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Eric WoodyardESPN
FLINT, Mich. — Cars continue to form long lines to get free water bottles at local distribution sites here — even amid the coronavirus pandemic — with the water crisis continuing to plague the city since April 2014.
So two-time super middleweight champion Anthony Dirrell is trying to help his hometown during its time of need.
With UFC returning to fight action Saturday, Dirrell will host his own virtual fight night on the same day via Twitch to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint. Dirrell’s “Flint Fight Night — Champions for Charity” event is a livestream, esports event in which donations also will be accepted.
Boxing champion Claressa Shields and Denver Nuggets point guard Monte Morris, both Flint natives, are among the celebrities expected to join Dirrell from 2-6 p.m. ET while playing “UFC 3” on PlayStation 4 in a tournament-style setting.
“We don’t have clean water here in Flint and they’re threatening to shut down the Boys & Girls Club, so we’re just helping them out and Flint as a whole because of this crisis,” Dirrell told ESPN. “I still want to help digitally if I can and still have entertainment that’s going on.”
Michigan’s approach to reopening the economy has been slow and steady, led by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Her stay-at-home order will run through May 15, while the state of emergency remains in effect through May 28.
The number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Michigan reached 4,250 on Wednesday, but the number of new deaths was under 100 for the fourth straight day, according to The Detroit News.
Meanwhile, Dirrell remains under quarantine with his family in Michigan while completing in-home training to stay mentally engaged on boxing. At 35, Dirrell (33-2-1, 24 KOs) still is looking to continue his career following a second career loss to David Benavidez on Sept. 9, 2019.
“I’m waiting. It’s a waiting game like everybody else,” Dirrell said. “I want to fight again. I want to get my championship back, I want a rematch. Out of my two losses, I’ve never had a rematch in none of them. I’ll take any of them. I don’t mind. I really want to go for the championship again with David Benavidez if he gives me the challenge.”
Flint also has received national attention this week after three family members were charged in the fatal shooting death of a security guard who told a customer to put on a face mask while entering a Family Dollar.
Calvin Munerlyn, 43, died in a Flint hospital after he was shot in the head last Friday.
Both Shields and Dirrell said they knew Munerlyn as “Duper” in the community. More than $340,000 has been raised through a Go Fund Me account since his death to benefit his family.
“Duper was a really nice guy. He was a protector. Many times he’s walked me to my car,” Shields told ESPN. “As far as the water crisis, most of my family are still forced to use lead water. I just tell everyone, any chance I get, to keep sending pallets of water to Flint.”
Dirrell stressed to people in Michigan to take the coronavirus seriously.
“You’ve got to be cautious because sometimes if you do have it, you might not know and our rates in Michigan have dropped and that’s a good thing and I think it’s good we’re doing this stay-at-home order,” he said. “We should overcome this soon if everyone does the right thing.”