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 ½ 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.”