Nat Fleischer Award recipient Jay Searcy has been around boxing for over five decades. He was one of my favorite writers to read as a kid, recently retired from the Philadelphia Inquirer, we decided to visit with him and get some insight on his views regarding the sport of boxing.

BRC: How did you get into writing about boxing and how long have you been doing it?

JS: I left the NY Times in 1975 to become Executive Sports Editor of The Inquirer. I held that job for ten years before returning to writing in 1986. I wrote sports features and Sunday magazine pieces until Robert Selzer, our Boxing writer, left the paper in 1995. I was asked to take over boxing then. My first fight was Tyson-McNeely.

BRC: Was that the most memorable fight that you've attended?

JS: About 90 percent of the fights I've covered have been either one-sided or boring, which is a major problem for boxing. I've found that the best fights usually aren't title fights or even on TV. And the best fights rarely are in the heavyweight division. I like the bouts between two hungry fighters at a little blood-bucket arena like the Blue Horizon. But among the best so-called glamour fights I've covered would be Barrera-Morales, de la Hoya-Mosley and just about any fight involving Felix Trinidad. The most bizarre fight I ever witnessed was the Lennox Lewis-Oliver McCall heavyweight title fight, when McCall had a nervous breakdown and began crying. Next would be the Tyson-Holyfield "ear" biting match.

BRC: What's something you would do to change boxing or help the  state of boxing?

JS: I think boxers need a union, they have been taken advantage of for so long, I think a lot of boxers are starting to wise up, they're getting smarter. Roy Jones Jr. is pretty much his own deal maker now. Bernard Hopkins has bumped Don King and America Presents and won every time he's had a lawsuit. These guys are starting to wise up and are starting to get the lion's share of the money and in the past the promoters were doing that. A union is one thing that I feel boxers and boxing must have to survive.

BRC: What were your thoughts on Bernard Hopkins' last fight vs. Keith Holmes?

JS: Bernard is always a busy fighter, he's always in shape, but he's not always exciting. He won handily, there was never a question about it he took care of business and that's the way he always does. You won't see a one punch knock out from Bernard, he kind of hum drums, but he always finds a way to win.

BRC: How would you fight Hopkins? Because it seems like if the fights a war he's going to be the guy to come out on top.

JS: I'm not a real technical guy, but I can say this you better not make any mistakes against Hopkins because he's an absolute professional through and through. Boxing is his entire life, he's never out of shape even when he's not fighting. He's a student of the game, to beat him you have to get up really early and do your homework.

BRC: Your thoughts on William Joppy?

JS: I've seen him fight a couple of times, he's a good fighter, a solid boxer, but I don't think he's in the class of Hopkins or Trinidad. I think he's a full step below.

BRC: If it's Trinidad vs. Hopkins what do you think will happen?

JS: That's the 64 thousand dollar question, my sentiment would be with Hopkins because he's a Philadelphia guy, but I really appreciate what a fighter like Felix Trinidad has done for the sport of boxing. I think he's one of the real great talents to come along in decades. Because of his youth, work ethic and ability to apply pressure for twelve rounds, I think I would have to go with Felix Trinidad.

BRC: That's interesting you being from Philly and all.

JS: I hate to pick against Bernard but he's 36 years old, he's crafty and all, and will go down in history as one of the top 10 middleweights of all-time but Trinidad is such a talent, has the youth on his side and is really smart.

BRC: Do you think Roy Jones Jr. ducked Nigel Benn and will continue to duck people that are "considered a threat" to him?

JS: Yes, I think Roy Jones will duck anyone who he feels is a threat. I don't think Roy likes to get hit, even in fights where the other guy is way overmatched Roy seems to be very cautious. Because of that, he's become a very dull fighter and I think anyone who has any skills at all is going have a tough time getting a fight with Roy Jones Jr. I feel he's afraid he's going to get hit and end up like Jerry Quarry, and it has really tainted his boxing career. I don't care to see him fight anymore and he used to be the most exciting fighter around.

BRC: To me, when Roy feels threatened or doubted by media or fans he goes out and does something amazing.

JS: He's still by far the most talented fighter and could be the most exciting guy out there, but he's got his money, his reputation and he's going to coast for the rest of his career.

BRC: I'm going to give you some names of the guys considered the stars nowadays... Will you give me your impressions of these men? Shane Mosley.
 

