Up to 60 incarcerated pugilists unite on SQRC’s Lower Yard to keep their edge in the sweet science of boxing. Through blood, sweat, and tears, the combatants gain physical conditioning and mental strength
Instructors of the “sweet science,” include Coach Stan “LS” Tillman, Jeff Williams, and, Perry “Spike” Simpson, all of whom help boxers gain inspiration from their program of hard work. The coaches have over 75 years of experience in boxing and the team has totaled over 20 years of training at SQRC. Through the program, students have real equipment and gain support from the correctional officers who see the boxing club’s positive results.
At the age of six, a friend took Tillman to a boxing gym and “it was love at first sight.”
Little did Tillman know, he would be saving lives as the lead boxing coach at SQ.
Tillman speaks of a 400lb, 52-year-old resident at Jamestown who approached him; suffering from asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, and, high cholesterol.
The resident, who knew nothing about boxing, worked out five days a week and learned healthy habits after Tillman created a diet that eliminated junk food. He lost 113lbs in 13 months while his diabetic numbers, blood pressure and cholesterol levels improved.
As a result of following the diet and exercise, his confidence increased and he became motivated to take up handball and football.
“I suffered a hip injury after falling from an upper bunk,” said Coach Jeff Williams.
“[Coach Tillman] eliminated my negativity, stress, and anxiety as he rebuilt my positive energy through harnessing my aggression,” related Williams, incarcerated for 30 years and the oldest coach at 52 years.
Williams lost 40lbs, eliminated health problems, and improved his mental toughness.
Williams added that Tillman teaches “racial unity”: a “colorless” mindset that gives students a willingness to embrace other cultures. This strategy expands a person’s mindset.
Incarcerated 27 years with his last 15 years at SQRC, Simpson started training others while still working on himself, attempting to turn around self-esteem issues and a negative mindset.
“My objective is not to teach someone to hurt somebody else but to control themselves.” Simpson said his trainers taught him to ‘control the man’ through mindfulness. They also taught him patience and how to control aggression.
He then quoted Bruce Lee, stating, “Win the fight before a punch is ever thrown.”
Simpson has trained six people since 2019, and three went home.
One released resident owns a trucking company: “He became a better man and father, he manages his emotions better than before he was taught and he learned to stay focused and stay the course”.
All of the trainers have each others’ backs and work to create a safe environment that encourages students to seek out nonviolent solutions.
Simpson says that he’s “been fortunate to train people who are looking to better themselves mentally by challenging themselves physically,” and added that “violence is never the solution, self control and do no harm are rules to live by.”
Simpson continued, “My biggest fight has always been with myself, now that I have that in check, I don’t need to fight because a little empathy goes a long way”.
Coach Tillman explains that the team deploys positive modeling, “Bernard Hopkins survived a prison term and went on to become Heavyweight Champion and Mike Tyson suffered through a rough childhood to become Heavyweight Champion. If they can do it why not us?”.
He received a letter from a released student who had gone home thirty days earlier. The student had lost 30 pounds and was inspired to return to school.
It’s clear that the boxing team’s leaders do not produce quitters, but boxers who have found turning physical exertion into a healthy and rewarding discipline. The results are there to prove it.
