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Champ fights for Valley children: Eric “Drummer Boy” Molina
Boxer works toward future in special education
Many Valley sports fans already know who Eric “Drummer Boy” Molina is.
The Lyford native, who graduated from Lyford High School in 2000 and now lives in Weslaco, burst onto the boxing scene in 2007. He quickly rose through the boxing ranks and in August claimed the WBC heavyweight title by beating Warren Browning in Las Vegas.
But while prize fighting may be Molina’s claim to fame, his desire to help children, especially during the holidays, is something he cherishes more than any title belt.
This Christmas, Molina planned on paying the Rio Grande Children’s Home in Mission a visit — just like he has for the past two years.
“I deliver gifts or anything that has been donated to me,” Molina said. “More importantly, though, I like to spend time with the kids. It gives me so much joy to know that I can help make someone’s day better by just giving a little bit of myself.”
Molina actually wants to make helping youths a full time job. He is already a graduate of the University of Texas-Brownsville-Texas Southmost College with degrees in business and interdisciplinary studies, but he’s currently working toward a master’s degree in special education.
“Boxing has been good to me, but I got into it as a way to help pay my way through school,” Molina said. “And while I’ve had success in the ring and hope to have more, I know that there will come a day when that part of my life will be over. That’s why getting an education is so important to me.”
Molina first got involved with Rio Grande Children’s Home thanks to a professor he had at UTB.
“This guy used to visit the place and he invited me to go along with him one year,” Molina said. “I knew from the very first second I got there that I was going to continue to go no matter what.”
Molina said he is always looking for people to donate items he can take along with him to the Children’s Home.
“Anything you give can help these children,” he said. “Any little thing can make a big difference in the lives of these kids.”
To help Eric Molina and the Rio Grande Chidren’s Home, contact Richard Molina at 956-537-3640.
