Paul Lopez, Reporting
If one was to travel back in time to the early nineties when Belizeans came out in droves to watch boxing, the Bird’s Isle was the place to be. This is footage from a fight night back then at an event that was filled with spectators and some heavy hitters in boxing. At ringside, among the trainers, stood one woman who brought immense value to the discipline.
Henrietta Gill, Former Boxing Coach
“I want you to jab up and come back down ok. Work the body and the head, you understand what I am telling you. Nuh guh to the back ah man.”
Henrietta Gill is a legendary boxing trainer. She was in her late fifties and aging gracefully when these videos were captured. At the time, Gill was a trainer for the Adolphus and Civic gyms. She was also employed as an officer in Her Majesty’s Prison where she trained prisoners to box. Her program helped prisoners to better reintegrate themselves into society upon their release. Here she was preparing a group of boxers from the prison for the 1993 Belize Games.
“We work everyday from Monday to Friday and we start everyday at two o’clock and we finish the latest at four. It is really hard work. We start with our exercise, going to shadow boxing, skipping, punching of bags, etc., etc. They work really hard and to be frank Marie, I am really prepared for ’93.”
Voice of: Ann Marie Williams, Reporter
“Gill’s boxers are a little different from their competitors in that whether they win lose or draw, they will sulk behind the walls of her majesty’s prison.”
Former Boxer
“I take part in the first Belize Games. I won a gold medal, and I was quite satisfied. I am hoping I am going out there and doing my best. That is what everybody expects of me, to do my best.”
Ann Marie Williams
“What is it like taking punches in the ring?”
Former Boxer
“Just like giving, you take, and you give, that is the point right.”
Henrietta Gill (File: Sept 5th, 2022)
“Now the first thing you have to train your boxers is you have to drop in their stance. Anytime you tell your boxer drop in the stance they put their right foot, because they write with their right hand, but no. You see the body is turned. So, you don’t. When you say drop in your stance, it is the left. And this is your position. You can block anything from there. And this is the punch. When the punch comes, it comes… that is the punch…*laughs* I feel great and many nights I would stay and wonder, how did I do so many things? And then I came with one question. I could not have done it without the help of God. He gave me the energy, because at that time I was holding two jobs. I was working with Mr. Tatesfield, that is Debbie Gegg’s daddy, and I was working at the prison.”
In this interview Gill explained that she took up boxing as a trainer in 1981 because her son had a passion for boxing and needed a trainer.
“My biggest challenge in boxing was the American coach that came. He refused for me to stay in the workshop. He partly told me to come out and go. So, Mr. Nicholas came to me and said, Ms. Gill if I were you, I would go home. I said over my dead body. I am determined, especially when I need something, and I know it is good. So, I stood there. He asked questions and I put up my hand and he ignored me. When break time, he went to have lunch with Mr. Adolphus at the prison. At that time, I was already at the prison. When he came back, he was man enough to stand in front of the class and apologize to me for being rude.”
Henrietta Gill
“Yesterday when I was coming from church, two boys said hi Ms. Gill. I said how you doing. They said we are fine. I said, have a good day. So I passed again, hi Ms. Gill. I said, you know something, I am not worried. If everybody like you all know me here on earth, in heaven I am well know. That is my assurance.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.