JS: Probably among the greatest athletes/boxers ever, he's so talented and isn't going to beat himself by not being prepared. When you've got that combo like he does, he'll probably go down as one of the best of all time. He's also a super person.

BRC: Oscar de la Hoya?

JS: A great talent, with a big ego, and very poorly advised most of his career.

BRC: Did you feel that he beat Ike Quartey?

JS: I felt that Oscar has won ever fight except Sugar Shane Mosley's. He was beaten there. I thought he beat Trinidad, I don't care what they say about his running, to me he was far enough ahead that it shouldn't have mattered. I think Mosley is the only man to ever beat him and that's including Ike Quartey.
 

BRC: Floyd Mayweather Jr.

JS: A great fighter, but a questionable human being, it's not just with his father, he has this attitude that he talks down to people. I tried to interview him one time and he laughed at my questions like I was some nerd or jerk so I just cut it short and haven't done anything with him since. To me, he's got a real attitude problem, he's thinks he's king of the world and it's a shame because it's going to hurt him in the long run because he's going to have everybody mad at him. But man he's a terrific fighter, I love to watch him fight.

BRC: Do you think there's a generation gap between the old school and the new? Can the older writers like yourself understand and follow the fighters of today?

JS: I think what's really happened, an example is Mayweather Jr. or guys coming out of the Olympics; they have some many people (promoters) chasing them now, and they are getting these signing bonuses. I think that has made many of the fighters think they're bigger than they are. It's not all bad, I think it's good for a fighter to be able to get a big bonus coming out of the gate, because it happens in other sports as well. It goes back to fighters taking their careers in their own hands. It's a newer, much more aware generation, but some of the people become arrogant.

BRC: Last of the names: Ike Ibeabuchi? Boxing fans, including myself, felt he had the goods to be the next great heavyweight champion and were left with him destroying Chris Byrd.

JS: Yes, I agree with that. I only saw him fight once but he looked terrific and I kept hearing other folks saying how good this guy was. It's a real shame. There's a real lack of top heavyweights in the world right now so I feel Ibeabuchi would be at the top, he could beat anyone on any given day.

BRC: Your thoughts on Lewis vs. Tyson or HBO vs. Showtime not being able to get it done?

JS: I have found that in boxing no matter what the obstacles are when the money gets large enough, the deal will always end up getting done. I feel it will be made because there's going to be too much money to be made.
 

BRC: Who are you going for in that fight?

JS: I think Lewis easy, I think Tyson is a shot fighter, he hasn't fought anyone tough in years.

BRC: It'll probably be the first time in his career that Tyson would be an underdog...
 

JS: Good point, because he hasn't fought anyone that is going to give him a challenge in years and he won't.

BRC: Seems like all the guy's gunning for Lewis are preparing for him by fighting cream-puffs.
 

JS: That my friend is the state of heavyweights, fighting cream-puffs then the big purse. You may not become a champion but even if you lose you're a millionaire

BRC: Who's your favorite fighter of all time?
 

JS: Joe Louis, because he's my childhood hero. I got to interview him when I first got into sports writing. I thought he was a really great human being, he was taken advantage of and ended up as a tragic figure but man! what a boxer he was.

BRC: What's one of your favorite stories that happen to you along the way?

JS: The one I'll never for get is when I went down to the 5th Street Gym to interview Muhammad Ali; when he was making one of his comebacks and stayed with him all afternoon it was great. I saw him fight when he came back in a exhibition bout in Atlanta, I was one of two writers there. He fought 3 different fighters each guy for 2 rounds for a total of six rounds. I went into the locker room afterwards, he was really tired and he asked me to borrow my comb and I really liked that. He really seemed to enjoy sports writers.

BRC: Finally, how's retirement treating you?

JS: I'm working myself to death, I'm doing all this stuff around the house that I never did want to do and had an excuse not to do. (Laughing) Now I have no excuse, I'm painting, cleaning and doing all this stuff that I hate.


BRC: Do you want to get back into the game?

JS: (Really laughing) I don't think so, once I get this list of stuff done for my wife I'm heading to the golf course.
 

BRC: Mr. Searcy I really enjoyed this and appreciate what you've meant to a lot of our readers over the years.

JS: Anytime, I enjoyed it as well.