“Boxeo Sin Cadenas” Means Don’t Throw in the Towel!

After seven months at the Unit 58 Prison in Lomas de Zamora, province of Buenos Aires, the social and sports program “Boxeo Sin Cadenas” closed the year activities with the visit of the person in charge of The “Knock out : Don’t Throw in the Towel” Program (Mexico), Dr. Eunice Rendon.

“Boxeo Sin Cadenas” (BSC) has existed in Argentina for more than a decade and brings together volunteer teachers to provide boxing classes .

Currently, the program operates in the town of La Plata, on the Atlantic Coast and in Lomas de Zamora.

One of its objectives is for providing the students of the different units an educational experience through boxing. It focuses on commitment and respect for the opponent; and is a recreational experience, both individual and collective.

This is a contact sport, training but can also be done individually.

Another of BSC’s objectives is for students to acquire knowledge of sport in order to become leaders within the Unit and be able to guide colleagues.

Federico Lubo Millán, one of the teachers explained: “What we propose in each new Unit is to be able to sustain the activity over time.

“This is often a risk in terms of the limitations of resources and possibilities that society in general is experiencing. In the particular case of UP 58 also, given the situation of having to teach classes in two modules with different situations, it translated into greater commitment on the part of the team.”

The program seeks to ensure that the knowledge and experience acquired become a work tool for all inmates when they are released.

Seven months ago, the program opened at UP 58 in Lomas de Zamora and recently culminated with an exhibition of 7 fights where students were able to demonstrate what they learned during the year.

Forty inmates from two pavilions, authorities and teachers of the unit, members of BSC and Kevin Auditore, a federated boxer, participated.

Omar Santamarina, a BSC teacher, coordinated Kevin so he could box with two of the most advanced students: “The two fights that Kevin did, he did well, he worked calmly, he never despaired, which also It made the rivals not desperate, that’s why it was nice, they were controlled fights.”

For his part, another of the members and professor of the program, Ariel Niro, gave his opinion on this closing day: “It was a great day with joy. The perfect seal for a collective work that has been carried out throughout the year. An event that expressed the commitment and desire of all those involved, which made it even more remarkable.”

“Undertaking this task, which, among other things, is non-profit, involves several challenges. However, Santamarina highlights that the main objective is met because the entire team is focused on “teaching, clearing the minds of the inmates, channeling the violence that they may experience through sport, so that they learn the technique and enjoy an activity.”

But what motivates the team to carry out BSC in this unit? Ariel Niro summarizes it like this: “What at first was a motivation from the conviction for this social project, later became a commitment to the team that was formed at UP 58.”

One of the most memorable elements of this day was the presence of Dr. Eunice Rendón, who shared her vision of what happens in the penitentiaries of Mexico.

Rendón also proposed working with common agendas with the members of BSC, “to be able to enhance the scope of these two programs supported by the World Boxing Council, and which are an example of the serious work that has been done.

This can undoubtedly serve as inspiration for other places in the world.”