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As an amateur, Melson won the 48th [[International Military Sports Council|World Military Boxing Championship]] [[gold medal]] in the 69 kg. weight class, and was a four-time [[United States Army]] champion, a three-time NCBA [[All-American]] boxer, a four-time West Point Brigade Open Boxing Champion, and received the Colonel Marcus Award. He also won gold medals at the All Army Boxing Championships twice and at the Armed Forces Boxing Championships twice. He made it to the quarterfinals in the welterweight [[2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships]], and won a bronze medal at the 2005 [[U.S. national amateur boxing championships|US Amateur Boxing Championships]].
As an amateur, Melson won the 48th [[International Military Sports Council|World Military Boxing Championship]] [[gold medal]] in the 69 kg. weight class, and was a four-time [[United States Army]] champion, a three-time NCBA [[All-American]] boxer, a four-time West Point Brigade Open Boxing Champion, and received the Colonel Marcus Award. He also won gold medals at the All Army Boxing Championships twice and at the Armed Forces Boxing Championships twice. He made it to the quarterfinals in the welterweight [[2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships]], and won a bronze medal at the 2005 [[U.S. national amateur boxing championships|US Amateur Boxing Championships]].


As a professional, through May 2015, Melson was 15–1–1, with 4 of his wins coming by [[knockout]].<ref name="boxrec2">{{cite news|url=http://news.boxrec.com/news/2011/behind-results-we-25-july11 |title=Behind The Results |author=Eric Armit |work=BoxRec News|date=July 25, 2011 |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref> He is {{convert|5|ft|10|in|m}} tall, and weighs {{Unit weight|lb|154|0}}.<ref name="thejewishweek1">{{cite news|author=Steve Lipman |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/jewish_boxer_hurts_help_heal |title=A Jewish Boxer Hurts To Help Heal |work=The Jewish Week |date=July 14, 2011 |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref> Melson donates all of the money that he earns in his boxing matches to [[stem cell research]] and his efforts have been profiled on ''[[Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel]]'', [[ESPN.com]], ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', and [[Yahoo!]].
As a professional, through May 2015, Melson was 15–1–1, with 4 of his wins coming by [[knockout]].<ref name="boxrec2">{{cite news |url=http://news.boxrec.com/news/2011/behind-results-we-25-july11 |title=Behind The Results |author=Eric Armit |work=BoxRec News |date=July 25, 2011 |accessdate=August 9, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317130934/http://news.boxrec.com/news/2011/behind-results-we-25-july11 |archivedate=March 17, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He is {{convert|5|ft|10|in|m}} tall, and weighs {{Unit weight|lb|154|0}}.<ref name="thejewishweek1">{{cite news|author=Steve Lipman |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/jewish_boxer_hurts_help_heal |title=A Jewish Boxer Hurts To Help Heal |work=The Jewish Week |date=July 14, 2011 |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref> Melson donates all of the money that he earns in his boxing matches to [[stem cell research]] and his efforts have been profiled on ''[[Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel]]'', [[ESPN.com]], ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', and [[Yahoo!]].


In 2013, he was inducted into the [[National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]].
In 2013, he was inducted into the [[National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]].


