Mount Greenwood Boxers - 14 & 15 - Jump in CWC Corner for Support

Worry aside, Erin Murphy will be ringside Thursday night to watch her son Colin Murphy, 14, box in the Thursday Night Fights, the fundraiser for Christmas Without Cancer Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 115 Bourbon Street.

“I’ll be there to cheer him on, just like all the other sports,” said Erin.

Colin, an 8th grade multi-sport athlete from George F. Cassell Elementary School, admits to being “a little nervous” but figures his first taste of leather will bring out his competitive juices and he’ll compete the same as he does in every sport. That he’s fighting 15-year old Tommy McGuire, also from Mount Greenwood, makes the fight a friendly-turf battle. Both fighters are expected to draw local Mount Greenwood fans.

“The Christmas Without Cancer cause is such a big deal around here that a pretty good amount of people took a greater interest when they found out Colin was fighting to help local families with cancer,” said Erin, citing her empathy for the many families in Mount Greenwood victimized over the last decade.

Young Murphy stands 5-9 and weighs 120 pounds with $50 worth of quarters in his pockets and is anxious to showcase what he’s learned.

“I learned the basics of boxing from the coaches,” said Murphy. “They teach you how to prepare to be in the ring and how to dodge and weave.”

McGuire identifies with Murphy 's pre-fight butterflies. He has had two test fights and one official victory and was “insanely scared” before his first fight.

McGuire was in attendance as a fan for last year’s Thursday Night Fights fundraiser and was impressed with the amount of “great fights” as well as the cause.

“It’s a good way to make use of the money the event will bring in,” said McGuire, who has sparred with Murphy and regards him as a “really good fighter.”

Wrestling camp drew out Murphy’s love of physical competitive, but it was his father’s suggestion to try boxing that won him over. The Chicago Ag school freshman joined the Celtic Boxing Club and never looked back, crediting coaches Mike Joyce and Dan Letz with teaching him the basics and more.

“I learned so much about the defense and the offense of boxing,” said McGuire. “And the coaches always have people in the gym when you’re sparring so you’re ready when you fight in front of your first big crowd.”

Gerri Neylon founded Christmas Without Cancer to raise funds to help families fighting cancer, and through the crusade, others have devised clever ways to bring their passion in sync with hers.

In all, the Celtic Boxing Club of Chicago will present 10 live boxing bouts Thursday, May 23, 2018 at 7 p.m. at 115 Bourbon Street, 3359 W 115th Street in Merrionette Park. Tickets are $15 for adults; $10 under 21, with all proceeds benefitting Christmas Without Cancer families.

“We’re helping people help people,” said organizer Letz, who with Joyce has expanded the event’s reach to include talent from Celtic Boxing Club Chicago, USA Boxing and Letz Box Chicago.

Honing their skills and becoming better boxers parallels the challenges Neylon faces as more and more families seemingly are facing the monster cancer. Without people like Letz and Joyce investing time and their own resources the Christmas Without Cancer coffers would be empty.

“I was floored last year when they told me boxing would bring crowds,” said Neylon. “I couldn’t believe how many people showed.”

The Sweet Science is a curious sport, and those who choose to enter the ring and exchange punches draw support from their respective inner circle out, which means a Thursday night fight in the neighborhood draws family members, friends and fans.

In addition to Murphy and McGuire, Mount Greenwood boxers on the card include Ryan Clancy, 18, (a 2019 novice Golden Gloves Champ ion), and Ray Delaney, 25.

Others listed to fight include: Danny Ford, 22, and Nick McNalley, 27, of Morgan Park; Jake Moriarty, 20, of Evergreen Park (2019 165-pound Gold Glove semi-finalist); Elijah Pearson, 18, of Washington Heights (2019 178-pound novice division Gold Glove Champion.)

Again this year, Neylon will reprise her role as ring announcer, channeling her best Michael Buffer. After a heart-felt thank you to all those in attendance, the junior featherweight RN, recently retired from Christ Hospital, will grab the ring microphone and bellow: “Lets Get Ready to Rumble for Christmas Without Cancer families.”

“This is the kind of community we live in,” said Letz, “where people come for a good cause and to help others.”

Christmas Without cancer is a nonprofit charity that identifies need and then provides gifts and basic necessities to Chicagoland families with members stricken with cancer so to allow the beauty of Christmas to shine through while family members find comfort in their devotion to one another.

www.christmaswithoutcancer.org

To sponsor, donate or for more information, contact Dan Letz: 773/443-0624, danletz@yahood.com. Sponsorships are still available.