www.BXTimes.com BRONX WEEKLY March 15, 2020 14
‘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 exboxers
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-yearold
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 twobedroom
apartment in the south
Bronx.
Now, Barkley along with the
founding members of the non-profi 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 exfi
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 Michael-
Bernard6256@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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