Boxing Academy Hosts Veterans Day Boxing Event

Boxing is one of the toughest workouts around, and at Sims Boxing Academy at 8515 Northeast 25th Street in Spencer, they are combining the tough workout with tough discipline.

“A lot of them just come in here to get in shape, to be honest with you, and they end up liking it so much they actually want to compete,” said Lavell Sims, owner of Sims Boxing Academy.

Sims Started the boxing academy in 2004 and moved to the current location in 2017. “Boxing is a good output because a lot of the kids in the schools have a problem with anger issues. So, I figured versus them doing it in the streets or getting kicked out of school, we have a place where they can horn in on their skills,” said Sims.

With escalating gun violence, the gym offers an alternative. “It’s okay to disagree, we just want to live to tell about it. So, I came up with a program last year called guns down, gloves up,” said Sims.

The gym works with kids as young as six years old. “They can actually compete at eight years old, so I like to bring the kids in at six and let them get a couple of years of experience,” said Sims.

Through mentoring and tough discipline, the program is having an impact. “I grew up wanting to fight, always fighting and getting into trouble,” said Christopher Lancaster.

Lancaster has been coming to the gym for about three years and admits his first experience wasn’t what he expected. “When I actually got punched in the face with a glove, I didn’t come back for like a while because I was embarrassed,” said Lancaster.

He got over the embarrassment and is back in the ring. He also works as a mentor and a coach with the program that turned his life around. “Whenever you come to the gym you expect to see like a whole lot of males boxing, but I enjoy it,” said Safia Abedour.  

There as several ladies participating in the boxing program. “I had played sports in high school, but I was out of high school, so I just wanted to still stay physically active,” said Abedour. “This weekend we are doing what we call the Veterans Day beat down,” said Sims.

It’s a boxing event featuring boxers of all ages from all over the state and country. “Gyms coming from St. Louis, Arkansas, Texas all over,” said Sims.

Honoring veterans on Veterans Day. “Those that show their military ID card will get a discount on the entry fee,” said Sims.

There will be twenty boxing matches, doors open at 4:30 with the first match set to start at 5:30. For more information about the boxing event or the boxing academy visit Life Changes and Wellness Special Events Center on Facebook.