Amateur Boxer Samantha Pill Goes Pro
By Julie Perine on November 11, 2017
From the time she first entered the ring, Samantha Pill captured the hearts of boxing fans.
The United Hospital Center nurse/emergency department supervisor and mother of two young children trained every chance she got, much of it while working her Shinnston farm. Pill’s hard work paid off. She won amateur fights throughout the region, including two Toughman championships.
Now, Pill has gone pro.
“I just knew I wanted to keep boxing and to test myself, but now that I’m pro, I can’t turn back,” said 30-year-old Pill, a graduate of Lincoln High School.
Her first pro fight was April 8 at Fairmont State University as she took on Michigan’s Melisa Holmes, scoring a one-sided, four-round unanimous decision. With one professional win under her belt, Pill traveled last week to Rayne, Louisiana, where she took on “Lady Beast” Kayla Williams.
“Samantha beat her soundly in all four rounds,” said her trainer, Keith Barr.
The two made the trip Nov. 1-3, leaving Pill’s family support system in West Virginia.
“My husband Jesse had college finals the day of the fight. I’m proud he was able to keep his head and graduate top of his class and take care of the kids while I was so far away,” she said. “It’s a fantastic feeling. To be able to do this on the road with all my support back home is a huge feat.”
She is in her element and said she feels stronger with each week of training. Barr said the six-foot tall Pill is one of the best athletes he has ever seen.
“Her physical attributes separate her from lots of women boxers; her arm length, her strength and her heart,” he said. “She is only getting better every time she steps into the ring. I’m just enjoying the journey with her.”
Pill’s move to the pros has come with some challenges.
“My start in boxing with Toughman contests isn’t considered respectable amateur experience compared to USA Boxing tournaments, Golden Gloves, etc.,” she said. “Twice, I was offered a chance to fight in Vegas against Olympian Savannah Marshall from Great Britain. The first opportunity, they chose a girl with more professional experience and the second time, the Nevada (Athletic) Commission denied me against her because of my background and lack of amateur fights, especially compared to someone like her.”
But Pill is a fighter in every sense and she will prove her abilities.
“I have to keep pushing forward and training pro, trying to prove to anyone I deserve to be fighting in these ranks,” she said.
Pill, who continues to train at gyms including Bridgeport’s Main Street Fitness, had to put on weight to get her first two pro matches. She has to stay in tip-top shape because she doesn’t get a lot of notice before a fight.
“One week, I’m working 50-plus hours and the next I’m trying to find someone to cover my hours so I can train and jump on a plane,” she said.
This time last year, Pill was in physical therapy for a shoulder injury; wondering when and if her boxing career would continue.
“It was my left shoulder, which of course, I use a lot, but so far, so good,” she said. “The guys (at Mountain State Physical Therapy in Shinnston) did a great rehab for me and I couldn’t be happier.”
Pill’s Toughman victories were over Laura Byrnes at the 2016 championships in Clarksburg and Kerestan North at the 2017 championships in Elkins. The first, she won by decision and the last – in March – by technical knockout.
Pill has quite a passion for fighting, but the nighttime ER supervisor has no plans to quit her “day” job.
“I doubt I will ever get to fight fulltime as there isn’t as much money in it for women as there is for men, but I will definitely keep pursuing it and I love being a nurse in emergency medicine,” she said.
Barr has a vision for Pill.
“I’d like for her to be state champion at 168 pounds by the summer of 2018 and then take a shot at the United States title and world title after,” he said. “She has all the tools.”
Pill has acquired the name “Leggz” in the boxing industry, but because she is a triple threat, Barr also refers to her as “Super Sam.”
“Her career, being a mom and fighting is why people look up to her,” he said.
Editor's Note: Professional photos are by Lisa Ross.
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