On Monday, April 5, 2010, two time world champion, Rocky Lockridge, will be featured on A&E’s “Intervention” at 9:00 PM and 1:00 AM. “Intervention” is a powerful and gripping series in which people confront their darkest demons and seek a route to redemption. The Emmy and five-time PRISM Award-winning series profiles people whose dependence on drugs and alcohol or other compulsive behavior has brought them to a point of personal crisis and estranged them from their friends and loved ones. Each episode ends with a surprise intervention that is staged by the family and friends of the addict, and which is conducted by one of two specialists: Jeff Van Vonderen and Candy Finnigan.. Exclusive updated interviews with past subjects from the series first seven seasons are available on AETV.com/intervention.
| Former boxing champ Rocky Lockridge is homeless in Camden |
The series has conducted 158 interventions since its premiere in March of 2005, 125 individuals are currently sober.
The Retired Boxers Foundation submitted Rocky Lockridge’s story to Intervention after an email from Rocky’s son, Ricky Lockridge, Jr., to the Retired Boxers Foundation. Ricky wrote to tell us that he had found his father, homeless in Camden, New Jersey, and he needed help. He said that Rocky was in bad shape, homeless, and he appeared to have suffered a stroke at some point. Ricky was worried about Rocky and he was concerned at how fragile his father had become, looking many years older than his age, wandering the streets of Camden, with a tri-pod cane. Rocky had been homeless for ten plus years, addicted to crack and alcohol.
A former featherweight world champion who was discovered by Muhammad Ali, Rocky is still called “the champ” by locals. But the success, pressure and excesses of the boxing lifestyle proved too much for him and he turned to drugs and alcohol. He lost everything – his marriage, his sons, his wealth and his title. Now homeless and addicted to crack, Rocky needs to fight for something far more important than boxing glory – he must fight for his life.
Retired Boxers Foundation Founder and President, Alex “The Bronx Bomber” Ramos was especially touched by Rocky’s predicament because Rocky was one of his old stable mates from the early 80’s. They were friends then, and like most retired boxers, they are friends now.
Rocky’s story was submitted to Intervention by RBF Executive Director, Jacquie Richardson in July 2009, and received a response the next day. “I didn’t know what to do for Rocky. His problems were so complex and he was way across the country,” said Richardson. “Retired Boxers have special needs in their retirement and if they have chosen to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol, they need a lot more than detox,” she continued. “Retired Boxers need a more intense program, partnered with neurological and psychiatric evaluations. “Intervention” follows a thorough process that works. There was no way in the world we could raise enough money for this kind of treatment program,” said Richardson.
Richardson refers to Rocky’s acceptance by “Intervention” and the resulting work as “major cat herding!” She explained that it is difficult to keep track of a homeless fighter, get him to the psychiatric appointment and make sure that he was in the right place at the right times—from 3000 miles away, no less! Alex Ramos expressed his determination to help Rocky and he never gave up. There are too many people to thank, not the least of whom were Rocky’s friends, Orlando Pettigrew, a mail man who checked on Rocky as often as possible and Robbie Toney, a young man who idolized Rocky as a boxer, and who was working out with Robbie at a gym near Camden. RBF Representatives, Gumersindo Vidot and Thomas Jess also made trips to Camden to check on Rocky and buy him a meal. The Retired Boxers Foundation also thanks reporter/writers, Jason Nark and Todd Schmerle for keeping the story of Rocky’s predicament alive. Because of the stories they published, the Retired Boxers Foundation was able to raise enough money to buy Rocky clothes, new glasses, some pocket change, and now temporary housing. The RBF also helped Rocky continue his application for SSI, which he expects to receive in the not-too-distant future.
A lot has transpired during the past year, but Rocky got the help he needed and remains sober. Intervention does a beautiful job and treats each person who is featured, with dignity and respect. The Intervention will be preceded by a documentary on Rocky Lockridge that is quite touching, and then the Intervention, which is emotional and powerful.
We want to thank A&E, Intervention, the producers, and all of the people that made this show possible. In addition to helping good people in bad situations, to get sober and reclaim their lives, it also includes an enormous teaching component for people who have someone in their lives who is suffering from alcohol, substance abuse and other dangerous, but related afflictions. The Retired Boxers Foundation told Rocky that he would be an inspiration to the other Retired fighters who feel hopeless, lost in their own addictions, and he has not let us down. Sobriety is a process and the work is not finished. Ricky Lockridge and his brothers, have their dad back, but now begins the process of getting reacquainted and, at the same time, working through the hurt of the past. We wish the Lockridge family all the luck and love in the world, but everyone knows it will be “one day at a time!”
Please join us and watch the Rocky Lockridge story unfold on A&E’s Intervention. The Retired Boxers Foundation will be acknowledged in the credits and we are very proud to have played a role in this touching, human story.
PREMIERE:
The Rocky Lockridge Story
A&E Intervention
April 5 at 9pm/ ET and PT