The visit to the McGirt sweatshop off US1 at Vero
Beach, FL wasn’t an unexpected drop in - was arranged by my favorite fite site
editor Elisa Harrison - and it was just what the doctor ordered.
Last I saw Buddy was back in 1985 … a chance meeting during intermission time
while attending amateur card out at Rt.110 at the Suffolk-Nassau county line.
The venue a Electrical Workers Union Hall just off the Long Island Expressway.
Buddy was a young professional in the fast lane to stardom, but always made a
point of supporting the local Islip kids when possible - and what I took home
that nite was a lasting positive impression, and much like gold has held up over
the past 19 years since.
During the brief chat that long ago meeting I had asked about a touted amateur
from the area … the answer was typically straight from the shoulder McGirt, yet
with nary a trace of malice - something about skills being there but not work
ethic, and without both there’s little future for the kid.
Thought about that visit while searching for the Elite Boxing Gym that carried a
4376 US1 address but is actually located just off the highway on side street.
Took a few passes before getting directions from sweet lady working the desk at
nearby pawn shop.
And from that moment all went fine as wine … and pulling into a narrow entrance
I spot Buddy sitting in a beach chair alongside his jeep and members of the
stable standing together and chatting.
Quickly found Buddy the same class act he was before the celebrity that came
with the 1991 title winner over Simon Brown - we both agreed Brown was one tough
hombre.
And today it remains as it was … same style as before, even with the growing
recognition as a special entity in the today role of tutor- trainer.
And from my brief late morning visit, and speaking in length with one of his
young charges, undefeated heavyweight Donnell Holmes, I saw much of McGirt in
the kid’s demeanor.
Holmes sported a healing cut received from one of them today "inadvertent" head
butts … location of the wound was the left eyelid, thus a missed assignment that
was in the offing.
Donnell described his style as boxer-puncher with emphasis on boxer … still, the
18 prior office visits were not only wins but stoppages as well. Have yet to
have seen him in ring action but good guess there’s a touch of clout in them
mittens.
A native of North Carolina that calls Chesapeake, Virginia home … tall and rangy
mixed with powerful looking body, I am looking to my first live peek in action
of one that McGirt has high hopes for.
Newest member of the stable is light heavyweight Zach "The Jungle Boy" Walters
… young college kid from Minnesota with a 10-1 résumé - Buddy has already
anointed him as having excellent mechanics.
Only debit of visit was in missing Arturo Gatti who had day off … his next
outing with Jesse James Leija still a month away. Would have liked personally
congratulating Arturo on that 1995 IBF Jr. Lightweight bauble he claimed in hard
fought battle with then defending Tracy Harris Patterson.
In closing, applauds go to Buddy and Donnell for sharing a bit of valuable time
… and to my editor as well, who arranged the friendly rap session.
GEL