==Early and academic life==
==Early and academic life==
Melson is Jewish, and was born in [[White Plains, New York]], to an Israeli Jewish mother (Annette Melson; also an Army veteran) and a Creole father.<ref name="thejewishweek1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.train2perfection.com/2012/11/boyd-melson-is-fighting-for-a-cure/ |title=Boyd Melson is Fighting for a Cure |publisher=Train 2 Perfection |date= |accessdate=November 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Steve Lipman |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/boyd_melson |title=Boyd Melson |publisher=The Jewish Week |date=July 14, 2011 |accessdate=November 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-10-19/news/34562209_1_boyd-melson-devon-alexander-pablo-cesar-cano/2 |title=Daily News America |publisher=NY Daily News |date= |accessdate=November 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Andrew Sherwood |url=http://www.totallyjewish.com/football/features/?content_id=16337 |title=Fighting On Two Fronts; Boxer Boyd Melson is a man on a mission.|publisher=TotallyJewish.com |date= |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.boxrec.com/news/2011/snips-and-snipes-25-july-2011 |title=Snips and Snipes |work=BoxRec News |date=July 25, 2011 |author=Eric Armit |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref> His maternal grandparents were [[Holocaust survivor]]s from Poland.<ref name="thejewishweek1"/><ref name="google1">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dAq4TGQsWwwC&pg=PA310 |title=Day by day in Jewish sports history |publisher=KTAV Publishing House, Inc. |year=2008 |author=Bob Wechsler|ISBN=0-88125-969-1 |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref><ref name="boricuaboxing1">{{cite news|url=http://boricuaboxing.com/in-his-pro-debut-captain-boyd-melson-will-donate-his-entire-purse-to-stem-cell-research/ |title=In his Pro Debut, Captain Boyd Melson Will Donate His Entire Purse to Stem Cell Research |publisher= Borica Boxing|date= October 29, 2010|accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/news/4047.stm/speechless/rubashkin_loses_bid_for_new_trial/ |title=Salita Promoting his Title Fight|work=Baltimore Jewish Times |date=October 29, 2010 |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref> He said: <blockquote>"My grandfather, while being put onto a train en route to a [[death camp]], escaped by sliding down the receptor tank full of defecation. It deposited him down the track allowing the train to pass over him until he could run off escaping. That is what he did to fight for his life and allow his bloodline of Judaism to pass down to his children, and now his grandchildren in me.”<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|url=http://www.jns.org/latest-articles/2013/3/15/identity-through-athletics-the-jewish-sports-hall-of-fames-2013-class |title=‘Identity through athletics’: The Jewish Sports Hall of Fame’s 2013 class |publisher=Jns.org |date=March 15, 2013 |accessdate=November 9, 2013}}</ref></blockquote>
Melson is Jewish, and was born in [[White Plains, New York]], to an Israeli Jewish mother (Annette Melson; also an Army veteran) and a Creole father.<ref name="thejewishweek1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.train2perfection.com/2012/11/boyd-melson-is-fighting-for-a-cure/ |title=Boyd Melson is Fighting for a Cure |publisher=Train 2 Perfection |date= |accessdate=November 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Steve Lipman |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/boyd_melson |title=Boyd Melson |publisher=The Jewish Week |date=July 14, 2011 |accessdate=November 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-10-19/news/34562209_1_boyd-melson-devon-alexander-pablo-cesar-cano/2 |title=Daily News America |publisher=NY Daily News |date= |accessdate=November 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Andrew Sherwood |url=http://www.totallyjewish.com/football/features/?content_id=16337 |title=Fighting On Two Fronts; Boxer Boyd Melson is a man on a mission.|publisher=TotallyJewish.com |date= |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.boxrec.com/news/2011/snips-and-snipes-25-july-2011 |title=Snips and Snipes |work=BoxRec News |date=July 25, 2011 |author=Eric Armit |accessdate=August 9, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317130950/http://news.boxrec.com/news/2011/snips-and-snipes-25-july-2011 |archivedate=March 17, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> His maternal grandparents were [[Holocaust survivor]]s from Poland.<ref name="thejewishweek1"/><ref name="google1">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dAq4TGQsWwwC&pg=PA310 |title=Day by day in Jewish sports history |publisher=KTAV Publishing House, Inc. |year=2008 |author=Bob Wechsler|ISBN=0-88125-969-1 |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref><ref name="boricuaboxing1">{{cite news |url=http://boricuaboxing.com/in-his-pro-debut-captain-boyd-melson-will-donate-his-entire-purse-to-stem-cell-research/ |title=In his Pro Debut, Captain Boyd Melson Will Donate His Entire Purse to Stem Cell Research |publisher=Borica Boxing |date=October 29, 2010 |accessdate=August 9, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121051720/http://boricuaboxing.com/in-his-pro-debut-captain-boyd-melson-will-donate-his-entire-purse-to-stem-cell-research/ |archivedate=November 21, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/news/4047.stm/speechless/rubashkin_loses_bid_for_new_trial/ |title=Salita Promoting his Title Fight |work=Baltimore Jewish Times |date=October 29, 2010 |accessdate=August 9, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He said: <blockquote>"My grandfather, while being put onto a train en route to a [[death camp]], escaped by sliding down the receptor tank full of defecation. It deposited him down the track allowing the train to pass over him until he could run off escaping. That is what he did to fight for his life and allow his bloodline of Judaism to pass down to his children, and now his grandchildren in me.”<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|url=http://www.jns.org/latest-articles/2013/3/15/identity-through-athletics-the-jewish-sports-hall-of-fames-2013-class |title=‘Identity through athletics’: The Jewish Sports Hall of Fame’s 2013 class |publisher=Jns.org |date=March 15, 2013 |accessdate=November 9, 2013}}</ref></blockquote>


