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McGirt
learning each fight
VERO BEACH, Florida (September 26, 2007) – Unbeaten super middleweight
prospect James McGirt, Jr. (17-0, 9 KOs) took a week off after his September
5th win by eight-round decision veteran Thomas Reid in New York City.
McGirt, rated No. 36 by the World Boxing Council, went right back into
training at McGirt’s Gym, owned by his father/trainer James “Buddy” McGirt,
Vero Beach (FL), preparing for his first scheduled 10-round fight on October
30 in the co-feature against an opponent to be determined at Seminole Hard
Rock in Hollywood, Florida.
Born in Brentwood, New York, James moved several years ago to Vero Beach,
where his father relocated and opened a gym. “I’m very, very excited,”
McGirt said about his upcoming fight. “My entire boxing background was in
Florida. I boxed for USA Boxing Florida and still have a good fan base
there. I took a week off, chilled a little bit, and went right back to the
gym. Training camp has started. I’m back in boot camp having fun.”
Unfair expectations associated with James’ last name have resulted in some
harsh criticisms, mostly questioning James’ power punching and quality of
opponents, but the McGirts understand that the 24-year-old McGirt is still
learning each fight.
“James is learning,” former 2-time world champion and 2002 Trainer of the
Year Buddy explained. “His last fight was against a guy with 46 fights;
James had 16. I was with The Contender when we got the call and we only had
1 ˝ weeks to train. I knew it was going eight rounds. I worked a fight with
Prince Badi against him (Reid). He was fighting to survive. James had a scab
on his nose and it came off a week before the fight. I knew it would start
bleeding and I wanted to see how James would handle the adversity. He did it
well. Each fight is one more step towards his goal.”
McGirt’s manager, Dennis Witherow, has convinced James to use the criticism
to make him better. “Everyone is entitled to an opinion,” Dennis noted, “but
we simply will not change our focus. We have established a plan and will
stick to it. James is a skilled boxer who learns everyday and is able to
comprehend and retain the skills it takes to be a great boxer.
We believe that his boxing skills will frustrate his opponents, as well as
force them into mistakes that he will capitalize on. One only needs to look
at his record and the number of rounds that he has won collectively from all
17 opponents to see that we are on track.”
McGirt’s last five fights have been in his native New York and he hasn’t
fought in Florida in nearly two years. “I’m very happy where I’m at,” James
spoke about his pro career. “I didn’t have a big amateur background, even
though I’ve been around boxing my whole life. I’m still in a learning
process, not like other guys who had 150, 200 amateur fights. My father
didn’t want me fighting. I’m still getting the kinks out.
“Any bad talk has been about who I am (Buddy’ son). My father was a 5-6, 5-7
smooth boxer who was in the gym every day since he was 12. They compare me
to him because I’m his son. But I don’t care. I’ve been around the sport
long enough to know people are going to say good and bad things. I’m
confident in myself. I only listen to my manager and my father; he’s my
trainer.” |
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