Leon Searcy: The U’s Youth, Defense Exposed

Hollywood - Football was never like this.

"The first day the trainer broke us down," said Clive Lowe, a former Douglas High and Montana State linebacker. "They put us on punching bags for three-minute rounds and we were going, going, going. Forty five seconds later we were dead tired.

"The first thing you realize is how long three minutes is, three minutes is forever."

Described as a "factory for heavyweight boxers," Hollywood businessman Kris Lawrence has created the ideal atmosphere at his Lucky Street Boxing Gym to try and develop the next heavyweight champion from South Florida.

The longtime boxing fan designed a state-of-the-art 20,000 square foot private boxing gym with two rings. He hired some of the nation's top trainers including Stacy McKinley, called "The Crocodile" and probably best known as the gym trainer for Mike Tyson. There is a videographer to help break down every sparring session on the gym's 52-inch TV screen before they hit a sprawling weight and exercise room.

Lawrence's concept on how to develop a heavyweight champion is already gaining attention in the boxing world. The marquis weight division, once dominated by Americans, is ruled by eastern European fighters.

"I would call Kris an entrepreneur regarding boxing," said reigning heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko of the Ukraine, who now lives in Hollywood. "He has feelings for the sport and desires to make it better. Who knows? Maybe we will have the next champion from this gym."

The boxing program is designed to bring elite athletes from college and pro sports including football, basketball, baseball and soccer, put them in a boxing gym and see if they have what it takes to become a pro fighter.

Six months ago, Lawrence's recruiting scout Justin Montgomery traveled from Orlando and Tampa to Miami to meet with athletic directors and coaches and look for the best athletes in various combines.

McKinley and trainers Isaiah Clark, Jessie Robinson and Terry Moore pared 100 candidates down to 26. By the end of the year, six are expected to make the cut to turn pro.

"Before they walk in the door half the work is done because we already know what they are capable of doing athletic-wise," Lawrence said. "The only thing we are looking for after that is a heart and a chin."

Lowe, 25, of Coral Springs and former Piper and University of Miami running back Quadtrine Hill, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound son of former Los Angeles and Miami Dolphins running back Eddie Hill, are arguably the top prospects.

"I took to it right away, my learning curve is really high," said Hill, 26, of Sunrise, who has shadow boxed with Klitschko. "I have always been a person who felt if I boxed I would be great at it. A great athlete, for the most part, is if he has a good head on his shoulders and put the right amount of work into it, you could turn him pretty much into anything you want."

Hill's last year in football was 2005 when he was placed on injured reserve by the Chicago Bears after hurting his back. Now healthy, he says "without a doubt, I am going to be the next heavyweight champion.

"In football you have to depend on so many other people. In boxing, it's just you. Of course, I miss football. It's something I did my whole life."

Hill said his father is still on the fence about him pursuing a pro career in boxing.

"My dad is half and half," Hill said. "He's seen the aftermath of some of these older fighters who didn't take care of themselves after taking thousands of hits. I keep telling my dad as many hits as I took to the head when I was playing running back and fullback at Miami, he really shouldn't be concerned about boxing."

Their amateur debut at the March 27-29 Florida Golden Gloves tournament was impressive. They won their first two novice bouts, including Hill's first round TKO victory in less than a minute after only two months of training.

The friends and stable mates are on a collision course to compete for a 4-foot high trophy in a special attraction fight on July 11 at the Women's National Golden Gloves Tournament at the Fort Lauderdale Airport Hilton.

"Someone asked me how I feel about getting punched in the face," Lowe said. "Nobody likes to get punched in the face. You just have to want to compete just like in football. The door is open to do something great."

(sun-sentinel.com)