He boxes with a [[Star of David]] on his trunks.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.trufanboxing.com/TaleOf%20The.htm |title=Tale Of The Tape; The Fighting Promotor Scores a KO |publisher=Trufanboxing.com |date=July 20, 2011 |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref><ref name=Rain>{{cite web|url=http://www.boydmelson.com/about.html |title=The Rainmaker-Boyd Melson; Behind the Gloves |publisher=Boydmelson.com |date= |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref> Melson grew up primarily in [[Brooklyn, New York]].<ref name="boxingnews1"/><ref name="usatoday2006"/>
He boxes with a [[Star of David]] on his trunks.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.trufanboxing.com/TaleOf%20The.htm |title=Tale Of The Tape; The Fighting Promotor Scores a KO |publisher=Trufanboxing.com |date=July 20, 2011 |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref><ref name=Rain>{{cite web|url=http://www.boydmelson.com/about.html |title=The Rainmaker-Boyd Melson; Behind the Gloves |publisher=Boydmelson.com |date= |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref> Melson grew up primarily in [[Brooklyn, New York]].<ref name="boxingnews1"/><ref name="usatoday2006"/>
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==Army champion and world military champion==
==Army champion and world military champion==
Melson started boxing in [[National Collegiate Boxing Association]] (NCBA) competition while he was a [[cadet]] at West Point.<ref name="usatoday2006"/><ref name="jewishsports1">{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishsports.org/jewishsports/detail.asp?sp=106 |title=Boyd Melson |publisher=The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum |date=April 3, 2005 |accessdate=August 9, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909082650/http://www.jewishsports.org:80/jewishsports/detail.asp?sp=106 |archivedate=September 9, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> He was picked for the [[US Army World Class Athlete Program]], and sent to [[Fort Carson]], [[Colorado]].<ref name="usatoday2006"/><ref name="njjewishnews1"/>
Melson started boxing in [[National Collegiate Boxing Association]] (NCBA) competition while he was a [[cadet]] at West Point.<ref name="usatoday2006"/><ref name="jewishsports1">{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishsports.org/jewishsports/detail.asp?sp=106 |title=Boyd Melson |publisher=The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum |date=April 3, 2005 |accessdate=August 9, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909082650/http://www.jewishsports.org/jewishsports/detail.asp?sp=106 |archivedate=September 9, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> He was picked for the [[US Army World Class Athlete Program]], and sent to [[Fort Carson]], [[Colorado]].<ref name="usatoday2006"/><ref name="njjewishnews1"/>


Melson was a four-time [[United States Army]] champion.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B-5RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iXQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6952,758014&dq=boyd-melson&hl=en |title=Thurman Wins Again; Will Face Favorite Today |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=August 22, 2007 |author=John C. Cotey |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref><ref name="eastsideboxing1">{{cite news|url=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=28545&more=1 |title=Wladimir could fight Chisora-Fury winner; Wach-McBride on 7/29; Brighton Shore Fights |publisher=Eastsideboxing.com |date=July 5, 2011 |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref> He was also a three-time NCBA [[All-American]] boxer, a four-time West Point Brigade Open Boxing Champion, and received the Colonel Marcus Award, which is given to the best West Point boxer at graduation.<ref name="jewishsports1"/> He was trained by former [[lightweight]] world champion [[Joey Gamache]].<ref name="eastsideboxing1"/>
Melson was a four-time [[United States Army]] champion.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B-5RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iXQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6952,758014&dq=boyd-melson&hl=en |title=Thurman Wins Again; Will Face Favorite Today |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=August 22, 2007 |author=John C. Cotey |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref><ref name="eastsideboxing1">{{cite news|url=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=28545&more=1 |title=Wladimir could fight Chisora-Fury winner; Wach-McBride on 7/29; Brighton Shore Fights |publisher=Eastsideboxing.com |date=July 5, 2011 |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref> He was also a three-time NCBA [[All-American]] boxer, a four-time West Point Brigade Open Boxing Champion, and received the Colonel Marcus Award, which is given to the best West Point boxer at graduation.<ref name="jewishsports1"/> He was trained by former [[lightweight]] world champion [[Joey Gamache]].<ref name="eastsideboxing1"/>


