New York, NY – Junior Middleweight Captain Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson has been forced to withdraw from his Saturday, July 26 bout against contender Glen Tapia.
Melson, who was in the best shape of his professional career and prepared in an extended training camp, believes he tore his left rotator cuff Tuesday during one of his final sparring sessions. A 2008 Olympic Alternate selection, the West Point grad gave up his spot after suffering the same injury. He’d also had his left rotator cuff operated on twice in the past, including in 2008 after tearing it.
“I felt it stretch when I was throwing a punch and I immediately knew something wasn’t right,” said the dejected Melson. “I tried to work through it but the pain only got worse. First, my shoulder started to throb then it got cold. Since I hurt my rotator cuff and had surgery twice in the past, I know what a tear feels like.”
Even though he had a feeling what just took place the second his shoulder started hurting, he was hoping the pain would go away. Unfortunately, it didn’t.
“I didn’t want to believe it because I’ve worked incredibly hard and understand the significance of the Tapia fight. Not only was it a dream of mine to fight at Madison Square Garden, but a victory over Tapia would’ve put me in position to start earning significant money for Team Fight to Walk. This is truly devastating and I am heartbroken, especially after what happened during my last fight. I’m very emotional right now and don’t know what the future holds.”
All tickets purchased from Teamfighttowalk.com will be refunded.
In association with the 501 (C) 3 nonprofit Justadollarplease.org, Melson and his best friend Christan Zaccagnino created Team Fight to Walk, whose mission is to raise awareness within the boxing community as well as the entire nation about the importance of bringing Clinical Trials to the United States to help cure Spinal Cord Injuries. Team Fight to Walk is comprised of Melson, Zaccagnino, former Rutgers football player/ESPY honoree Eric LeGrand, two-time cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, Austin “No Doubt” Trout, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana, Sonya Lamonakis, Hector “Machito” Camacho Jr., WBO Junior Middleweight titlist/2008 US Olympian Demetrius “Boo” Andrade and fellow 08’ Olympian Shawn Estrada along with prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, Jeff “TNT” Spencer, Denis “Da Momma’s Boy” Douglin, Will “Power” Rosinsky, Floriano “Italiano” Pagliara, Danny “Little Mac” McDermott, Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien, Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir and Delen “Sniper” Parsley.
For more information or to make a donation, go to teamfighttowalk.com or Justadollarplease.org. All specific questions about the nature of the Clinical Trial to cure Spinal Cord Injury can be sent to boydmelson@yahoo.com.
