‘Friends of the Champ’ helps downtrodden ex-boxers
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BY KYLE VUILLE
‘Friends of the Champ’, a local
non-profi t organization, is
continuing its mission to help
exploited ex-boxers throughout
the borough and beyond.
“Our main goal is to help
individual souls living a destitute
life,” Michael Bernard said
sitting in his offi ce at the Villa
Maria Academy in Country
Club alongside 76-year-old Bob
Walpole and 29-year-old Jossein
Alverio.
Mike Trapani introduced
Bernard, a founding member
of the Friends of the Champ
to 3-time World Boxing Champion,
Iran Barkley, a Bronx native
over 30 years ago.
According to Bernard,
who’s been a physical education
teacher for 40 years, said
a former student turned NYPD
called him one night while
on patrol, “Mr. Bernard, the
Champ is sleeping on a bench
outside of Patterson Houses,’
‘he looks sick.’”
Bernard, Trapani, John
Zervos and John Duran immediately
responded and took
Barkley in.
Realizing there was a wide
spread problem with poorly
educated fi ghters who have
passed their prime, having
nothing to fall back on, Barkley
along with Bernard, Trapani,
Walpole, Zervos and Duran
founded the Friends of the
Champ.
Years later, Barkley is living
happily with his wife Pam
in a two-bedroom apartment in
the south Bronx.
Now, Barkley along with the
founding members of the nonprofi
t organization has grown
to 40 yearly paying members
and held their fi rst fundraising
gala event this past February.
Guests paid $100 a ticket to attend
the event with close to 100
in attendance.
Bernard and Walpole
wanted to give an extended special
thank you to Cambria Hotel
in White Plains, N.Y. for the
accommodations.
Founding member Walpole
said, “This organization is not
necessarily made of people who
are boxing fanatics, but people
concerned with the plight of all
athletes who are hard working
and had the rug pulled out from
beneath them.”
The board members are as
listed: Iran Barkley, Pam Barkley,
Michael Bernard, Johnny
Zervos, John Decolator, Virginia
Hotte, Cliff Hotte, Stefani
Belloise, Bob Walpole, Dr. Ray
Pursell, Stephen Kaufman,
and honorary member Jossein
Alverio.
According to Bernard, the
$50 membership fees and the
miscellaneous donations, go to
helping ex-fi ghters directly, but
responsibly.
Recently, Barkley asked
Bernard to reach out to Leon
Spinks who once beat Muhammad
Ali and another Super
Heavyweight champion Tyrell
Biggs, who is rumored to be
living in a homeless shelter in
Philadelphia.
“If anyone knows a struggling
boxer or one living in
poverty, please refer them to
us,” Bernard said.
Friends of the Champ is
seeking more members and
looking to start planning
their second fundraiser with
hopes that boxing legends like
Tommy Hearns, Sugar Ray
Leonard and Roberto Duran
will be in attendace.
Alverio said it best, “We’re
raising awareness. There’s a
problem in the industry, and
we’re bringing awareness that
there are people who can help.”
For more information on
the organization and for those
interested in joining, call Bernard’s
offi ce at (718) 823-5083 or
email at MichaelBernard6256@
gmail.com
Friends of the Champ holds
meetings the third Thursday
of every month at Villa Maria
Academy, 3335 Country Club
Road. at 7 p.m.
(L-r) Jossein Alverio, Tyrone Barkley, Michael Bernard, Stefani Belloise, John Zervos, World Champ Al Cole,
Bob Walpole, World Champ Larry Holmes, World Champ President & Founder Iran Barkley, Pam Barkley, World
Famous Boxer Gerry Cooney, Clyde Bronx Net, World Series Champion NY Met. Art Shamsky, NYPD Chief of Department
Terence Monahan, Virginia Belloise Hotte, Dr. Cliff Hotte, Dr. Ray Pursell, and John Decolator. Missing
Stephen Kaufman. PHoto by Carlo Messina
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