In 2004, he won the 48th [[International Military Sports Council|World Military Boxing Championship]] [[gold medal]] in the 69&nbsp;kg. weight class by defeating [[Elshod Rasulov]] of [[Uzbekistan]] at [[Fort Huachuca]], [[Arizona]] (as [[Ait Hammi Miloud]] of Morocco shared the bronze medal with Vyacheslav Kusov of Ukraine).<ref name="google1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://armedforcessports.defense.gov/box04.html |title=2004 CISM Military Boxing Championships |publisher=Armedforcessports.defense.gov |date=November 1, 2004 |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cism-milsport.org/eng/003_SPORTS/003_boxing/results.asp |title=48th World Military Boxing Championship, Fort Huachuca, Arizona, USA, 22–31 October 2004|publisher=CISM – Conseil International du Sport Militaire (International Military Sports Council)|date= |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref> That year he also won gold medals at the All Army Boxing Championships and the Armed Forces Boxing Championships.<ref name="jewishsports1"/>
In 2004, he won the 48th [[International Military Sports Council|World Military Boxing Championship]] [[gold medal]] in the 69&nbsp;kg. weight class by defeating [[Elshod Rasulov]] of [[Uzbekistan]] at [[Fort Huachuca]], [[Arizona]] (as [[Ait Hammi Miloud]] of Morocco shared the bronze medal with Vyacheslav Kusov of Ukraine).<ref name="google1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://armedforcessports.defense.gov/box04.html |title=2004 CISM Military Boxing Championships |publisher=Armedforcessports.defense.gov |date=November 1, 2004 |accessdate=August 9, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016214953/http://armedforcessports.defense.gov/box04.html |archivedate=October 16, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cism-milsport.org/eng/003_SPORTS/003_boxing/results.asp|title=48th World Military Boxing Championship, Fort Huachuca, Arizona, USA, 22–31 October 2004|publisher=CISM – Conseil International du Sport Militaire (International Military Sports Council)|date=|accessdate=August 9, 2011|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806034954/http://www.cism-milsport.org/eng/003_SPORTS/003_boxing/results.asp|archivedate=August 6, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> That year he also won gold medals at the All Army Boxing Championships and the Armed Forces Boxing Championships.<ref name="jewishsports1"/>


Melson made it to the quarterfinals in the welterweight [[2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships]], losing to future pro star [[Erislandy Lara]] of Cuba, the eventual gold medal winner.<ref name="usatoday2006"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Championships/WorldChamps2005.html |title=World Championships; Mianyang, China; November 13–20, 2005 |publisher=Amateur-boxing.strefa.pl |date= |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref> That year he also won gold medals at the All Army Boxing Championships and the Armed Forces Boxing Championships, and a bronze medal at the 2005 [[U.S. national amateur boxing championships|US Amateur Boxing Championships]].<ref name="jewishsports1"/>
Melson made it to the quarterfinals in the welterweight [[2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships]], losing to future pro star [[Erislandy Lara]] of Cuba, the eventual gold medal winner.<ref name="usatoday2006"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Championships/WorldChamps2005.html |title=World Championships; Mianyang, China; November 13–20, 2005 |publisher=Amateur-boxing.strefa.pl |date= |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref> That year he also won gold medals at the All Army Boxing Championships and the Armed Forces Boxing Championships, and a bronze medal at the 2005 [[U.S. national amateur boxing championships|US Amateur Boxing Championships]].<ref name="jewishsports1"/>
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==Professional career==
==Professional career==
Melson became a professional in 2010 to raise research funds to honor a woman who had been his girlfriend.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doghouseboxing.com/Chee/Chee1109eee05.htm |title=USA Boxing news: The Countdown to the Opening Bell Begins |publisher=Doghouseboxing.com |date=November 9, 2005 |accessdate=October 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=12054&more=1 |title=The Nation’s Top Boxers to Face Off at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Boxing, August 20–26 |publisher=Eastsideboxing.com |date=August 13, 2007 |accessdate=October 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2360461 |title=Melson wins at 152 lbs.; defending champs advance |publisher=ESPN |date=March 8, 2006 |accessdate=October 8, 2011}}</ref> She had been in a wheelchair for 17 years, since the age of 10, following a diving accident.<ref name="thejewishweek1"/><ref name=Rain/> They had met during his senior year at West Point, when she was already using a wheelchair due to a diving accident.<ref name=Rain/>
Melson became a professional in 2010 to raise research funds to honor a woman who had been his girlfriend.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doghouseboxing.com/Chee/Chee1109eee05.htm |title=USA Boxing news: The Countdown to the Opening Bell Begins |publisher=Doghouseboxing.com |date=November 9, 2005 |accessdate=October 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=12054&more=1 |title=The Nation’s Top Boxers to Face Off at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Boxing, August 20–26 |publisher=Eastsideboxing.com |date=August 13, 2007 |accessdate=October 8, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2360461 |title=Melson wins at 152 lbs.; defending champs advance |publisher=ESPN |date=March 8, 2006 |accessdate=October 8, 2011}}</ref> She had been in a wheelchair for 17 years, since the age of 10, following a diving accident.<ref name="thejewishweek1"/><ref name=Rain/> They had met during his senior year at West Point, when she was already using a wheelchair due to a diving accident.<ref name=Rain/>


