Vincent Lacandula of Cairns’ Freedom Boxing has turned his life around since prison through boxing

Meet Vincent Lacandula, the former prisoner who found an escape from a life of addiction and crime through boxing.

Vincent Lacandula with his team. Picture: Freedom Boxing.

For many of us, sports are a social outlet, a hobby, maybe even a passion.

But for others, they’re nothing less than a second chance at life, and that’s certainly the case for Freedom Boxing’s Vincent Lacandula.

Born in the Philippines to a family “living in poverty,” Lacandula was on the wrong path during his youth, using drugs and incarcerated on two separate occasions.

“From what I can remember, though me and my family were living in poverty we weren’t completely resourceless,” Lacandula said.

“My mother always found a way to put food on the table and was able to give me and my sister good education.

Lacandula in action. Picture: Freedom Boxing.

“I remember being always worried for the safety of my family as I’ve witnessed first hand too many violent situations that would happen everywhere in the streets of Cebu.

“Boxing was only significant for a little bit of my earlier life, as it was the first sport I ever laid hands on, initially it was like a trend for a few months then it sort of went away growing up until I came back to Australia where it was in and out of my life.”

Now 25, Lacandula moved to Australia when he was 12 back in May, 2012. He said boxing became an integral part of his life when he was transferred to Lotus Glen Correctional Centre, just over an hour south west of Cairns.

“I realised boxing was for me after being transferred at the Lotus Glen Prison Farm and started to have a serious training routine in which boxing was added to it,” he said.

“It was inspired by an ex-professional MMA fighter that trained me and took me in to his cottage with two other people and encouraged me to realise there is more to life than doing crime.”

Vincent Lacandula. Picture: Freedom Boxing.

Lacandula said he stuck at his training for a solid eight months prior to his release, 2-3 times a day with sparring sessions with no mouthguard or headguard and 12oz gloves.

“I noticed a significant improvement in my performance, I realised how much I love it and promised that I will put my heart into this when I get out,” he said.

“(Boxing has been) extremely important, it has taught me discipline, patience and has improved my cognitive capacity in which has helped improve other areas of my life.

“I have also met the best people through boxing. And in terms of physical health, it has kept me active, healthy and young.”

Lacandula said his best advice for young people who find themselves at a similar crossroads is to “find discipline in your life.”

“I had a big ego problem when I was younger; it felt like I always had something to prove, and a lot of young people getting in trouble with the law have that same problem,” he said.

Freedom Boxing's Lacandula will compete on June 7, 2025 at Cairns Box Cup. Picture: Freedom Boxing.

“I believe that when you find a martial art discipline, whether boxing, MMA, Muay Thai, etc, it will humble you and change your perspective on life.”

Lacandula is set to take on his next formal opponent on June 7, through Freedom Boxing’s Cairns Box Cup, which will be his 16th bout.

But while his boxing career goes from strength to strength, Lacandula said he remained focused on his overall health and wellbeing, using the sport to motivate him to be better in all facets of his life.

“What’s next for me is to just keep doing what I love and am passionate about, continue to look after my health and mind, and find ways to always learn and improve not only in the sport of boxing, but in other areas of life as well.

“At the deepest level of truth, there are no goals or measurements for where I should be at any age.

“Those are shaped by the world and people’s expectations, and I choose not to abide by them. I focus on the present moment, have constant gratitude and be the best version of myself always.”

Originally published as Vincent Lacandula of Cairns’ Freedom Boxing has turned his life around since prison through boxing