Our World: “The more you learn, the more there is to learn”
by Tristan Spinski, Friday, November 20, 2009
If boxing is the “sweet science,” then Steve Canton has a Ph.D. in fisticuffs. The wiry, silver-haired, 63-year-old Brooklyn, N.Y., native runs the SJC Boxing Club on Fowler Street in Fort Myers.
“I have been in boxing since before the Last Supper,” jokes Canton. “Fifty-two years really — over half a century.”
Canton’s fighting record is impressive: 122-3 as an amateur and 21-0 with 16 knockouts as a pro. He can also flatten his nose against his face because it’s been broken so many times. But Canton’s true gift is recognizing and honing talent. He can dissect a fighter like a simple physics equation.
Last weekend, as Canton was being inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in Tampa, Héctor “Macho” Camacho, asked Canton to assess his son, Christian, in the ring. Over breakfast with the Camacho family, Canton gave his report. “I told him he has loads of talent and natural ability but poor fundamentals, he has not had good training, his feet are too far apart and he is telegraphing his punches, among other things,” Canton said.
Canton’s gym, with its duct taped heavy bags, sweat-stained furniture, and a sagging 3-rope ring, boasts 10 world champions, including the legendary middleweight/super middleweight Freeman “The Natural” Barr — who still trains daily.
“The difference between a beginner and a good fighter is huge, but the difference between a good fighter and a great fighter are a lot of little things,” Canton says. “That’s where the ‘sweet science’ comes in.”
Under the supervision of Canton and his assistant trainer Chris Canton, Steve’s younger brother, fighters learn to start and finish each round fast in order to make a good first and last impression on the judges. The 3-minute clock is burned into muscle memory from day one, which translates into finishing each round in their corner. They can then utilize every second between rounds to tend to cuts and/or relax, etc.
“Again, a lot of little things,” Canton says.
“The problem is, all of the sweet scientists are dying off. Fighters today race to the top without learning their trade,” Canton says. “They learn the jab halfway. They learn the right hand halfway. They learn the hook halfway. The uppercut halfway. They learn footwork halfway. They end up becoming a halfway fighter. You learn the jab. Then you learn to put the right hand behind it…”
He looks across the ring to Jesus Lule, a compact 25-year-old landscaper from Mexico, hammering away on a heavy bag. Canton says less than two years ago, Lule waddled into his gym some 35 pounds overweight, with no experience and seemingly, no ability.
But Canton recognized speed, heart, reflexes, a good chin, and a desire to win — the recipe for a good boxer, characteristics that can’t be taught. All that was missing was technique, which can be taught. Now, less than two years later, 35 pounds lighter and fists tuned to dump a blizzard of jabs, right hands, hooks and upper cuts, Lule prepares to make his pro debut.
“I’m stuck in the old times with an old fashioned gym and an old three roped ring,” Canton says.
“Everything we do here is old school. You have to do in the gym what you do in the ring. And the more you learn the more there is to learn.”