Melson worked tirelessly to educate himself on spinal cord injuries and stem cell research. He traveled abroad with girlfriend Christan Zaccagnino so she could undergo experimental procedures that are not currently offered in the United States. While there, they were exposed to the vast expansion of work being done in this field that does not involve the use of embryonic stem cells.<ref>Boxing 101, [http://www.worldboxing101.com/2012/12/11/boxer-boyd-melson-is-on-a-soldiers-fight-to-walk/ "Boxer Boyd Melson Is On A Soldier's Fight To Walk"], December 11, 2012</ref>
Melson worked tirelessly to educate himself on spinal cord injuries and stem cell research. He traveled abroad with girlfriend Christan Zaccagnino so she could undergo experimental procedures that are not currently offered in the United States. While there, they were exposed to the vast expansion of work being done in this field that does not involve the use of embryonic stem cells.<ref>Boxing 101, [http://www.worldboxing101.com/2012/12/11/boxer-boyd-melson-is-on-a-soldiers-fight-to-walk/ "Boxer Boyd Melson Is On A Soldier's Fight To Walk"], December 11, 2012</ref>
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*[https://www.facebook.com/BoydMelson Facebook page]
*[https://www.facebook.com/BoydMelson Facebook page]
* {{Boxrec|id=546458}}
* {{Boxrec|id=546458}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110909082650/http://www.jewishsports.org:80/jewishsports/detail.asp?sp=106 National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame profile]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110909082650/http://www.jewishsports.org/jewishsports/detail.asp?sp=106 National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame profile]


{{National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame}}
{{National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame}}

Revision as of 06:48, 24 July 2017

Boyd Melson
Born (1981-10-16) October 16, 1981 (age 43)
White Plains, New York[2]
NationalityUnited States United States
Other namesRainmaker[1]
Statistics
Weight(s)Light middleweight
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Boxing record
Wins15
Wins by KO4
Losses1
Draws1
Medal record
World Military Boxing Championship
Gold medal – first place 2004 Fort Huachuca, Arizona 69 kg
All Army Boxing Championships
Gold medal – first place 2004
Gold medal – first place 2005
Armed Forces Boxing Championships
Gold medal – first place 2004
Gold medal – first place 2005
US Amateur Boxing Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2005

Boyd "Rainmaker" Melson (born October 16, 1981) is an American light middleweight boxer.[1][2][3]

As an amateur, Melson won the 48th World Military Boxing Championship gold medal in the 69 kg. weight class, and was a four-time United States Army champion, a three-time NCBA All-American boxer, a four-time West Point Brigade Open Boxing Champion, and received the Colonel Marcus Award. He also won gold medals at the All Army Boxing Championships twice and at the Armed Forces Boxing Championships twice. He made it to the quarterfinals in the welterweight 2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships, and won a bronze medal at the 2005 US Amateur Boxing Championships.

