‘Suga’ Wallace finds purpose and platform in boxing

Boxing coach and former professional fighter Lindel ‘Suga’ Wallace, a trailblazer in local boxing, will be honoured by the Jamaica Boxing Board and Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum at the third staging of the Wray & Nephew Fight Nights series at Ebony Vale Community Centre in St Catherine tonight.

Wallace has played a pivotal role in establishing and operating one of the few training facilities for boxers in all weight classes in Kingston and passionately advocates for support from the public sector and at the community level.

Born and raised in Cockburn, Pen Kingston, Wallace discovered boxing as a teenager through other young men residing in the community. Despite the gentle warnings from his Christian mother, Wallace decided to take a jab at the sport. Among his memories was going to train at Tinson Pen then Archmore; then he moved on to Liberty Hall on King Street, and thereafter, the Guinness Gym located at Heroes Circle.

“I would leave home for the gym every afternoon, although my mother did not agree with my participation. I remember one evening my father, who was a fisherman, showed me a young man in the newspaper. Now, I never knew the fights were being published and mi turn around and say, ‘him look like me, but ah nuh me’ and he gave a stern look and asked me to level with him. That’s when I admitted I was boxing. From then on, every Wenchman or Doctor fish he caught, he made make sure I would get them with some turn cornmeal to build up my strength,” Wallace said.

Wallace made his official debut in March 1987 at a boxing event hosted by prominent businessman and boxing event promoter Lucien Chen, and while he did not emerge the champion, that fight left most people awestruck. He became known for his signature right-hand punch and received the ringside alias ‘One-Hand Georgie’. The boxer’s fire for the sport burned brightly even after retiring from the ring.

With over 20 years of experience in boxing, he later founded the Suga Knockout Boxing Gym in 2008. There he launched the ‘Gloves Over Guns’ Initiative, as a means to help provide positive opportunities to the youths within the community and steer them into the direction of competitive sporting and away from a life of crime.

“Boxing keeps the young people who participate in the sport out of trouble, myself included. Without boxing, I do not know where I would be,” Wallace said.

Strong fighters

At 73 years old, and one of the oldest coaches in the sport, Wallace continues to fight the good fight.

Speaking of professional boxers Sonny Liston, Mohammed Ali and Bunny Grant, some of his role models, Wallace said he wanted to make a similar impact if not by winning titles by creating winners.

“There is so much to teach. We start training young boys in the community from as early as 10 years old, taking them through the basics, such as a proper stance and understanding what power means. With power comes great responsibility and I continue to encourage and hone the skills necessary to make them not only good at the sport but make them upstanding citizens,” he said.

The veteran trainer recognises that boxing as a competitive sport can be intimidating for young men and women to choose but emphasises on the value of committed training. The Suga Knockout Boxing Gym under Wallace’s guidance has produced several strong fighters including Kemahl ‘Hitman’ Russell and Chad Richards, both of whom are former winners of the Wray & Nephew Contender boxing series.

“I would like to put out more champions and keep more young men out of problems,” said Wallace when asked how he would like to be remembered in boxing.