Boxers from Army’s World Class Athlete Program to Support Melson!

Posted on | July 17, 2011 | No Comments

New York, NY (July 17, 2011) – Gunning for his third consecutive knockout, Captain Boyd Melson will have extra motivation when he battles Zach Schumach Wednesday evening at the Oceana Theater in Brooklyn, NY.

A West Point graduate, Melson, 4-0 (2 KO’s), will be backed by a group of boxers from the Army’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) that are competing in next month’s Olympic Boxing Team Trials. Melson’s coach at the WCAP Basheer Abdullah, a three-time U.S. Olympic Boxing Team Coach, is also slated to cheer on his former pupil.

Fighting for the second time in Brooklyn, where he spent most of his childhood, Melson is excited that he’ll have a group of supporters to promote the “Army Strong” fighting spirit.

“I’m going to have the most influential part of my boxing family with me at this fight,” said Melson, who was selected as an alternate on the 2008 Olympic Team but had to withdraw with an injury. “Coach Basheer Abdullah will be watching over me along with all of my Army teammates that I traveled the world with. Coach Abdullah came to the gym last week to watch me train and told me that we’re going to be Army Strong on July 20. I’m ecstatic about this and the extra support outside of the ring will motivate me that much more to go out and put on a great show!”

Melson-Schumach serves as the co-main event on a Salita Promotions card. Tickets are available on teamfighttowalk.com.

Following the bout, Melson’s entire will be donated purse to Justadollarplease.org, a Non-Profit set up to raise the much needed funds for the first spinal cord injury trial in the United States using umbilical cord stem cells.

In association with Justadollarplease.org, Melson created Team Fight to Walk, whose mission is to raise awareness within the boxing community about the importance of stem cell research for spinal cord injuries. Team Fight to Walk is comprised of Melson, IBF cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana and prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, Denis “Da Momma’s Boy” Douglin, Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir and Delen “Sniper” Parsley.