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TUNING UP -- for the big fight on September 23, James 'Quick' Tilli* does a number on the speed bag at his EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT (S SPECIAL rodeo star," he said. 'Thafs why all my stuff says James 'Quick' Tillis, the Fightin' Cowboy." WORLD'S FINEST EAT1N' CHICKEN BROASTED HOME OF ̂TUESDAY NIGHT SPECIAL 3-PIECE $ 1 79 CHICKEN DINNER | (INCLUDES FRIES, CPU SlAW & ROIL) TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS: • 3709 W. ELM ST.. McHSNRY, III. 344-110J I lit N. SEMINARY AVE., WOODSTOCK, III. 333-S7SS IN A HUMYT CALL AHEADI at his Valley Area. STAFF PHOTOS--WAYNE GAYLORD Tillis shows off his rope jumping skills. 'Quick * Tillis Is 'Gonna Get Him' Witherspoon Now, Shot At World Heavyweight Title Next SAM NATROP SHAW/MM PRI • WOODSTOCK-- It was the words of a 65-year-old man that 27-year-old James Tillis remembers the most. "You're always going to have problems in your life," the old man toldTillis, "it's how you handle them is what counts." And they were words of one of the greatest boxers mat I ip history--S from the low r Ra: tof -that lifted Tillis career to the plateau where he is now -- the number eight ranked heavyweight fighter in the world. ' And next month, Sept. 23 to be exact, Tillis will face Tim Witherspoon. the No. 3 ranked heavyweight in the world on network television, for what Tillis and his trainer Johnny Lira feel will be a shot at the heavyweight championship of the world. "I'm gonna get him (Witherspoon). He backed out on me once and it coat me, Tillis said with steely determination in his eyes. "This is a revenge fight." The last time the two fighters were scheduled to do battle-- last Aug. 14 -- Witherspoon withdrew from the fight. As a result, Tillis said he suffered a concentration lapse. "I lost the edge. I was nonchalant about the fight. I went out partyin' and it cost me. "I lost my edge on national television and got beat. I got my butt kicked," he said with a disgusted shake of his head. "That was the lowest point of my career," Tillis said. "I flew out to Los Angeles and talked to Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali and they gave me great advice. They gave me words to live by-" two boxing because The advice worked wonders for the thai 25-year- old Tillis who was battling the second of two divorces in court. He promptly came out and destroyed his next four opponents. In his first fight bade, he won a 10-round decision. His next was a knock out in the eighth round, his next fight was a knock out in the third round, and the fourth fight (which was his most recent) was a knock out of Undwood Jones in the fourth round in Julyi Now Tillis is back training hard to keep his technique and hand speed sharp. He is working with his trainer Lira ana close friend Larry in rural ') Woodstock. After that initial training segment is complete he will travel to Las Vegas to won more strenuously in sparring and boxing workouts. Tillis has been in Woodstock for a week and will train hoe through the end of this week. "We've been working on his concentration and the basics of positioning and moves," Lira, once the fifth-ranked boxer in the world, said. "We won't work on strength or power until out there (Las Vegas). The speed will come with the strength. 'lie's got such speed in his hands and such great agility and reflex and sharp punches that he could really hurt somebody," Lira said. "You don't really hurt a fighter as much with a power punch as you do with a warp punch. It's the sharp punch that puts 'em down. " 'Quick'has a lot of God-given talent. We're here »ii», I've been studying him. I've been watching his fight films and seeing what he dees in the ring. He hasn't shown me anything." ' "I wait to talk with (Renaldo) Snipes' father in Waukegan last weekend and he said Witherspoon has no body and no heart. He's goin' down." James 'Quick' Tillis was born in Tulsa, Okla., on his father's 27th birthday -- July 5,1957. "I had four sisters and my father didn'twant another girl, and my momma had me," Tillis said. "Helluva birthday present, huh." He said he fought often as a youngster and that most of his fights were against boys bigger and older. "That's how I got my foot speed. I'd hit him and run," Tillis said with a laugh. "But this year I'm going to take it. . .I'm going to win it all." A quick rise toward the top followed Tillis as he became a top contender in the early part of his career. It ma "He Lira said. "That's a heavy burden to put young man. He has become much more mentally mature now, though. He's ready." Tillis' head corner man will be Angelo Dundee, one of the most famous corner men in boxing history. "Angelo and I will get together three or four days before the fight," Tillis said. "He's actually my PR (public relations) man. He's got the connections. He can cut through the red tape. He's the one who can get me the fight (with champion Larry Holmes) in December. "But here's my main man," Tillis said pointing at Lira. "He's the best trainer I've had since I've been a professional boxer. Johnny's number one. He's die best" to refine, enhance and improve it" Tillis was born and raised in Oklahoma, cowboy country he calls it. "When I get rich after winning Tillis added quickly, however, that all the help he's gotten from all of his the inspiration received from God. "I believe trainers can't compare to i 