Retired champs reach out to former boxers in need through ‘Ring 10’ foundation

Retired champs reach out to former boxers in need through ‘Ring 10’ foundation

Remembering the knockout punches and the good times. But for retired boxing champs like Mark Breland and Iran Barkley, they’re helping their fellow boxers in the toughest fight of their lives.

“When you are champion, everybody wants to be around and doing everything. Everybody loves a champion,” Breland said. “But when you are down and out,  they act like they don’t know you no more.”

That is extremely difficult for aging boxers, who are battling everything from financial hardships to health problems.

The champs are a part of Ring 10, a veteran boxing foundation helping former boxers.

Retired pro Richard Burton says they have to help each other.

“Sometimes, most of the fighters, they fall off. Most of us are not taught how to save and manage your money as you retire,” Burton said. “I was in my 20s when I was making a lot of money. When you retire, that money doesn’t stick around if you  don’t have a good  manager to guide you or a good lawyer to tell you what to do.”

Ring 10 has been around for eight years, raising money for boxers who need a helping hand.

“Anything and everything,” said Matt Farrago, founder and acting president of Ring 10. “What do you need? What do I need to get you back on your feet?”

Boxing judge Harold Lederman and others involved in various aspects of the sport are assisting, along with retired officers, firefighters and boxing fans. Ring 10 has helped fighters battling cancer or struggling to put food on the table by sending them gift cards for groceries.

“From their local supermarket. They get it in the mail or they pick it up at the store,” Farrago said. “And they have a certain amount of credit on that card. Every single month, they know they can buy food. They can’t buy liquor, they can’t buy cigarettes, they can’t buy alcohol or beer.”

“There are a lot of fighters walking around that are not getting the help and attention that they really need,” said boxer Tyrone Jackson.

Many admit they made hundreds of thousands of dollars, or even millions. But with bad investments, drugs, gambling, sometimes manipulating managers and promoters, the money disappeared. Not to mention after taking a pounding for years, they don’t get a pension.

“We don’t have a retirement plan. Every other sport does. We are the only sport that doesn’t have a retirement,” Burton said. “That is kind of sad because there’s a lot of great champions right now that are doing bad.”

Hoping to make a bigger difference in more boxers’ lives, this Sunday, Ring 10 is holding its annual fundraiser in the Bronx, with several celebrity boxers, including four-time world champion Roberto Duran.

Ring 10 has been instrumental in getting champion Iran Barkley back on his feet, and he’s trying to do the same for others.

“When it is all over, if you don’t have nothing, at least you have some friends to fall back on and to build you and to give you courage, to keep you going on,” Barkley said. “That is important. That is what you need, a support system.”

To learn more about the foundation, check out their website, Ring10.org.