South Side boxing event aims to find cure for children's brain tumor
Dan Letz is the owner and operator of Letz Box Chicago—a pugilistic palace in Mount Greenwood. For the last several months, he's been training a good-hearted, fleet-footed field of warriors who are fighting to help find a cure for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), which is a brain tumor that can develop in the brainstem.
'It's horrific. It affects mainly children,' Katie Gaskin said. 'It's a tumor that grows within the brain stem, specifically in the ponds, and when a child is diagnosed with this, right now, they're really only given radiation as a treatment option and usually eight to 12 months to live.'
Gaskin's son, Anthony, was 7 years old when he died from DIPG, just 19 months after his diagnosis. In memory of Anthony, who Gaskin described as an old soul who loved the Chicago Cubs, she started the Anthony's Avengers DIPG Foundation.
Letz and Gaskin have partnered to host an event on Friday, June 13 at Saint Rita of Cascia High School in benefit of Anthony's Avengers and their mission to find a cure. Starting at 7 p.m., the St. Rita Mustang's football field will be transformed into a boxing ring under the Friday night lights of a different sort.
19-year-old Julian 'J-Dog' Guzman, a University of Illinois-Chicago student studying architecture, is one of those boxers training under Letz who aim to lend a hand, while also landing a punch.
'I'm feeling good. I'm ready to put on a performance,' Guzman said. 'I've been training hard. I'm ready to put on in the ring.'
All money raised by Anthony's Avengers during the event will go to DIPG cure research. For more information on Anthony's Avengers and the fight to cure DIPG, visit the organization's website: https://anthonysavengers.org/
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 days ago
- USA Today
Sixers' Allen Iverson sends message to Carmelo Anthony ahead of Hall of Fame induction
After a decade of representing the Philadelphia 76ers, Allen Iverson left the franchise to join the Denver Nuggets in December 2006. Iverson teamed up with scoring sensation Carmelo Anthony, as the Western Conference franchise aimed to challenge for a championship. It's no surprise that Iverson's debut season in Denver coincided with Anthony's first career All-Star appearance. Now, 19 years later, Iverson and Anthony will team up once again, only this time, it will be with the Sixers' legend inducting his former teammate into the 2025 Hall of Fame. Anthony selected Iverson and Dwayne Wade as the two stars to induct him into the NBA's history books. On Friday, August 8, Iverson shared a message for Anthony via Instagram. "Congratulations Bro! I'm HONORED and blessed to be chosen to welcome you into the Hall of Fame!" Iverson wrote in the caption. Anthony will be joined by Dwight Howard, Billy Donovan, Mickey Arison, Sue Bird and Maya Moore as the 2025 Hall of Fame class. Iverson spent 10 seasons with the Sixers, playing in 682 regular-season games and averaging 28 points, 6.1 assists and 4 rebounds while shooting 42.1% from the field. And, while seeing Iverson and Anthony together again will likely be a bitter pill to swallow for some Sixers fans, the fact that they get to see a franchise legend back on their TV, even in a non-playing role, should be enough to get them excited.
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Boston Globe
Here's how Roman Anthony, even at just 21 years old, has changed the Red Sox since arriving in the big leagues
The Red Sox had staggered through the early part of the schedule when they decided to call up Anthony on June 9. They owned a 32-35 record, placing them fourth in the AL East. They are 32-17 since, best in the American League. Advertisement That's not solely because of Anthony, of course. There have been numerous, massive changes that have reshaped the roster since then. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Still, there's no question Anthony changed the dynamic of the club. Through 47 games entering Friday night's series opener in San Diego, he's hit .276/.392/.417, exhibiting remarkable plate discipline and patience that teammates suggest has had a ripple effect throughout the lineup. He is just the fifth player in the 21st century who, at 21 or younger, posted an OBP of .390 or better through his first 47 career games, joining Fernando Tatís Jr., Juan Soto, Jason Heyward, and Albert Pujols. Related : Anthony also has impressed with his base running and outfield play, grading as an above-average defender in the corners. Overall, he's produced 1.5 WAR in the calculations of FanGraphs. Yet even that marker of production is inadequate to capture who Anthony is and what he's done. Advertisement 'I think [what Anthony has done] is special. I think it's remarkable,' said Breslow. 'And I'm not sure that there's a metric that we should look at uniquely and believe that it perfectly captures the impact that he's had. We can look at his contribution, whether that's WAR or any of those. We could look at our team record. 'But I think that we've talked a lot over the last couple of months about this athletic, dynamic team that we're looking to build, and Roman suits that perfectly.' This isn't the first time the Sox have seen a team elevate its play once Anthony joined it. Raves started pouring in about Anthony as an 18-year-old making his pro debut in the Florida Complex League in 2022, shortly after he'd been drafted in the second round and signed to a $2.5 million bonus. Roman Anthony makes a sliding catch to secure an out against the Rays in his first Major League series. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Even in the FCL, the words 'mature' and 'maturity' were used so often that it was easy to forget Anthony was the youngest player on the team. His reputation only grew across levels, as players and coaches got to appreciate his talent and what mattered to him. Last year, when he was promoted to Triple A Worcester along with Kyle Teel and Marcelo Mayer, the team had a 53-60 record. Down the stretch, as Anthony solidified his case as the top prospect in baseball, the WooSox were 26-11. 'When we had him last year in Worcester, what he did to our team as far as wins and losses from the moment that he came up, we're seeing a copy-paste exactly of what happened when he came up to Worcester,' said Red Sox first base coach José Flores, who was the WooSox' bench coach last year. 