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MANCHESTER CT: 14 year-old Mykquan Williams says he looks exactly like his father, or at least that's what people tell him. He can see the resemblance in pictures but he doesn’t remember his father. Mykquan’s life had just begun when his father’s life ended so violently.
“I was just one week old when my father was murdered in Hartford,” said the soft-spoken boxing champion who attends school at Noah Webster in Hartford. “I think I do look like my Dad,” he said through a smile on his face just as bright as his eyes.
Mykquan or Mike, as his friends call him, is just one of the 70 boys and girls at the Manchester Ring of Champions Society or ROCS. As a two-time ringside world champion, the future looks bright for Mykquan, thanks to his long time coach and other leaders at the ring which gives at-risk youths a fighting chance. Now, the ring itself is fighting to keep its doors open. Leaders are appealing to the community to buy more tickets to its dinner-show fundraiser on May 12th.
“If we don’t sell all the tickets, it's going to be tough to expand and keep the doors open," said Kate Nicolas, Director of Advocacy for The Manchester Ring of Championship Society. Kids pay a 10 dollar a month fee but no one is ever turned away. “We’ve become home for a lot of these kids and a place to go. We want to continue our mission to change lives, but we’re going to have to sell more tickets to do that.”
The fundraiser is called The Earle Everett Memorial Boxing tournament & Dinner (named in honor of the late legendary Cop and boxing Coach Earle Everett.) Tickets are on sale now for $45. You can buy them by calling 860-712-2616 or online by clicking here!
The event will be held:
Saturday, May 12, 2012 starting at 5 PM
at Nomads, 100 Bidwell road, South Windsor, CT.
Nicolas says they’ve sold 100 tickets so far and need to sell at least 100 more. The 45 dollar ticket includes:
5 PM~cash bar and free Hors d’oeuvres
6 PM-Dinner & Dessert
Bouts begin at 7:30 PM.
Boxers from ROCS including Mykquan, will be the featured fights. Legends from the Boxing world will also be there to cheer them on including, Peter Manfredo, Marlon Starling and The First Lady of Boxing, Jackie Kallen.
“We need this money to get us through the Summer,” said long-time boxing coach Paul Cichon. “The money will help pay for the gym and to take the kids to tournaments.”
The event is also paying tribute to the late Manchester Fire Marshal Tom O’Marra and firefighters in general for their role in the community. Because of this, the first 200 people through the door will receive free 2012 Guts & Glamour calendars featuring Connecticut female firefighters. (a 20 dollar value) The calendar was named one of top 10 best in the world.
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