Looking to knock out cancer
Boulay to fight at Haymakers for Hope event
Colby Boulay is always willing to fight the good fight for a worthy cause.
The Lowell resident is no stranger handling the rough stuff. He’s proven it battling in the football trenches as a Westford Academy linebacker. His grizzled determination and desire has carried him through some tough scraps on the athletic field.
He’s looking to utilize those same traits, as well as a few new tricks he’s picked up in recent weeks, as he steps into the boxing ring.
A burly 5-foot-9, 200-pound orthodox righty, Boulay will be among 34 fighters looking to knock out cancer at the 13th annual Haymakers for Hope Rock ‘N Rumble charity boxing event on Thursday, May 9 at Fenway’s MGM Music Hall. The event will feature 17 bouts, consisting of three two-minute rounds, with the card sanctioned by USA Boxing.
“I’m super excited,” said Boulay, 32. “I started training just after the new year, so it’s not really nerves anymore, but excitement to show all the work I’ve been putting in. I’m waiting to get to the finish line.”
Each boxer has been paired against an equally skilled opponent to raise money for cancer research, awareness, survivorship and care. Boulay will square off against Maxwell Doyon, 36, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound sales manager from Jamaica Plain.
Since launching its inaugural event in 2011, Haymakers for Hope has raised more than $25 million for cancer-related nonprofit organizations, while transforming more than 1,200 ordinary participants into extraordi
nary amateur fighters. This year’s group has raised over $568,160 of its $750,000 target goal.
Boulay is closing in on his $10,000 goal, raising over $9,848 as of last weekend.
“Cancer affected me at a younger age,” said Boulay. “I lost my aunt, who was like another mother to me. When she was diagnosed, I spent a lot of time with her at my grandmother’s house. When I lost her it was always something that hung around. As I got older, so many of my friends and their loved ones have been affected. Cancer has really weighed on me.”
The chance to step into
the ring was always in the back of Boulay’s mind. So when an opening to join the Rumble was offered, he enthusiastically accepted.
“I’m a very competitive person,” said Boulay. “My dad’s side of the family grew up as boxers, so it came off as one of those opportunities that was a perfect fit for me.”
Born in Manchester, N.H., Boulay grew up in Westford, graduating from Westford Academy in 2010. He moved to Lowell 12 years ago.
“My grandfather, Paul Lemire, won the Golden Gloves out of Manchester,” said Boulay. “He fought underage and with a fake name, going under his dentist’s name and won the Golden Gloves at age 16.”
His great uncle, Adrienne (Al) Lemire, boxed
with Rocky Marciano, who ended up training Paul in his pursuits. His dad and godfather also had boxing experience. Boulay is excited to follow in his family’s fistic footsteps.
When it came to his training, Boulay didn’t pull any punches. He headed to Box2burn gym in Westford, training under the tutelage of Sean Eklund and former world champion boxer Micky Ward.
“It’s been fantastic,” said Boulay, who has been training since the first week of 2024. “You’re getting professional boxing training. Of course it’s scaled down for the amount of rounds you need to do, but once you take the training wheels off, this is legit as you can get.”
Eklund has been running his pugilistic pupil through the paces with three oneon-one
private sessions each week. Ward has even jumped into the ring a few times each week, giving Boulay some nifty pointers.
“Having Sean and Micky’s roots and all the buzz around Lowell definitely brings an added passion to it,” said Boulay. “When people ask who’s training me, and I say Eklund, they get all excited.”
When he’s not delivering vicious roundhouse rights, Boulay works as a New England area sales manager for Tip Top, a company specializing in individual premade cocktails. The added gym workload has provided refreshing results.
Boulay has slimmed down from 226 pounds to an even 200. He is planning to get down to 185-190 pounds come fight night.
He’s also trained alongside Tewksbury’s Alex Marcin. A 6-foot-5, 265-pound heavyweight, Marcin, 38, will also be fighting at the Rumble. He is a regional manager at Red Bull and has raised over $51,944.
“We’re best friends,” said Boulay. “We’re lucky enough to have been selected for Haymakers together.”
For tickets to Haymakers for Hope’s 13th annual Rock ‘N Rumble, visit: https://haymakersforhope.org/ To make a donation to Boulay’s drive visit: https://haymakersforhope. org/events/boxing/rock-nrumble-xiii-boston-2024/ fighters/colby-boulay. To make a donation to Marcin’s drive visit: https:// haymakersforhope.org/ events/boxing/rock-n-rumble-xiii-boston-2024/fighters/alex-marcin.