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 health club, 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 learn how to cope,” Leoncello stated.
“I went by means of a foul divorce, nearly to the purpose of shedding custody of my son, and boxing is what actually channeled me into the suitable highway.”
Sadly, Leoncello needed to be taught the arduous means, left with a court-ordered ultimatum to wash up or threat shedding custody of his 9-year-old son, Carlo. He confronted the problem of staying sober for 3 days to be able 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 suitable name.
“I Googled this boxing health club down in New Bedford, I walked in there and I informed him the scenario,” Leoncello stated, recalling the fateful day. “He gave me a very good exercise and I went house and slept and that was day one with out consuming.
“Identical factor occurred day two: I went again to the health club, labored out for 2 hours, went house, did not drink, fell asleep, hopped a aircraft. And after 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 health club, new begin
Three years in the past Leoncello met his present girlfriend and enterprise companion, Brieanna Resendes, and Leoncello Boxing received its begin, with its namesake providing boxing classes and coaching, and seeking to decide if his recovery-through-boxing expertise would possibly show helpful to others who’ve struggled with alcohol and drug abuse.
“We began small, going to completely different gyms. However I actually wished a spot the place we may assist anyone we may. You already know, as a result of I do know it helped me, so I wished to be sure 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 area 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 form of triggers a factor you, form of like, you have by no means skilled wherever else,” she stated. “And it’s an important 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 executed.
“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 dwell in a world that is simply so like quick paced and there is simply no time to let it out. And that is actually certainly one of our large issues right here, simply let it out. Are available in, let loose all of your stress after which simply hold going.”
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Youngsters getting within the ring
“Our primary focus now’s youngsters, prevention and educating coping abilities with boxing,” Leoncello stated.
For teenagers, the purpose is to be taught a brand new ability, construct confidence and let off some steam. Leoncello says a variety 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 thought to gear up in protecting padding and encourage younger college students to hit him and hit him arduous.
“To allow them to have a launch, you already know, in a wholesome means, in a world that is form 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 will be part of their journey and assist a bit of bit.”
Possibly not for everybody, however…
Boxing may not be the suitable match for everybody, however Leoncello says Leoncello Boxing is there and prepared to work with anybody who needs to offer it a shot.
“I’m a bit of arduous on the children, but it surely’s what I’m for. It’s a troublesome sport. I feel it’s form of a tender world now and I am attempting to toughen these youngsters up a bit of bit.”
Resendes stated her personal son David, 12, who isn’t a fan of group sports activities and struggles with ADHD, gained an enormous increase in confidence after a while within the health club
“Right here it is you towards you, you already know. You do the work,” she stated.
Huge 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, house of the Brockton Rox minor league baseball group.
“I’ve received two extra years to struggle professionally,” he stated. “My purpose with combating is to point out these youngsters, and folks 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 very least as soon as, you already know, after which I will be executed.”
Taunton Day by day Gazette workers author Jon Haglof will be reached at jhaglof@tauntongazette.com. Assist native journalism by buying a digital or print subscription to The Taunton Daily Gazette right now.