'So I'm not surprised at all.'' Advertisement Flores, who was a minor league coordinator with the Cubs from 2013-17, suggested Anthony's impact upon arrival in the big leagues reminded him of Kyle Schwarber's with the Cubs in 2015, when a young team working to establish itself suddenly hit another gear. Anthony is a rookie but is respected as a sage by older teammates. 'You see the quality of at-bats this guy's taking on a daily basis, that's contagious,' said Flores. 'Trevor Story, a guy who's been in the big leagues a long time, seeing this kid, how comfortable he looks in the batter's box, they had conversations, and Trevor may have picked up something that he hadn't been thinking about through the course of the struggles he was having early. Now, all of a sudden, you're seeing a lot more success than struggle.' Related : Anthony's comportment on the field and among his teammates has been jarringly impressive. He's gifted but looks to coaches and teammates for insight on ways he can improve. He does not seek attention but is comfortable with it, and has shown a remarkable ability to handle the media and frame all comments through the prism of team success. He constantly seeks the feedback of veterans, yet already has earned their respect to the point that more experienced teammates turn to him for advice on the field. Advertisement 'I'm not sure I've ever been around a guy who has the type of impact that he has at that age,' said third base coach Kyle Hudson, who recalled his astonishment when Anthony introduced himself in spring training by asking for help to improve his sliding. 'That's the reason why we are where we are right now, and why he is where he is, just because his approach to everybody, and his approach to the game is about winning. That's what it's all about for him. There's not a selfish bone in his body . . . People are drawn to him. People want to talk to him. People want to pick his brain.' After wins, the Red Sox recognize a player of the game, who briefly addresses his teammates. Pitcher Garrett Crochet said he was 'caught off guard' by how mature, poised, and well-spoken Anthony was the first time he received the recognition. 'He's one of the more mature 21-year-olds I think that has ever come through major league baseball,' said Crochet. 'You mix his work ethic with his discipline, and that's kind of what you see on the field. It's been a pro at-bat since Day One. He never seems overwhelmed or overmatched. For me, it's really just the maturity that's the biggest thing.' Teammate Alex Bregman suggested Anthony's at-bats reminded him of Yordan Alvarez when the Astros slugger arrived in the big leagues and instantly became one of the league's best hitters as a 22-year-old in 2019. Pitcher Walker Buehler compared Anthony's presence to that of former Dodgers teammates Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager, both of whom won Rookie of the Year honors and eventually emerged as the MVP (Bellinger) or runner-up (Seager). Advertisement Yet there's also the dimension of how Anthony carries himself ― how he manages to display a 'Jeter gene' in how he fields every question, whether reframing all personal successes by discussing the team or taking the time to appreciate teammates, as when he opened his discussion of a recent back injury by praising Wilyer Abreu's fill-in. 'He wants to win,' said manager Alex Cora. 'He's shown it in the interviews [and] the way he goes about his business.' Indeed, the decision by Anthony to sign underscored and amplified that commitment. 'The main goal is just show up every day and be the best version of myself and get better each and every day and try to help this team win,' Anthony said. 'And obviously, now that this [deal] is done, it's even more [of] a reason to just go out and be the best version of myself and win baseball games.' A fan holds up a custom Roman Anthony sign after the outfielder signed his eight-year contract extension. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Alex Speier can be reached at
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Newsweek
Roman Anthony Drops 1-Word Message on Social Media After Signing Red Sox Contract
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Boston Red Sox signed Roman Anthony to an eight-year, $130 million deal on Wednesday. According to The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey, it is the largest contract for any player on the team with fewer than 150 at-bats. Anthony was the No. 1 prospect in baseball coming into the season, and now the Red Sox have ensured that he will stay in Boston through at least 2033. Anthony posted a one-word message on Instagram after signing the deal. "Home," Anthony wrote on Instagram, accompanied by a picture of him in his Red Sox uniform. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 6: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox speaks during a press conference announcing his 8-year $130 million contract extension before a game against the Kansas City Royals on August... BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 6: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox speaks during a press conference announcing his 8-year $130 million contract extension before a game against the Kansas City Royals on August 6, 2025 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. More Maddie Malhotra/BostonAnthony is slashing .276/.392/.417 in 47 games with the team. He noted that he wanted to move quickly when presented with an offer. "When the offer came through, it was something that I wanted to move quick on," Anthony said, per McCaffrey. "There was no doubt that this is where I wanted to play baseball for a long time." His deal can reach up to $230.2 million thanks to escalators and a $30 million club option for 2034. Anthony joins Ceddanne Rafaela and Kristian Campbell as part of the Red Sox's young core to sign early extensions. Marcelo Mayer has not signed an extension yet, but signing him would ensure that the long-awaited big three of Campbell, Anthony and Mayer will all remain in Boston for years to come. With the extension now squared away, the Red Sox and Anthony can focus on getting the team into the postseason and trying to make a deep run in October. More MLB: Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt Has 3 Words to Describe David Bednar's Stellar Outing
