F.I.S.T. Fights for New York

Oct 14, 2004

Hilton Hotel, New York, NY

Boxing is the oldest sport in the United States. Millions of people every year come to boxing events, spending hundreds of millions of dollars to see a match. While there is much excitement “in” the ring, particularly regarding the spectators’ viewpoints, there still lies much despair “outside” of the ring when boxers leave the ring for the final time, whether voluntarily, or involuntarily (injury, retirement, family situations.) One would think that a sport this old would have a players association, or at the very least a pension. The truth is that the boxing industry offers neither of these. Additionally, many boxers do not hold college degrees. If he makes it through high school (as half of them, on the average, do not), then academia has all but vanished after a boxer has graduated, and from that point onward, his life is devoted 100% to the sport. When a boxer leaves the ring for the last time, he is generally faced with the issues of having to acquire the skills needed to effectively compete in today’s non-sport job market. In today’s times, it’s tough, even for someone who has a wealth of these skills. Imagine how much more difficult it is having “none” of these skills.

In a strategic measure to counter this unavoidable skill gap, Gerry Cooney, a former fighter himself, after having talked with many boxers facing this situation, had founded the Fighter’s Initiative for Support and Training (FIST), to help bridge the gap between boxing skills and real-world skills. Gerry had systematically put into place a system that provides for health insurance, medical exams, medical assistance, neurological exams, psychiatric support, job skills assessment, emergency food provision, housing, and referrals to any government subsidized charitable programs offering pertinent services and/or resources. FIST also provides for sponsorship for employment-focused services, such as vocational training and internship programs. To date, FIST has helped in excess of 250 former boxers with the acquisition of apprenticeship programs that pay well.

On the average, entrants into the FIST program are in their early forties, with a third being married, a quarter of them divorced and the rest being single. The average boxer spends fourteen years in the ring, starting at the age of 21. About a third of these boxers, on the average, are unemployed. The highest average salary a boxer has ever received (for outside-ring employment) is about $19,000 per year. As mentioned before half of these boxers never graduated high school. Half don’t have any medical benefits ether.

Participants in the program include current fighters, or fighters who have retired—amateurs, sparring partners, and professional boxers, most of who enter the program having miniscule or no job experience. Most boxers, by reason of not having planned for their post-boxing lives, have ended up getting badly hurt because of the need for them to continue boxing past their primes. The majority of boxers earn approximately $100 per round, and their fights never amount to more than three to four bouts per years. Becoming a boxing star means getting lucky enough to end up in the top 1% within their profession. The odds are terribly against them.

How is all the kind of support FIST provides made possible? FIST is supported through a combination of funding sources, including private donations, corporate sponsors, government grants and a variety of other services. In an effort to offer an even broader range of services, FIST is currently campaigning on a national scale. Fortunately, thanks to the tireless work efforts of Gerry Cooney and his Board of Directors, the boxing industry has finally taken an interest, offering financial support of officials within the boxing industry, as well as medical and vocational specialists, particularly specialists with a concern that boxes are treated fairly.

The event featured six boxing matches, right in the center of the ballroom (yes, folks, there was a boxing ring set up in the middle of the ballroom). The first match was a 4-round featherweight match between Apollo Welch, and Angelo Gustavo Acevado. After the featherweight match was a 4-round heavyweight match between Gino Ranquellos and Kashka Mills. Next up was a 4-round light heavyweight match between Jameson Bostic and Shawn Corbin. The fourth match was a cruiserweight 6-rounder, between John Douglas and Jamal McKay, which was followed by an 8-round match between Marcos Primera and Christian Lloyd Joseph. The main event, a championship fight for the NABA Welterweight belt, was a 12-round match between Chris Smith and Dillon Carew

The event was star-studded, indeed, which was inspirational because it showed the amount of support Gerry's organization is getting--support that is vitally needed in order to advance this valuable causewith. The announcer was none other than the famed announcer Michael “Are you ready to rumble?” Buffer. Sports celebrities in attendence, who came to give their support, included Former Middleweight World Boxing Champion Jake “The Raging Bull” Lamotta; Former Heavyweight World Boxing Champion Larry Holmes; Former Heavyweight All-Time Boxing Great Smokin’ Joe Frazier; Former Heavyweight World Boxing Champion, Ken Norton; Former Lightweight/Light Welterweight World Boxing Champion and Hall of Fame Inductee Carlos Ortiz; Former Heavyweight World Boxing Champion James “Bone Crusher” Smith; Former Two-Time Middleweight/Super Middleweight World Boxing Champion Iran “The Bronx Bull” Barkley; Former Middleweight World Boxing Champion Vito Anturfermo; Former Heavyweight World Boxing Contender Alex “Destroyer” Stewart, Former Middleweight Boxing Contender, Michael Olajide, Jr; Former Lightweight/Current Light Welterweight World Boxing Champion, Arturo “Thunder” Gatti; and many, many more celebrities.

For a first-time gala, this was an outstanding turnout. Teddy Atlas, Former Trainer of Mike Tyson, and ESPN Sports Commentator, was also on hand, as were celebrities from other sports, such as Former Rangers Great Rod Gilbert. This was a great event, there were numerous boxing celebrities present, and numerous other celebrities tied to the boxing-industry (writers, authors, commentators, promoters and more) present at the event.

We would like to thank Mr. Gerry Cooney, the Founder and Chairman of FIST for personally inviting us to cover this event. We also wish to thank publicist Ms. Marybeth Evens, from Rubenstein Public Relations, Inc. for doing a wonderful job in handling the public relations aspect of the event.

Anyone wishing more information about how to support or join FIST may visit its official website, at www.helpboxers.org.

Abbey H. Muneer is the Executive Director of H.A.D. Organization of New York City, Inc., a world-famous athlete, author and, above all, a humanitarian. Abbey will write articles about charity events, benefits, fundraisers and galas which are raising money for humantiarian causes. If you are interested in having Abbey and one his staff members cover one of your charity events, benefits, fundraisers or galas, feel free to notify us one week in advance, at LNEvents@hadofnyc.org, or telephone us at (718) 507-7616, between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm e.s.t. and ask to speak to Abbey or Maria. If you would like more information, or would like to have Liberty News Online Magazine consult your next charitable event, please feel free to visit our website, at http://www.hadofnyc.org/store/success.html, email us at humanitarians@hadofnyc.org, or telephone our hotline, at (718) 507-7616, between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm e.s.t. (U.S.A.)