Steve Hiser was the “father to a thousand sons”.
Through all the reams of tributes to the Fisher ABC coaching legend, who died last week, it would be hard to top that. Or find one more appropriate to describe a man who had such a positive influence on so many lives.
Not just inside the ring but outside it, too, where more often than not the real fights need to be won.
There are few people better placed to describe the “greatness” of Hiser than one of the “disaffected” young men he took under his wing.
Bermondsey’s Trevor Thirlwall, now a coach at the club, knew Hiser for over 40 years.
“What made him so unique as an individual? Without sounding too clichéd, how do you explain greatness?” Thirlwall tells the News.
“He was the father to a thousand sons. He really did take our broken wings and enable us to fly.
“I once chaired a meeting in his presence and I was asked the same sort of question. And I said, well, not only has the man churned out world champions in the last 50 years, he has churned out a number two, a number three, a number four.
“If you think about it, you’re number four on the planet. To take these raw nuggets, broken homes, disaffected young men, and young women, and not just see something in them but allow that person to believe that that gift is inside them and it is achievable. To churn it out continuously over 50 years, in my opinion it’s not far short of a miracle.”
Two-time British light-middleweight champion Ted Cheeseman has previously said that he believes Hiser saved lives through his work at Fisher. Cheeseman paid his own tribute this week: “So horrible to have to write this, so many memories made with this man, what a legend he was and how much of [an] influence he was in mine and so many people’s lives.
“You will be forever missed and never forgotten.”
Hiser, who had strong Christian beliefs, instilled real values in his fighters. It didn’t matter who you were, whether a British or European champion, you still had to pay your subs, as Cheeseman has also attested to.
Hiser produced champions such as Cheeseman, Lloyd Honeyghan – who shocked boxing by defeating one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, welterweight title-holder Donald Curry, in 1986 – and Peter McDonagh. The list goes on. The latter said “my heart is broken” after hearing about the death of the man he called “my biggest inspiration in life”.
The influence of Hiser, who was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2012, went way beyond the ring.
“I was indeed one of those disaffected young people from a challenging home environment, not to be disrespectful to my parents,” Thirlwall said.
“I left home at an extremely young age, when I was no more than a boy myself. Steve Hiser was a father figure to all of us. I’ve known him for over 40 years, I came into his life about 45 years ago.
“He fought valiantly to allow us to believe in ourselves. The real testimony for me is he didn’t just give people the ingredients to be a successful boxer, but also to be successful in life. There are so many people that I know, they are partners in hedge funds, they’re city brokers or successful lawyers. They have successful families, successful homes.
“These are young boys and girls who came from broken homes but because of Steve they have now created a loving environment and a loving home.”
Boxing is the most individual and lonely of sports, a brutal examination of wills, nothing else to rely on in the ring but your own wits, last man or woman standing.
But Hiser fostered bonds that have lasted for decades after they were formed at Fisher.
“Steve called it ‘Fisher love’. It was tough love, but it was Fisher love,” Thirlwall says. “He taught us all to work together. The ring is the loneliest place in the world, but you’re not going to get there without your club. You need your club-mates, you need to learn off each other. This bond and brotherhood that he created amongst all of us still lives with all of us today. We’re all still looking out for each other, even if it’s not financially it’s emotionally.
“His God-given talent was to spot the talent each individual had and make them believe in themselves. We all come from disaffected homes, we see gang violence in the news today, young disaffected boys and girls getting sucked into the gang culture.
“For someone to come out of that and be given the belief that that’s not the norm and that’s not acceptable, [you need to] stand up straight, you will have your shoulders back, there will be ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ at the end of every sentence.”
Thirlwall will write the eulogy to be read at Hiser’s funeral. It will be a challenge to sum up 50 years, all those broken wings Hiser helped to take flight.
Thirlwall knows simplicity says is best: “He was a phenomenal man and he will be sorely missed.”
Tributes pour in
Former MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark Simon Hughes led the tributes to Steve Hiser this week, saying the Fisher boxing legend “brought respect and pride” to generations of young men.
Hiser’s passing last week has been followed by an outpouring of emotion after he influenced so many lives over 50 years working at the club.
Former professional Hiser started coaching at Fisher in 1973 after joining as a member in 1957.
“Steve’s career brought decades of respect and success to Fisher, Bermondsey and London boxing,” Hughes told the News. “But above all Steve brought respect and pride to generations of boys and young men of Fisher Boxing Club.
“Thank you, Steve. You did us so proud.”
Fisher said in a statement: “Today, we mourn the loss of Steve Hiser BEM, a beloved coach and mentor who dedicated his life to the Fisher. He was a true legend in the world of boxing, and his contributions to the sport will never be forgotten.
“Steve was more than just a coach – he was a friend, a father figure, and a role model to countless young boxers over decades at the club. He was always there to offer guidance and support, both in and out of the ring, and his unwavering dedication to the Fisher was truly inspiring.
“We pray for his wife Sandra, his daughters and extended family at this difficult time.”
England Boxing tweeted: “England Boxing has been saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Hiser, who served as a dedicated coach at Fisher for more than half a century.
“Sending condolences to Steve’s family and friends. May he rest in peace.”
BBC boxing pundit Steve Bunce said: “Ten bells at York Hall for Steve Hiser. And rightly so.”
Hiser’s work in improving the lives of young people was also recognised.
The popular podcast Highfield Boxing said: “Rest in peace to Steve Hiser. Took so many troubled kids and turned them into good men.
“In an era where being a coach is about the lives and the views, here was a man that saw it as a vocation, as a calling.
“We are losing all the wise heads in our sport.”
There have been countless similar messages across social media.
Sandra and Steve’s two daughters, Natalie and Karen, have received overwhelming support and well-wishes.
“It has been quite a journey over the last few weeks and days,” the family told the News. “We have heard so many stories from people who my dad trained and who he knew through his career and there has been such love for him.
“The love he gave out in the world came back to him in the end and he felt very loved when he died – we are incredibly proud of him.”