The father of an Illinois football player told The News-Gazette on Wednesday boxing was used to break up fights between players during practices. But John Monheim defended Illinois coach Tim Beckman amid allegations of abuse and mistreatment levied by Simon Cvijanovic.
The father of linebacker Mason Monheim said disputes were sometimes settled with players donning boxing gloves and throwing punches at one another under the supervision of strength and conditioning coach Aaron Hillmann.
“I just know that they do that to eliminate kids from going after each other in practice,” John Monheim said. “If they want to get in a fight, they go over there with a pair of boxing gloves and the strength coach.