz and Havoc Boxing.

To say Melson is an easy guy to root for may be an understatement. Melson not only compiled an impressive amateur record which landed him in the 2004 & 2008 United States Olympic Trials. He graduated from West Point as a lieutenant and in 2006 was promoted to Captain.

Melson earned his MBA at Touro University in Business Administration. In 2004, Melson won the world Military boxing championship

“West Point taught me what life has to offer”, said Melson. “It taught me about selflessness and working towards a higher calling”

“If the Olympic trials were in 2006, I would have made the team because I had a hurt shoulder but still competed and then ran into Demetrius Andrade so I became an alternate to the team”, said the 2006 National champion.

But on November 20th, Melson’s story takes yet another heartfelt turn as he will donate his entire purse to Stem-Cell Research.

This is not a case where an athlete wants to make a donation to make headlines but this is a cause that Melson has been fighting for long before he thought about becoming a professional boxer.

Melson has been a supporter of Stem-Cell research since he met a young lady named Christian Zaccangino. Zaccangino at age ten had a swimming accident where she broke two vertebrae and injured her spinal cord and has been confined to a wheelchair for seventeen years.

Zaccangino is the best friend of aspiring champion boxer and Melson fights for her as hard as he fights in the ring as Melson will stop at nothing to help with Stem Cell research.

“She’s my rock. She inspires me so much. When I am training and I feel I tired I dig down deep and say to myself how lucky I am to feel tired because I know Christian doesn’t have the opportunity to feel that type of tired. Thinking of her makes me not quit”

In 2008, while training for the trials Melson accompanied Zaccangino to China for a surgery that has not yet been approved in the United States. Melson trained in empty rooms and ran foreign streets by himself just to be by Christian’s side while she underwent an experimental procedure.

“She has got some case strength back since the procedure. She is able to get from her chair to her bed on her own. Things like that she was not able to do before China.”

Dr. Wise Yung, has been approved for a first United States Clinical trial operation which will inject cells from an umbilical cord into Christan’s spine in an effort to gain more strength.

In November 20th, Melson will sport an image of a wheelchair in camouflage on his trunks to pay homage to disabled veterans. Melson will also display the phrase “Fight To walk” which will bring awareness to not only Christian but all Spinal Cord injuries that are fighting to walk.

“The courage she shows is just incredible. She will always be part of me and we will not stop until we can walk

Melson’s grandparents were survivors of the Holocaust in Poland. Melson is currently a company commander in the Army Reserves at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn.

In the main event, World ranked (IBF #5), Curtis Stevens (21-3, 15 KO’s) of Brooklyn will take on an opponent to be named in a eight round Super Middleweight bout.

Will Rosinsky (12-0, 7 KO’s) will square off against Yasin Rashid (7-0, 2 KO’s) in a Light heavyweight bout pitting undefeated Brooklyn natives in an eight round affair.

Light Heavyweight contender, Elvir Muriqi (37-5, 23 KO’s) will take part in a ten round co-feature. Undefeated Featherweight Joselito Collado (11-0, 3 KO’s) of Queens, NY will take part in a Featherweight bout scheduled for six rounds.

Undefeated Cruiserweight Stivin Bujac (2-0, 2 KO’s) will take part in a four round bout. Undefeated Light Heavyweight Seanie Monaghan (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Long Beach, NY will take on an opponent o be named.

Popular Lightweight Shemuel Pagan (1-0) of Brooklyn will battle Jamel Brown (0-1) of the Bronx in a Lightweight bout scheduled for four rounds.

There will be a press conference on Wednesday November 17th at 2pm at Portobello’s Pizzeria at 83 Murray street between Greenwich and West Broadway in New York City

Tickets for this special night of boxing are priced at $50 for all seats and can be purchased at the Following Locations: The Aviator Box Office, New Legend Boxing Club (718) 487 4474 or www.havocboxingnyc.com

The Aviator Sports Complex is located at 3159 Flatbush Ave – Brooklyn, N.Y. 11234.