Boxing in jail, type of redemption

Mexico Metropolis. They share blood, names and paternal surname, ardour for boxing and an extended jail sentence. Each are known as Juan Luis Espinoza, they’re first cousins ​​and for 18 years they’ve been united not solely by household ties, but additionally by the misfortune of getting misplaced their freedom. Within the Santa Martha Acatitla jail, within the east of Mexico Metropolis, boxing supplied them a motive to rise up each morning with out ache, due to a routine that serves to cheat the confinement. Yesterday, in that penitentiary middle, considered one of them acquired his skilled fighter’s license and the opposite assisted him as his supervisor in a nook through the first operate through which inmates and exterior fighters alternated.

Juan Luis, the boxer, was one of many six inmates who yesterday obtained their license as professionals on this occupation, one thing unprecedented within the historical past of Mexican boxing. He had by no means earlier than licensed somebody in jail. In such a manner that these six imprisoned fighters acquired for the primary time a wage for his or her work, the identical as that acquired in freedom: 1,500 pesos per spherical that was paid by the promoters concerned within the operate on the Santa Martha jail.

Should you do not do one thing whenever you’re in jail, you go loopy or depressed., says Juan Luis, the coach, whereas his cousin prepares to enter the ring in his skilled debut. “Jail is a bastard. You simply have to show round and what do you see? –He asks himself as he seems from one facet of the jail to the opposite–, anybody can get down with this.

The gymnasium is spacious and has a regulation ring. There are steps on the edges. On the left, the inmates, all in navy blue, excited as a result of due to this operate the monotony of the times appears interrupted. On the best, friends, safety authorities and the kinfolk of the inmates who fought yesterday. Right here everybody helps one another, whoever wins receives applause and whoever loses additionally, as a result of they are saying {that a} defeat below these circumstances is roofed with some shreds of triumph.

The monotony of the Santa Martha Acatitla jail was damaged yesterday with a boxing efficiency. Gustavo Segura (blue), who misplaced his match towards Geovani Aldair, was the primary inmate to obtain his skilled license. Picture ‘La Jornada’

Between locks and metal doorways

Attending to this improvised area includes rigorous passage by corridors and locks. Guards opening and shutting heavy metal doorways. For a decade, jail authorities and the Mexico Metropolis Boxing Fee have undertaken a program to show boxing to inmates, and after years of arduous coaching, a handful of them lastly turned professionals in captivity. At the present time, nonetheless, the controls appear much less extreme. There’s a festive ambiance, it’s due to the prisoners who turned to boxing like castaways to a lifeline and apparently achieved a type of redemption. All the things is sort of a free operate, though within the distance you possibly can see the bedrooms and the beige garments hanging within the solar on the bars that remind you that this isn’t exterior, however inside.

When you’re in jail your thoughts performs methods on you, if you happen to do not make it do one thing artistic and optimistic, it betrays you. Boxing helped my cousin and me not to surrender. Due to this job we get up early and need to do one thing for ourselves and for others within the jail.provides Juan Luis, the coach.

Juan Luis, the boxer, for his half, fights with braveness towards Yassir Morales, one other imprisoned boxer who’s making his skilled debut, however who comes from the Reclusorio Norte. The 2 are motivated by their baptism as fighters and since their households are within the stands of the gymnasium in Santa Martha. They need to shine on this Saturday full of fine omens for each of them.

Juan Luis wins by knock out technician in three episodes. Yassir is ecstatic anyway; She poses for images and would not cease smiling as she spreads out her skilled license for everybody to see. Winner and loser hug and have fun as if the referee had not stopped the combat, as occurred, and as a substitute of the decision of knock out technician two minutes into the third episode, would have known as a tie. In the long run, because the inmates say, everybody wins right here.

After triumphing, Juan Luis the boxer pauses to go to the restoration space. ringside. His mom and father, José Luis Rey Espinoza, are excitedly ready for him there, who watches him from a wheelchair, since he lately had a leg amputated because of diabetes. Don José, nonetheless, seems radiant; He’s proud that his son is now an expert boxer, like these he used to observe on tv since he was little. For them it’s not simply something to have a fighter within the household, they’re from the Tepito neighborhood, from these populous streets the place the artwork of the fists is a trademark.

Juan Luis Espinoza, who seems along with his mother and father, exhibits his certification. Picture ‘La Jornada’

Straighten the trail

I informed my son that my Father’s Day present could be for him to get his boxing license and, if attainable, to win the combat. Simply have a look at what higher present a dad can have: seeing his son straightening the trail, like an expert fighter.Don José expresses movedly.

18 years in the past my son and my nephew had been imprisoned. They nonetheless have two left to go free. Having a baby in jail could be very laborious, it’s one thing you don’t want on anybody. You might be exterior and also you expertise the anguish of not figuring out how you might be inside. However now, after I see that he acquired this skilled license and that he raises his arms as a winner within the ring, I really feel calmer. And sure, I’m very pleased with my son and my nephewconcludes Don José Luis, the daddy and uncle of two individuals who discovered a type of redemption in a jail.