A former World Military Boxing Champion is helping people on Staten Island battling addiction to take their fight in the ring with starting free, monthly boxing clinics.
While staring drug addiction in the face, Joe Sica says he learned a hard lesson. He says you can't be ashamed to talk about it.
"People didn’t know I had a problem," Sica says.
He says when he was younger, he didn't get the help he needed. Now, he doesn't hesitate to accept a helping hand. On Saturday he found one with a professional at Rustam's Boxing Gym.
His name is Boyd "the Rainmaker" Melson.
Melson, the 48th World Military Boxing Champion and a Captain in the United States Army Reserve, is organizing free monthly boxing clinics for people battling addiction on Staten Island. A heroin epidemic in the borough claimed more than 90 lives last year, according to the District Attorney.
"I figure if there’s a human going around killing this many people as this drug has on this island, [then] the whole country will be after him or her,” says Nelson.
So he's fighting that elusive opponent in the ring through a sport that takes dedication, focus, and a tolerance for suffering.
"This sport itself has a highly addictive factor to it,” Boyd explains.
His ultimate goal, he says, is to “have them fall in love with this environment and this community.”
“When they come in here- it’s probably the most judgmental free zone you’ll find yourself in," Melson says.
It's in that zone that Boyd hopes people can strive for a better version of themselves and knock out the disease of addiction.
"You take care of your brother and sisters to the left and right if everyone does that the universe will work itself out,” Melson says.
The next clinic will be held March 11 at DeMarco's Boxing and Fitness from 1 to 3 p.m. with more sessions to be announced.