The founder of Wilson’s Cops and Kids at the Den inside the Veterans Outreach Center in Utica is using his skills to help male youth maneuver into adulthood.
Coach Willie Wilson is a veteran and professional boxer who’s teaching youth not only what to do inside the ring but also on the outside.
“In order to box, you have to be disciplined in what you’re doing. Everything that you’re doing in school, you’re doing in the ring or whatever sport that you’re doing,” said Coach Wilson.
It’s more than how many punches a person can throw, it is about the fundamentals.
“I’m doing the exercise. I’m dissecting the human body, I’m developing on how to restrain somebody,” said Wilson.
At the age of six, Wilson started boxing. When he served in Vietnam as a marine, he joined the marine boxing group as an escape from war.
“In the service you were learning how to use weapons an stuff and I didn’t like that there. Even though I had got decent at using weapons and stuff. Then a bad thing happened where I hurt somebody, and I didn’t like it,” said Wilson.
Fourteen years ago he opened the boxing gym, where he believes discipline will help young men make smarter decisions. But for 73-year-old Wilson, he is thankful boxing has allowed him to help young men, not only in the sport, but in life.
While he prepares to retire, these young men won’t be left without learning. Wilson is bringing in officers from the Utica Police Department to help train and guide the young people going forward.
