Training with Jacob Crawford

Members of the Pharaoh Boxing club practice various boxing techniques in the dimly lit gym of So ILL
Syndicate April 16, 2026 at So ILL Syndicate Gym in Carbondale, Illinois.

Directly on the Carbondale Strip sits a building with a history dating back to the mid-1930s. The Yellow Cab building was recently renovated into a gym owned by So ILL Syndicate. Within the walls of the gym, Pharaoh Boxing Club operates. Jacob Crawford, an exercise science student at SIU, boxes under head coach Willy Martinez.

Jacob Crawford puts his boxing gloves on while sitting ringside, preparing to work out April 21, 2026 at So ILL Syndicate Gym in Carbondale, Illinois.

Crawford has been boxing for about 2 1⁄2 years and coaches all age groups throughout the week at the SIU Student Recreational Center and at So Ill Syndicate.

“It’s just one of those things that you just kind of fall into,” he said.

Jacob Crawford (left) throws punches at Zeke Hernandez outside of the So ILL Syndicate gym April 21, 2026 at So ILL Syndicate Gym in Carbondale, Illinois.

Crawford trains multiple times a week to prepare to compete against other boxers. Recently, he fought in the St. Louis Golden Gloves and placed second.

“It’s a pretty big deal to me. I ended up getting second in the tournament, and you know that’s how things go,” Crawford said.

Jacob Crawford holds up his boxing glove to a punching bag in the evening light during a training session April 21, 2026 at So ILL Syndicate Gym in Carbondale, Illinois.

He explained that boxing is the most natural thing for him and he’s a fighter at heart.

“I was never really particularly talented at anything, and then as soon as I got into boxing, it was kind of like, oh, I get it, you know? And I didn’t really have to do all the mental gymnastics that I feel like I’ve had to do in previous sports,” he said.

Jacob Crawford smiles in between workouts April 21, 2026 at So ILL Syndicate Gym in Carbondale, Illinois.

He said this boxing group is his support group, and he couldn’t ask for a better group of people to be around. He also said they keep him accountable and come to support him when he’s not feeling his best.

Jacob Crawford, a SIU student and local boxer, poses for a portrait April 21, 2026 So ILL Syndicate Gym in Carbondale, Illinois.

“It’s honestly a very gratifying feeling to come to a place every day that feels like family. And it’s like a brotherhood and sisterhood,” Crawford said.

Crawford will be competing again May 16.

Jacob Crawford takes a punch while sparring April 25, 2026 at So ILL Syndicate Gym in Carbondale, Illinois.

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