Winners in Life and the Ring

Fans and friends will tell you, fighting is in Joey Spencer’s blood. The 19-year-old Linden middleweight boxer got knockouts in his first 6 professional fights. He won his 7th over the weekend in a unanimous decision at the Minneapolis Armory in Minnesota.

Miracle child  Dei’On Wright was in Joey’s corner the entire time. Joey Spencer has been inspired by the 11-year-old’s history of fighting too – fighting cancer.

Dei’On was diagnosed with a rare kidney tumor at just 5 months old. He only weighed 12 pounds at the time and a big portion of that was the tumor itself. His chance of survival was only 50%. Surgeons at Hurley Children’s Hospital saved his life.

Dei’On and Joey have an obvious connection. Neither are willing to throw in the towel. Both have hearts of gold. Joey flew Dei’On and his dad out to the Minneapolis fight. Dei’On had never been on a plane. He was by the boxer’s side as Joey entered the ring and stayed with him through the last bell. Dei’On and Joey Spencer’s team wore shirts with Hurley Children’s Hospital on the back to raise money and awareness for Hurley and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “It’s so much bigger than boxing and it’s a great thing to recognize people who have gone through struggles in their life, to try to help them have a good time but also raise awareness for other kids,” said Spencer. “He’s a survivor but there’s other kids who are still in the fight.”

Joey Spencer has done mission work in Haiti. He visited a boy named Robinson who was living on the streets and badly scarred. Joey and his family now support Robinson through an orphanage they found for him. Joey credits his strong Christian faith with inspiring him to help children.

Joey gave Dei’On a lifelong memory as well as meaningful lessons about hard work, determination and caring. Joey’s dad Jason says, “We feel God has given us this platform and we want to use it responsibly to benefit others in need.”

Joey Spencer’s team has visited Hurley Children’s Hospital recently. By wearing our logo on the national stage they opened many people’s eyes to the kinds of miracles that happen here and the kinds of heroes who are born here.

Fox Sports interviewed Dei’On on it’s national broadcast. He says he would like the Linden boxer to face Floyd Mayweather Junior. Dei’On is confident Joey can win.

We are confident this duo can do anything they put their minds to! They are both winners at such a young age. We are grateful to always be in their corner.

(If you would like the Joey Spencer/Hurley Children’s Hospital shirt that benefits out hospital: www.ftwrbrand.com/collections/joey-spencer/products/joey-spencer-red-fight-tee-1)

Photo Credit: Luke McKay