Some have called boxing “the loneliest sport.” In that regard, Long Island Boxing Charities (LIBC) is a nonprofit organization looking to make a difference.
Long Island Boxing Charities’ History
It was founded in 2019 by Rich Tintella, who also goes by the name “Rich Boxer.”
“Boxing has no support system set,” Tintella, a former kickboxer and amateur boxer himself, told the Press. “It’s sort of the forgotten sport. Every major sport in the country has a union and a health program, but fighters are left to fend for themselves after years of working harder than every athlete on the planet.”
LIBC — not to be confused with LI Fights for Charity, a white-collar boxing group that encourages participants to raise money for a cause of their choosing — aims to raise money for boxers who have fallen on hard times.
Matthew Pomara, founder of Ark Technologies, and Tony Palmieri, a vice president of a White Plains-based promotional company called Star Boxing, officially took over the charity in 2021, though Tintella remains involved.
Pomara is a lifelong boxing fan, having grown up in the tail end of Muhammad Ali’s era. He grew up training, but never fought professionally. His career in technology kept him close to the sport, when he ended up doing some work with Star Boxing.
However, Pomara made a comeback as a boxer when he himself participated in an L.I. Fights for Charity match — and the process of training like a boxer again made him want to give back to the sport.
“Boxing is great, but it chews these guys up and spits them out sometimes,” Pomara told the Press. “Every boxer I’ve met is a genuinely good person. Boxing can be both everything right and everything wrong about sports.”
Palmieri also got involved through a passion of wanting to help boxers out, working alongside them every day.
“Being in the game, and seeing boxers go through the daily grind and trying to make fights inspired me,” Palmieri said. “And unfortunately, boxing can be shady and cruel to fighters.”
What Long Island Boxing Charities Does
Right now, LIBC’s main goal is to donate money to boxers.
They have hosted several events on Long Island and given out awards to legendary boxers such as Long Island native Gerry Cooney. They also donate money to gyms.
“Whether it’s sending a kid to the amateur nationals or just getting a Long Island gym new heavy bags, we do it all,” Palmieri added.
In the future, they hope to put on amateur boxing shows that give young boxers a chance to show off to boxing promoters the same way varsity athletes get to demonstrate their talent to college recruiters.
