Where Dreams Come True
The BBC reports today that a man - Dewey Bozella - wrongly convicted of murder has made a Rocky-style come back in the boxing ring.
Dewey - now 52 - spent 26 years in New York's Sing Sing jail for a murder he did not commit - which is as long as Nelson Mandela was locked up - for fighting against apartheid in South Africa.
Apparently Dewey became a prison boxing champion while in jail - but always dreamed of fighting professionally one day.
And would you believe that dream has finally come true.
As Dewey won his first and only professional boxing match in Los Angeles last week - part of a world championship bout between Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawkins.
Now that's enough to bring tears to a glass eye - don't you think?
Dewey was freed in 2009 after his conviction for the the murder of 92-year-old Emma Crapser was overturned and he said after the fight:
"I used to lay in my cell and dream about this happening...it was my dream come true.
I'd like to see kids who are on the street have something productive to do. No more fighting for me”
President Obama called Dewey to wish him luck - so I hope Nelson Mandela phones up and congratulates him as well - because that would be the icing on the cake.
Dewey earned two college degrees in prison - as well as honing his boxing skills - and now plans plans to go back to his home town and set up a boxing gym.
When the judges announced he had won a unanimous decision - the crowd all got on their feet and cheered.
I wish I'd have been there - it must have been a truly amazing sight.
Dewey - now 52 - spent 26 years in New York's Sing Sing jail for a murder he did not commit - which is as long as Nelson Mandela was locked up - for fighting against apartheid in South Africa.
Apparently Dewey became a prison boxing champion while in jail - but always dreamed of fighting professionally one day.
And would you believe that dream has finally come true.
As Dewey won his first and only professional boxing match in Los Angeles last week - part of a world championship bout between Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawkins.
Now that's enough to bring tears to a glass eye - don't you think?
Dewey was freed in 2009 after his conviction for the the murder of 92-year-old Emma Crapser was overturned and he said after the fight:
"I used to lay in my cell and dream about this happening...it was my dream come true.
I'd like to see kids who are on the street have something productive to do. No more fighting for me”
President Obama called Dewey to wish him luck - so I hope Nelson Mandela phones up and congratulates him as well - because that would be the icing on the cake.
Dewey earned two college degrees in prison - as well as honing his boxing skills - and now plans plans to go back to his home town and set up a boxing gym.
When the judges announced he had won a unanimous decision - the crowd all got on their feet and cheered.
I wish I'd have been there - it must have been a truly amazing sight.
