The Sims Boxing Gym is a new sports training facility and school for teaching the art of comparative self defense. Located at 4615 E. 10th Street across from the Emerson Theater, it is a rather unassuming building from the outside, accept for serious minded young people carrying gym bags and going in and out. Inside the gym is where you see the true purpose of the building. There are both male and female warriors working their bodies and their minds to the maximum. This is more than just boxing. The management and staff are teachers who incorporate the instruction of boxing skills with learning the values of respect, confidence, personal responsibility, discipline, and self esteem. Youngsters as young as 8 and all the way to young adults are throwing themselves into their training sessions with all their ability.
Anthony Sims, Jr is 19. He has been boxing competitively for nearly thirteen of those years. His record of amateur bouts is 188 wins and 13 losses — staggering numbers for such a young man. Anthony made his pro debut on April 23 here in Indianapolis at the McGowan Hall K of C against James Guy in the Light Heavyweight Division. He won the four rounder by a unanimous decision. On May 29th, he scored a second round TKO over James Thorpe at the Cincinnati Horseshoe Casino. Honors are not new to Anthony. The Avon native was the 2012 Junior Olympic gold medalist. He was the youngest medalist ever in the 178 lbs. weight class. From 2005 to 2009 he was the Indiana State Junior Golden Gloves Champion. In 2011 he was state Junior Olympic Champion. And the list of honors and awards includes ten national titles. Anthony wears a tattoo on the upper part of his right arm. It reads “Anthony Sims Sr. 1963-2001.” I asked him why he did this and he said it was to honor his father who died in a 2001 car accident. Anthony Sims Sr. was a boxer and was an alternate on the 1980 USA Olympic Boxing Team — he never got to compete because of the Carter boycott of the Russian Games. Sims Jr. admits that losing his father at age six was a struggle and that he found that training in a boxing gym helped him to relieve his loneliness. He attends Indiana State University, working towards a degree in Business Administration. On March 9, 2013 he signed a pro contract with international fight promoter Murad Muhammad, at the time, he proclaimed that his goal was to become light heavyweight champion of the world. That’s not just idle talk. When I watched Anthony spar I saw for myself his lightning fast speed and, more importantly, his devastating punching ability. His fists are like cannon balls when they connect and he makes his opponents pay the price. He is not a braggart but he is a serious boxer who is determined to reach his goals. He also wishes to make a difference in his community, he wants to work with young people and help them achieve their life goals. He will accept nothing less from himself. Anthony has Hollywood good looks, boxing savvy, Herculean athletic ability, and the determination that all champions have. If I was a betting man, I wouldn’t bet against him.
If you go to the Sims Boxing Gym, along with determined young fighters training under the careful eye of some knowledgeable coaches you will meet ToHana Sims-Capler. ToHana is Anthony’s Mom and manager of the gym and she really is its guiding spirit. She is constantly moving among her students, giving encouragement, correcting mistakes, and keeping everyone focused. She is like a school principal and social worker, the motivator, law giver, and the rule enforcer. She knows that for her some of the charges, the gym may be the last chance they will get to turn their life around. Sims Boxing Gym has already achieved several national honors including the World Boxing Council Cares Medal for community service. A representative from WBC Cares made a trip from Colorado to personally give the gym patches and medals for their students. Sims’ Mom said Anthony wants to give the medals to kids at Riley Hospital who are fighting the battle of their lives.
ToHana has arranged for the National Guard recruiters to come once a month and tell her boxers about opportunities in guard service. Sims Boxing could become an oasis of hope for some young people looking to get back on track. But, and this is important, the gym is also looking to build champions both Olympic and professional. They are already putting together a boxing team that will start tournament competition in October. In a few years there will be championship banners and photos of the champions who trained there on the walls. It’s going to be an exciting time for all of us in Indianapolis.
Call the gym at 317-832-8984 or e-mail olympianboxer@yahoo.com for more information about their boxing programs.
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