As a professional, through May 2015, Melson was 15–1–1, with 4 of his wins coming by knockout.[4] He is 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall, and weighs Template:Unit weight.[5] Melson donates all of the money that he earns in his boxing matches to stem cell research and his efforts have been profiled on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, ESPN.com, Sports Illustrated, and Yahoo!.

In 2013, he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Early and academic life

Melson is Jewish, and was born in White Plains, New York, to an Israeli Jewish mother (Annette Melson; also an Army veteran) and a Creole father.[5][6][7][8][9][10] His maternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors from Poland.[5][11][12][13] He said:

"My grandfather, while being put onto a train en route to a death camp, escaped by sliding down the receptor tank full of defecation. It deposited him down the track allowing the train to pass over him until he could run off escaping. That is what he did to fight for his life and allow his bloodline of Judaism to pass down to his children, and now his grandchildren in me.”[14]

He boxes with a Star of David on his trunks.[15][16] Melson grew up primarily in Brooklyn, New York.[17][18]

Melson graduated from West Point in 2003 with a psychology degree, and a minor in nuclear engineering.[18] He also graduated as a lieutenant, and was promoted to captain three years later.[5][12][19] He earned an MBA in business administration at Touro College.[12][20]

Army champion and world military champion

Melson started boxing in National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) competition while he was a cadet at West Point.[18][21] He was picked for the US Army World Class Athlete Program, and sent to Fort Carson, Colorado.[18][20]

Melson was a four-time United States Army champion.[22][23] He was also a three-time NCBA All-American boxer, a four-time West Point Brigade Open Boxing Champion, and received the Colonel Marcus Award, which is given to the best West Point boxer at graduation.[21] He was trained by former lightweight world champion Joey Gamache.[23]

In 2004, he won the 48th World Military Boxing Championship gold medal in the 69 kg. weight class by defeating Elshod Rasulov of Uzbekistan at Fort Huachuca, Arizona (as Ait Hammi Miloud of Morocco shared the bronze medal with Vyacheslav Kusov of Ukraine).[11][24][25] That year he also won gold medals at the All Army Boxing Championships and the Armed Forces Boxing Championships.[21]

Melson made it to the quarterfinals in the welterweight 2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships, losing to future pro star Erislandy Lara of Cuba, the eventual gold medal winner.[18][26] That year he also won gold medals at the All Army Boxing Championships and the Armed Forces Boxing Championships, and a bronze medal at the 2005 US Amateur Boxing Championships.[21]

He was an alternate on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, but withdrew with an injury.[17]

Professional career

Melson became a professional in 2010 to raise research funds to honor a woman who had been his girlfriend.[27][28][29] She had been in a wheelchair for 17 years, since the age of 10, following a diving accident.[5][16] They had met during his senior year at West Point, when she was already using a wheelchair due to a diving accident.[16]

Melson worked tirelessly to educate himself on spinal cord injuries and stem cell research. He traveled abroad with girlfriend Christan Zaccagnino so she could undergo experimental procedures that are not currently offered in the United States. While there, they were exposed to the vast expansion of work being done in this field that does not involve the use of embryonic stem cells.[30]

Melson donates all of the money he earns in his boxing matches to stem cell research.[5] He gives it to Justadollarplease.org, a non-profit organization that raises money for the first U.S. spinal cord injury trial in using umbilical cord stem cells.[17] Along with Justadollarplease.org, Melson created Team Fight to Walk, to increase awareness in boxing of the importance of stem cell research for spinal cord injuries.[17] Team Fight to Walk is composed of Melson, former Rutgers University football player Eric LeGrand, former two-time IBF cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham, US Olympians Shawn Estrada and Demetrius Andrade and contender Deandre Latimore amongst other boxers.[17]

Through April 2014, Melson was 14–1–1, with 4 of his wins by way of knockout and the sole defeat coming via controversial decision in what was considered one of the best local fights on the New York scene in recent memory.[4] Welterweight Dmitry Salita said of him following a May 2011 bout: "I have seen tremendous improvement in Boyd in the last two fights. He is a very talented fighter and sets an example inside and outside the ring."[23]

Since 2012, Melson has been training with head coach Simon Bakinde [31]

Professional boxing record

15 Wins (4 Knockouts 11 decisions), 1 Loss, 1 Draw
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
— — United States Russ Niggemyer - ? (6) 2011-10-01 United States Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey

