RAYNHAM — The highway to restoration can result in surprising locations.
For Chad Leoncello, a Brockton native and West Bridgewater resident, that highway led to the boxing fitness center, and boxing, Leoncello says, performed an important half in his restoration.
“I am in recovery, so I’ve been sober six years, and I’ve discovered boxing in my restoration. And that was the best way I channeled my feelings and realized easy methods to cope,” Leoncello stated.
“I went by means of a nasty divorce, virtually to the purpose of dropping custody of my son, and boxing is what actually channeled me into the correct highway.”
Sadly, Leoncello needed to be taught the onerous method, left with a court-ordered ultimatum to wash up or threat dropping custody of his 9-year-old son, Carlo. He confronted the problem of staying sober for 3 days with the intention to be cleared for a deliberate journey to go to Carlo in Florida.
He didn’t know the place to show, what to do.
He made a name to KO Gym in New Bedford.
It was the correct name.
“I Googled this boxing fitness center down in New Bedford, I walked in there and I informed him the state of affairs,” Leoncello stated, recalling the fateful day. “He gave me a extremely good exercise and I went residence and slept and that was day one with out consuming.
“Identical factor occurred day two: I went again to the fitness center, labored out for 2 hours, went residence, did not drink, fell asleep, hopped a aircraft. And once I noticed my son it was like the sunshine swap, it was simply sufficient readability the place I knew what I wanted to do. I by no means went again.”
He credit boxing for the save.
“It is magic, man, it is magic.”
New companion, new fitness center, new begin
Three years in the past Leoncello met his present girlfriend and enterprise companion, Brieanna Resendes, and Leoncello Boxing acquired its begin, with its namesake providing boxing classes and coaching, and seeking to decide if his recovery-through-boxing expertise may show helpful to others who’ve struggled with alcohol and drug abuse.
“We began small, going to totally different gyms. However I actually needed a spot the place we might assist anyone we might. You recognize, as a result of I do know it helped me, so I needed to ensure that if it did work for me it was going to work with another person.”
In January, Leoncello and Resendes established a brand new coaching house at 1776 Broadway in Raynham the place they provide boxing instruction and coaching for youths and adults, circuit coaching and private coaching.
Resendes was a runner earlier than boxing.
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“Boxing sort of triggers a factor you, sort of like, you’ve got by no means skilled wherever else,” she stated. “And it’s a terrific exercise. I used to be a runner earlier than I took this on, and it’s nonetheless not the identical, the sensation you get once you’re accomplished.
“It’s the most magical factor, boxing. It is like, it is an effective way to do away with simply all of the stress and all that. I imply, we reside in a world that is simply so like quick paced and there is simply no time to let it out. And that is actually one among our huge issues right here, simply let it out. Are available, let loose all of your stress after which simply preserve going.”
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Youngsters getting within the ring
“Our primary focus now’s youngsters, prevention and educating coping expertise with boxing,” Leoncello stated.
For youths, the aim is to be taught a brand new ability, construct confidence and let off some steam. Leoncello says a number of what he realized in restoration and thru boxing applies to anybody at any age searching for any stage of self assist or self enchancment.
New college students will expertise of blast of conditioning no boxer can do with out, be taught very particular and ordered punching mixtures and face down the intimidation of a face-to-face encounter with an opponent or aggressor, like Leoncello, who is understood to gear up in protecting padding and encourage younger college students to hit him and hit him onerous.
“To allow them to have a launch, you recognize, in a wholesome method, in a world that is sort of chaotic,” Resendes stated. “It offers them a way of belonging, even when they do not really feel like they belong wherever.”
“Our doorways are at all times open to anyone,” Leoncello stated. “I don’t need to say I see the potential, however I see the battle in them, and I do know I may be part of their journey and assist a bit bit.”
Possibly not for everybody, however…
Boxing won’t be the correct match for everybody, however Leoncello says Leoncello Boxing is there and prepared to work with anybody who desires to present it a shot.
“I’m a bit onerous on the children, nevertheless it’s what I’m for. It’s a troublesome sport. I feel it’s sort of a delicate world now and I am attempting to toughen these youngsters up a bit bit.”
Resendes stated her personal son David, 12, who just isn’t a fan of group sports activities and struggles with ADHD, gained an enormous enhance in confidence after a while within the fitness center
“Right here it is you in opposition to you, you recognize. You do the work,” she stated.
Massive struggle in August
Leoncello, who previously made his residing as a mortgage dealer, now 38, additionally fights professionally. And he’s scheduled for a bout Aug. 13 at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, residence of the Brockton Rox minor league baseball group.
“I’ve acquired two extra years to struggle professionally,” he stated. “My aim with preventing is to indicate these youngsters, and other people in early restoration, that this man’s nonetheless doing it, and you are able to do it.
“Additionally, to get my son again up right here to see me struggle. I would like him to see me within the ring at the least as soon as, you recognize, after which I will be accomplished.”
Taunton Every day Gazette workers author Jon Haglof may be reached at jhaglof@tauntongazette.com. Help native journalism by buying a digital or print subscription to The Taunton Daily Gazette in the present day.
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