LeGrand Joins Team Fight to Walk!‏

Eric LeGrand is the newest member of Team Fight to Walk.

Created in 2011 by boxer and West Point graduate Captain Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson, Team Fight to Walk’s goal 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. In association with Team Fight to Walk, Melson, who has a record of 8-1 with 4 knockouts, donates all of his fight purses to Justadollarplease.org to help support the trial.

A New Jersey native, LeGrand was one of the Garden State's top recruits and earned a scholarship to play football at Rutgers in the fall of 2008. On October 16, 2010, the 6’2 275 lb Avenel native severely injured his spinal cord while attempting to tackle Malcolm Brown of Army. The two violently collided and LeGrand remained on the ground for more than three minutes before medical personnel took him off the field.

LeGrand was transported to the ICU at Hackensack University Medical Center, where doctors determined he was a quadriplegic. Doctors told him that every day would be a severe struggle but LeGrand refused to give up. Within three months, LeGrand was able to move his shoulders and felt sensation throughout his body. In July 2011, after working tirelessly during rehabilitation sessions, LeGrand stood upright with the aid of a walker.

Later that year, LeGrand led Rutgers onto the field prior to their game against West Virginia. Sports Illustrated readers voted the best moment in 2011. On May 2, 2012, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, now coached by former Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano, signed the courageous 21-year-old to an honorary contract.

"I’m very happy to be a part of the team and a part of the journey to find a cure for spinal cord injuries,” stated LeGrand. “Everything happens for a reason and miracles happen every day.”

“Eric is the ultimate fighter,” said Melson, who is connected to LeGrand through Dr. Patricia Morton and the Rutgers Foundation. “My best friend Christan Zaccagnino was paralyzed in a diving accident when she was a child and I’ve spent countless hours with her, so I truly understand what Eric goes through to the best of my ability without actually being in a wheelchair myself. He’s an inspiration to people from all walks of life and his inner-strength is unbelievable. We’ve received an excellent response from the boxing community and our roster of fighters supporting the cause continues to grow, but Eric’s presence will help us reach new heights!”

LeGrand will be honored for his courageousness July 11 at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles and Melson’s next bout is tentatively scheduled for August in New York City.

In addition to LeGrand and Melson, Team Fight to Walk is comprised of former two-time cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana, Hector “Machito” Camacho Jr., 2008 US Olympians Demetrius “Boo” Andrade and Shawn Estrada along with prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, 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.

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The Golden Boy is coming home to HBO. For the first time in seven years, Oscar De La Hoya will fight live on HBO against former champ Steve Forbes

Olympic Gold Medalist and Six-Division World Champion OSCAR DE LA HOYA and Former World Champion, STEVE FORBES, "HOMECOMING," set for Saturday, May 3 at The Home Depot Center in Los Angeles and televised live on HBO. The bout also marks De La Hoya's return to HBO's Championship Boxing since his last appearance in 2000.

Steve Forbes


"Homecoming" is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with AEG and The Home Depot Center, and sponsored by Cazadores Tequila, Tecate Beer, Rockstar Energy Drink, Southwest Airlines and Affliction Clothing. The event will be televised live by HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10pm ET / 7pm PT.

Oscar Returns

Oscar De La Hoya is one of the most successful prize fighters in boxing history, if the size of his prizes is the measuring stick.



As his May 3 return to boxing approaches after a self-imposed 20-month exile from the ring, De La Hoya is preparing for his 28th world title fight and to face his 22nd world champion. In those fights he has won some form of a world title in six different weight classes ranging from 130 pounds to 160 pounds, a spread of the scales even someone like the legendary Henry Armstrong would have been proud to call his own.

A superstar whose popularity transcends boxing, Oscar is considered to be one of the best fighters in the world at any weight - "Pound-for-Pound."

He is also the biggest non-heavyweight attraction and moneymaker at the gate. Oscar has defeated 17 current or former world champions, one twice.

Oscar fought WBC-IBF middleweight world champion Bernard Hopkins in a title unification bout on September 18, and after a close battle, Hopkins stopped De La Hoya in the ninth round. Oscar lost no prestige in defeat though, gaining the respect of Hopkins and the boxing community for his continued willingness to fight the best.

"Boxing is in my blood. This is the sport I love and will continue being in as long as my body and mind allow me to."



Oscar De La Hoya won the WBO middleweight world title in his last fight on June 5 with a 12-round unanimous decision against defending champion Felix Sturm of Germany.

At the post-fight press conference, Oscar said, "What can I say? It was a tough fight. I underestimated Sturm, but we trained hard and I did my job, I have now captured six titles, and now I look forward to fighting Hopkins. I am really looking forward to that. I have no excuses. Sturm came to fight and he prepared himself very well. He was a very game fighter. I had to fight hard to win this fight, like a warrior. He took me off my game plan because he is a good fighter, but we changed things up and I pulled it out."

Oscar's previous fight was a controversial decision loss against Shane Mosley - the vast majority of people who watched the fight, some 75% according to various internet polls, thought Oscar deserved to win.



Regarding that fight, Oscar said, "When I fought Mosley the first time around, I felt like I lost, that he got me that night. With this fight, I just don't feel that way. I don't want to blame anyone or point fingers, but that will be a mystery to me for the rest of my life. I put it in its proper place. I'm moving forward. After talking with my family and my wife, I feel wonderful. I feel like the champ. My body and my mind feel great. I feel fresh. I feel at ease."

"I will continue on in the sport, the sport that made me who I am today. Boxing is in my blood. This is the sport I love and will continue being in as long as my body and mind allow me to."

Oscar has been successful at the highest levels of competition, and has beaten current or former world champions Felix Sturm, Fernando Vargas, Pernell Whitaker, Arturo Gatti, Ike Quartey, Julio Cesar Chavez twice, Hector Camacho , Miguel Angel Gonzalez, James Leija, Genaro Hernandez, Rafael Ruelas, John John Molina, Jorge Paez, Javier Francisco, Castillejo, Yory Boy Campas, Jimmi Bredahl and Troy Dorsey.
In December, 2001, Oscar formed his own boxing promotion company, Golden Boy Promotions...

2007, 2008 All photos by "El Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications and Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience all rights reserved