New Jersey man fighting cancer in the boxing ring

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A New Jersey man is fighting cancer in two ways, first with his doctors, but also in the boxing ring.

He says it's helping to make a difference.

His story and his message apply to all of us; whether you're dealing with cancer or something else, that you have choice to give in or fight back.

It's his daily routine, boxing at the Crunch gym in Paramus, New Jersey.

But 23-year-old Anthony Daniels is fighting not just for fitness, but to stop the cancer that's attacking his body.

"It's really helped me emotionally, physically, mentally, everything," Daniels said.

Three years ago, Anthony was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system that destroys the immune system.

Twice he thought he was in remission, but the cancer came back. And that's when he decided to put on some gloves and fight.

"I remember one time I came in here I had 72 hours of straight chemotherapy, and I was sparring the next day," Daniels said, "It was really hard but it was my way of telling people that you can still be strong even if you have cancer. It doesn't mean you have to lie in a bed all day, that's what everybody thinks."

His message inspired his followers, friends, and two young filmmakers who turned his story into a new documentary.

"I made a choice, a choice that has changed my life, I chose to be strong," Daniels says in the documentary.

"Anthony is a very positive person, and his attitude towards everyday life inspires me as a filmmaker it inspires me in life," said Ken Spooner, the filmmaker.

There are good days and bad, but Anthony says boxing makes chemo and radiation easier to endure.

"After I came here I'd be tougher every single time, I was able to deal with the nausea," Daniels said.

His only hope for a cure is a bone marrow transplant, but so far, he cannot find a donor.

Only about 30% of patients who need a bone marrow transplant find a match within their family. Everyone else has to rely on a complete stranger.

The filmmakers, Ken Spooner and Mike O'Brien, hope Anthony's story will go viral, to help him or someone else waiting to find their match.

"You can hope for the best but you also have to live your life too and that's what I try to do and enjoy it as much as possible," Daniels said.

Anthony and about 14,000 patients need a bone marrow transplant every year.

If you want to register to be a donor, join us right here in our studios next week on July 9th for the Channel 7 Delete Blood Cancer Bone Marrow Drive.

Learn more:

DELETE BLOOD CANCER

http://www.deletebloodcancer.org

The documentary "To Be Strong" will be available on July 16th.

You can watch the trailer here:

http://www.ToBeStrongFilm.com