<iframe media_type="2" media_id="209295937" class="youtube-replace" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/209295937" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen style="margin-bottom:20px"></iframe>

In August of 2016, right after his granddaughter's wedding, Walter Carvalho (aka. Pops) started to feel unusually weak and fatigued. 
It wasn't that he felt under the weather or his age was catching up with him, Pops Carvalho was a very unique man.  At 82 years old he was training fighters from 115lbs. to fighters weighing over 300 lbs. teaching them speed, precision and power through focus mitts.
This method of training requires a high level of concentration,  technique and years of experience to perform at a professional level. In other words it is extremely rare to see a man in his 80's physically training professional fighters at the highest level and he did it effortlessly! Yet through all of his experiences preparing fighters for fight of the night, Pops found himself in the fight for his life. 
In August of 2016, we rushed Pops to emergency for multiple nose and mouth bleeds. From nose and mouth bleeds it turned into pneumonia and from pneumonia we were told it was congestive heart failure and even COPD.  But like any tough fight Pops fought off each of them like a champ defending his title. 
In mid October of 2016, we rushed him back to emergency. He was losing his appetite, feeling fatigued, dizzy and had trouble walking. The numerous medications caused a bleeding ulcer that put him in the ICU for two weeks. We came close to losing Pops and now we found ourselves questioning doctors and pleading with social workers for help. Results from a kidney biopsy revealed an opponent that was out of Pops weight class. Wegener's Granulomatosis, a Rare disease that attacks the upper respiratory and Kidneys. Within weeks Pops was in renal failure and from October to February he has been on dialysis 3 days a week and since March he is on dialysis 4 days a week with nausea and stress. 
Financially, the accruing medical bills from ambulance rides, treatment and rehab have taken it's toll on a fast depleting savings account that leave his disabled wife and family stressing to deal with the aftermath. 
Despite all odds Pop continues to fight setting the ultimate example to all who know and love him.   
We humbly and respectfully ask that you donate whatever you can to help Pop fight his battles both in and outside the ring like he has done for so many lives through so many years.  
Pop has one final wish and that is to tell his story. A story about a man who devoted his life to teaching young men from all walks of life, discipline, hard work ethic and self belief through the art of fighting.