Photo: Courtesy of Haymakers For Hope
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio)— The House Of Blues by Fenway Park will transform from a concert venue into a boxing arena Wednesday for an amateur boxing event raising money for cancer research.
The charity organization Haymakers For Hope will be hosting Rock N Rumble X Boston 2021, which raises funds for cancer research, care, awareness, and survivorship. The event pits amateur boxers, trained in boxing gyms by professional boxers, against each other in evenly matched six-minute-long fights.
WBZ's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) spoke with Jason Vancura, one of the event's fighters, about why he decided to participate.
"This is just a small act and the ability to play a small role in the fight against cancer," Vancura said. "Haymaker provides the chance to raise awareness, to raise funds, and to really fight back against this terrible disease."
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Haymakers for Hope was founded in 2009 by Andrew Myerson and Julie Kelly, who both competed as boxers in New York City and wanted to find a way to raise money for a cause they cared about while boxing. Kelly said that while the event may consist of amateurs, Haymakers For Hope is still the real deal.
Interested fighters sign up for the event by applying to participate. After they're selected, they're paired with an opponent and begin training. Fighters without any previous experience are assigned to a gym where they can train with professionals.
While training, fighters select a charity they wish to fundraise for and then raise money for that organization using donations or ticket sales. This week's event has raised over $700,000 so far.
The Rock N Rumble X Boston 2021 takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
WBZ's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) has more.
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