Honors

He was honored as the 2005 Marty Glickman Outstanding Jewish Scholastic (college) Athlete of the Year by the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[2][5][20] In 2013, he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[14] He said, as to his induction: "I am pleased to show that [Jews] can excel in all areas of human endeavor, and that is what is of great importance to me in being honored."[14]

Personal life

Outside of boxing, he works for Johnson & Johnson in the Ethicon Division.[5] He also serves as an Army Reserves Captain of the 1179th Transportation Brigade at Fort Hamilton, in Brooklyn.[5] Melson is a Manhattan resident.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Boyd Melson – Boxer". BoxRec. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "2003 grad Melson named Outstanding Jewish Athlete of the Year". Usma.edu. January 28, 2005. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  3. ^ "Vèmes Jeux de la Francophonie à Niamey, au Niger". Seychelles Nation. December 6, 2005. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Eric Armit (July 25, 2011). "Behind The Results". BoxRec News. Archived from the original on March 17, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Steve Lipman (July 14, 2011). "A Jewish Boxer Hurts To Help Heal". The Jewish Week. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  6. ^ "Boyd Melson is Fighting for a Cure". Train 2 Perfection. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  7. ^ Steve Lipman (July 14, 2011). "Boyd Melson". The Jewish Week. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  8. ^ "Daily News America". NY Daily News. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  9. ^ Andrew Sherwood. "Fighting On Two Fronts; Boxer Boyd Melson is a man on a mission". TotallyJewish.com. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  10. ^ Eric Armit (July 25, 2011). "Snips and Snipes". BoxRec News. Archived from the original on March 17, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ a b Bob Wechsler (2008). Day by day in Jewish sports history. KTAV Publishing House, Inc. ISBN 0-88125-969-1. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  12. ^ a b c "In his Pro Debut, Captain Boyd Melson Will Donate His Entire Purse to Stem Cell Research". Borica Boxing. October 29, 2010. Archived from the original on November 21, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "Salita Promoting his Title Fight". Baltimore Jewish Times. October 29, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  14. ^ a b c "'Identity through athletics': The Jewish Sports Hall of Fame's 2013 class". Jns.org. March 15, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  15. ^ "Tale Of The Tape; The Fighting Promotor Scores a KO". Trufanboxing.com. July 20, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  16. ^ a b c "The Rainmaker-Boyd Melson; Behind the Gloves". Boydmelson.com. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Boxers from Army's World Class Athlete Program to Support Melson!". Boxingnews24.com. July 17, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  18. ^ a b c d e "Melson wins U.S. boxing quarterfinals". USA Today. March 9, 2006. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  19. ^ Tanja Linton (November 5, 2004). "2003 grad Boyd Melson wins CISM world". Usma.edu. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  20. ^ a b c Alan Freedman (February 10, 2011). "Guest column: Alan Freedman on Boyd 'The Rainmaker' Melson". New Jersey Jewish News. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  21. ^ a b c d "Boyd Melson". The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. April 3, 2005. Archived from the original on September 9, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ John C. Cotey (August 22, 2007). "Thurman Wins Again; Will Face Favorite Today". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  23. ^ a b c "Wladimir could fight Chisora-Fury winner; Wach-McBride on 7/29; Brighton Shore Fights". Eastsideboxing.com. July 5, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  24. ^ "2004 CISM Military Boxing Championships". Armedforcessports.defense.gov. November 1, 2004. Archived from the original on October 16, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "48th World Military Boxing Championship, Fort Huachuca, Arizona, USA, 22–31 October 2004". CISM – Conseil International du Sport Militaire (International Military Sports Council). Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "World Championships; Mianyang, China; November 13–20, 2005". Amateur-boxing.strefa.pl. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  27. ^ "USA Boxing news: The Countdown to the Opening Bell Begins". Doghouseboxing.com. November 9, 2005. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  28. ^ "The Nation's Top Boxers to Face Off at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Boxing, August 20–26". Eastsideboxing.com. August 13, 2007. Retrieved October 8, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  29. ^ "Melson wins at 152 lbs.; defending champs advance". ESPN. March 8, 2006. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  30. ^ Boxing 101, "Boxer Boyd Melson Is On A Soldier's Fight To Walk", December 11, 2012
  31. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-04. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

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