To do what little I can to help eradicate this terrible disease and to prevent the early onset of dad-bod, I am excited to be fighting in Haymakers for Hope's inaugural Beltway Brawl!  Here are just of few of the reasons why I am fighting and why I hope you will cough up a little coin to help this great cause.

Reasons I Am Fighting

1. Prince(ss) Peach:  My wife and I are expecting our first baby (sex TBD, but going by "Peach" in the meantime), and our due date is just over a week before fight night.  I know, I know.  I am insane, and my wife is a saint.  I am fighting so Peach's generation can be cancer-free.


2. Grandmom and Grandad:  I lost both of my maternal grandparents, Charles and Betty Mullins, to cancer in elementary school.  They were the kindest people I (or anyone else) ever met, and they taught me so incredibly much in the time we had together.  Every single day, they did something to make everyone around them happier.  I am fighting so kids can have a few more years with Grandmom and Grandad.


3. Mamagene Tipler, Jerry Tipler, and Mac Moorer:  My paternal grandmother, Genie Tipler (a.k.a. “Mamagene”), survived colon cancer and went on to live a vibrant life through age 95! Even in her nineties, you could always find her in the pool. My uncle Jerry beat cancer and is still blazing trails on his Harley. Stay off the roads! Finally, my step-father-in-law also battled cancer and, with the help of excellent medical care, he won!  Today, the guy is as healthy as an ox, although he could stand to eat a few more vegetables, and he holds multiple records on the (stationary) bicycle.  I am fighting so we can have more results like Mamagene’s, Jerry’s, and Mac’s!


4. My Junior High Classmate:  One of my junior high school classmates lost her battle with cancer at age 13.  Although I did not know her well, she was my wife's close friend and universally recognized as one of the nicest kids in school.  I remember vividly the night that our student body learned that she had passed away, and the reactions of her close friends and family have stuck with me to this day.  As an expectant father, I am fighting so no parent ever has to bury their child due to cancer.


5. Redemption:  I was ROBBED at the Penn Law v. Wharton Fight Night in 2013, in my completely unbiased opinion.  Like Ali and Tyson before me, I am returning to the ring after a multi-year hiatus to retake what is mine and to prove to the world that I am the baddest man on the planet (or something like that).


6. Repeat Offender:  I keep getting red cards in my soccer games.  Maybe boxing is a better fit?


7. Nirvana (not the state of mind, the grunge band):  Having grown up in the 90s, I pretty much worship Nirvana.  Since Dave Grohl has rejected my repeated offers to take over for Kurt Cobain as the new frontman, I figured fighting at his venue would be the closest that I will ever come to sharing the stage with him.


8. Dad-bod is real.  

Reasons to Donate 

1. Because you almost undoubtedly have lost a loved one to, or have been otherwise affected by, cancer, and it is unacceptable that I am able to say that with confidence.


2. Because Haymakers for Hope has raised over $10 million dollars to fund some really incredibly research.  Your donations will help Johns Hopkins at Sibley get us a little bit closer to a cure.


3. Because your donations are tax deductible and will help keep the tax man at bay.  


4. If you don't donate, I have to cover my fundraising shortfall.  Help protect Peach's college fund!


5. I made a Facebook post for the first time since, like, college and joined Instagram and Twitter, all to beg you for money.  That hurt me more than any uppercut.  Please make it count.


6. I'll admit, I can be a little difficult to be around sometimes.  I'll bet more than a few of you would take just a little bit of pleasure in watching me get knocked out in front of 2,000 people.


7. Has my work product ever been so bad that you wanted to punch me in the face but thought HR might frown upon that?  Buy a ticket to watch someone else do it for you!


8. Game of Thrones is over.  What else you gonna do?

About Haymakers for Hope

We give everyday men and women the opportunity to fight back against this terrible disease by training for, and competing in charity boxing events to raise money and awareness. To prepare for each event, we combine the efforts of the first time amateur boxing participants, local boxing gyms and volunteers. We hope to help give life saving researchers the resources needed to fully focus their efforts on finding a cure.  Haymakers for Hope’s mission is to knockout cancer the only way we know how, by literally fighting for a cure.

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