Boxing tournament benefits Huntsville cancer nonprofit

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The Saturn Ballroom at the Von Braun Center turned into a boxing ring Saturday night, all for a good cause.

The Fight Night Knock Out Cancer Boxing Tournament saw boxers from all over fight with proceeds benefitting the Russell Hill Cancer Foundation.

Dr. John Waples with the Clearview Cancer Institute came up with the idea to have a cancer fundraiser around a boxing tournament during Sunday school.

“We wanted to teach the kids how to box and have a boxing experience, everybody wanted to come watch us box and we said wow this could be a really great fundraiser for Russell Hill Cancer Foundation,” said Waples.

Waples even recruited Madison County Sheriff Kevin Turner to help encourage the community to come to the event.

The two were pitted against each other as they split the boxers into two teams to see who would come out on top.

Sheriff Turner says that cancer is personal for him.

“Both of my parents were affected by cancer and passed away from cancer, so I have a big heart for anybody’s that involved in this type of fundraiser or cancer itself,” said Turner. “Anything we can do to raise money to try to find a cure for cancer that’s what we try to do.”

Bradley Belt is an MMA fighter and a cancer survivor. He even fought in an MMA match while he was battling leukemia with a port in his chest.

Belt won the fan favorite award at last year’s fight night event and was scheduled to box this year, but his opponent canceled at the last minute. Despite that, Belt stayed engaged in this year’s event.

He says his message for cancer is to keep going.

“Always keep faith, know that its going to get better cause that’s the only approach to like living, always know its gonna get better so that’s my best advice I can give,” said Belt.

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