'Quick' Lira said Woodstock was picked as a training site for two main reasons. "The air is clean. We like to be able to start waiting out at 5 a.m. before it gets too hot" ha said. "Also, being from Oklahoma. James can relate to the kind of people around here. . .good, honest people." Tillis has a career record of 24-3 with 21 knockouts. He is looking to extend that mark to 25-3 against Witherspoon. "I've been studying him. I've been watching his fight films and seeing what he does in the ring," Tillis said. "He hasn't shown me anything. strongly in the word of God," he said. "Jesus came and died for us. That means a lot to me." Outside of boxing, Tillis lives a clean, simple life. He doesn't smoke or drink and, even when he's not in serious training, he wathces his diet. "He came to this training camp in good shape," Lira said. "He didn't let his body waste"away between fights." Tillis said his diet consists of four or five poached eggB for breakfast and steak, chicken and lots of fruits and vegetables for his evening meals. His muscular body is at a trim 215 pounds now, but he said he wants to be at206 or 209 for the fight. "I'll be in top, prime shape then," he said. But the main goal for James Tillis is down the road a few months. "I want that championship belt "That's my ultimate dream." NURSERY SALE TIME IS NOW! ,3^ ALL DUG TREES ^ 1/2 PRICE Shrubj... 20-50% OFF Evergreens... 20-50% OFF •Planting Available«Guarariteed •Large Selection A Favorite For Shade la Many Varieties HOStQ Reg. 3.75• • • !• #5 MANY OTHER $* PERENNIALS Reg 2 39..• lei!? 3 1114994200 owerw IN. 14 A176 Crystal Lake, Tillis stands with some friends and his training crew. (Left to right) Shown are; Larry Johnson (also a boxer), Jerry Luciano, Tillis, John Lira (his trainer) and Rob Suwanski (Lira's nephew). Lira Is The Li Behind The r.'* MIKE LAMB Behind every champion there is the supporting cast which directs him in the right direction. If Jim 'Quick' Tillis becomes the heavyweight champion of the world, John Lira will deserve much of the credit. Lira has been Tillis' trainer for the past week, while training in the Bull Valley Area. If anybody knows how to train a champion, Lira does. He was the lightweight champion of the world in 1978. Tillis calls Lira his "main man." What makes Lira so unique in training Tillis is his boxing career is still strong. The 32-year- old Chicago native has his sights set on recapturing the light­ weight world title. "I'm what you might call a player-coach boxer. I don't know of anybody else that is like that," said Lira. "A lot of people don't think boxing is a team sport, but it is. There is a lot of team spirit. There has to be a lot of discussion back and forth. "We are so unique. He (Tillis) is going for a world championship and I'm going for a world championship. We have a little saying that goes he is the heavyweight with the lightning and I'm the lightweight with the heavyweight personality." Lira defeated Andy Ganigan for the world lightweight title in 1978. Ganigan had a record of 23 knockouts in 25 fights. He was working at a boys club in Chicago when he was discovered by the people spon­ soring Tillis. They were so im­ pressed with the way Lira han­ dled the boys and his conditioning tactics. "It has been a growing ex­ perience. We had the bad times, and now we are back to the good times. "I enjoy player-coaching. What I teach helps me in my fighting career. If I tell a fighter not to be lazy, it remindes me not to be lazy. What I tell them to do, reminds me what I should be doing." Recently, boxing has been landed a black eye. Doctors and others have jumped on the bandwagon announcing boxing is unhealthy and should be banned. That disturbs Lira. "Boxing is listed eighth on the fatality list. They should worry more about the other seven in front. "I choose my career. A person who is progressive should be able to choose his career. A steel worker chooses to be a steel worker. A race car driver chooses to be a race car driver. "We could do something about smoking cigarettes, but we are still making cigarettes. Cancer is one of the biggest killers, and they still worry about boxing. Because boxing causes bodily damage. What about the pure grace of the sport? "We are all our worst enemies It's the man involved in the sport, Better yet, instead of stopping boxing, let's stop wars." Like anything else, distractions can be (Hie of the main causes for defeat. That is one of the reasons Lira picked this area to train Tillis. "He has a very important fight coming up," said Lira on Tillis' September fight with Tim Witherspoon. "He is either going to be in front of the barrel or in the middle of it. We realize this is a major step for him. He needs a place were he can do a lot of soul searching. Where he can be in peace with himself." Another reason for picking this area to train is the fact McHenry County is the biggest horse area in Illinois. Tillis, a Oklahoma native, is a horseman. Picking Bull Valley also gave Lira a chance to do some visiting with relatives. Lira has several relatives in McHenry County. In fact, Lira had his nepfiew, Rob Suwanski of Algonquin, training (Continued en page •) H. E. BUCH & SON PLUMBING, HEATING n & A/C IS MOVING FROM ROUTE 120 WATCH FOR MOVING DATE PAGE 7 - PLAINDEALER - FRIDAY. AUGUST 19,1983 Tillis has his sights set on gaining a shot at the World Heavyweight Title. Here, he has his sights set on bag.