# Buddy McGirt

James Walter "Buddy" McGirt (born January 17, 1964) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1982 to 1997, and has since worked as a boxing trainer. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the IBF junior welterweight title in 1988, and the WBC and lineal welterweight titles from 1991 to 1993.
As a trainer he has worked with multiple world champions, including Arturo Gatti, Antonio Tarver, Hasim Rahman, Paulie Malignaggi, and Sergey Kovalev. McGirt was named Trainer of the Year for 2002 by the Boxing Writers Association of America. He is currently coaching WBO middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly.

## Professional boxing career

McGirt's aspirations of becoming a professional boxer existed at a young age."They said I was too small," McGirt says now. "They said I couldn't do it. I said I could. I said I'd be the first world champion from Long Island - so the guy they said couldn't do it is the one who did it." Fulfilling this childhood dream, he did so with a vengeance, turning professional in the year 1983, the year he graduated from Brentwood High School.
In 1988, McGirt defeated Frankie Warren, avenging what was at that time his only defeat, to win the IBF light welterweight title. In his second defense, he lost the title to Meldrick Taylor.
In November 1991, he defeated Simon Brown to win the Lineal and WBC welterweight titles.
Buddy was a scrappy, talented fighter who had an outstanding career in the ring. He defeated men such as Simon Brown, Livingstone Bramble, Saoul Mamby, Edwin Curet, Howard Davis Jr., Frankie Warren, Tony Baltazar, Gennaro Leon, Patrizio Oliva, Gary Jacobs, Tommy Ayers, Willie Rodriguez, Ralph Twinning, Buck Smith, Kevin Pompey, Rafael Williams, John Senegal, Eric Martin, Joe Manley, Tyrone Moore, Nick Rupa, Joe Gatti and George Heckley.
At the beginning of 1993, McGirt was the world's top-ranked 147-pound boxer, one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world; but in the first week starting off the year he tore up his left shoulder while training. Without his money punch, the left hook, he had to box virtually one-handed for a total of 24 rounds in two championship fights. He won the first fight, but he lost his title in the second. McGirt lost the title to Pernell Whitaker in 1993. The following year, he again lost to Whitaker in an attempt to regain the title.
In 1997, he retired with a record of 73-6-1 (48 KOs).
McGirt was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island in the Boxing Category with the Class of 1992. He was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998 and inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2019.

## Training career

Following his retirement from the ring, McGirt worked as a trainer. His first champion was Byron Mitchell, who he started training six days before beating Manny Siaca for the WBA super middleweight title. McGirt would take up training full-time and became committed to the challenge of preparing other boxers to step into the ring. "Anybody can train but not many people can teach," McGirt said. "And that's what boxing is missing now—teachers. There are not many old-school trainers around." McGirt won the Boxing Writers' Association of America Trainer of the Year Award for 2002.
McGirt's son, James McGirt Jr., is also a professional boxer. McGirt also trained Kurt Pellegrino's boxing, his first venture into MMA, and trained heavyweight boxer Taishan Dong.
Buddy was trained and managed by Al Certo and Stuart Weiner. McGirt, and some of the fighters he trained are documented in the book "Bring it to the Ring: A Boxing Yearbook and Inspirational Message to Today's Youths." The book was published in 2005.
Buddy was interviewed in 2018 by Darren Carter on the "Pocket Party Podcast" that is available on iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, and Anchor.
McGirt also began training Sergey Kovalev for his rematch against Eleider Alvarez (who knocked out Kovalev in 7th round in the 1st fight) and led him to a unanimous decision win with 116–112 on 2 cards and 120–108 on the 3rd.

## Professional boxing record

| 80 fights | 73 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 48 | 2 |
| By decision | 25 | 4 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 80 | Loss | 73–6–1 | Darren Maciunski | UD | 10 | Jan 21, 1997 | Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 79 | Win | 73–5–1 | Jerry Smith | PTS | 10 | Dec 16, 1996 | Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S. | |
| 78 | Win | 72–5–1 | Kevin Tillman | UD | 12 | Oct 25, 1996 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. | Won vacant IBC light middleweight title |
| 77 | Win | 71–5–1 | Earl Jackson | KO | 3 | Sep 26, 1996 | Denver, Colorado, U.S. | |
| 76 | Win | 70–5–1 | George Heckley | UD | 10 | Aug 12, 1996 | City Center, Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S. | |
| 75 | Win | 69–5–1 | Allen Watts | SD | 10 | Jun 12, 1996 | Trump World's Fair, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 74 | Win | 68–5–1 | Israel Figueroa | TKO | 3 (8) | May 10, 1996 | Suffolk Downs, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 73 | Loss | 67–5–1 | Andrew Council | TKO | 9 (10), 2:25 | Sep 30, 1995 | Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 72 | Win | 66–4–1 | John Stewart | TKO | 5 (10) | Jul 18, 1995 | Medieval Times, Lyndhurst, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 71 | Win | 66–4–1 | Joe Gatti | TKO | 5 (10), 1:44 | May 7, 1995 | Grand Theatre, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 70 | Win | 65–4–1 | Buck Smith | UD | 10 | Jan 10, 1995 | Pontchartrain Center, Kenner, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 69 | Loss | 64–4–1 | Pernell Whitaker | UD | 12 | Oct 1, 1994 | Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. | For WBC welterweight title |
| 68 | Win | 64–3–1 | Kevin Pompey | SD | 10 | Aug 7, 1994 | Villa Roma Resort, Callicoon, New York, U.S. | |
| 67 | Win | 63–3–1 | Kevin Pompey | UD | 10 | Jun 28, 1994 | Meadowlands Convention Center, Secaucus, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 66 | Win | 62–3–1 | Livingstone Bramble | UD | 12 | Apr 9, 1994 | Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. | |
| 65 | Win | 61–3–1 | James Hughes | UD | 10 | Jan 4, 1994 | War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. | |
| 64 | Win | 60–3–1 | Nick Rupa | UD | 10 | Nov 2, 1993 | Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 63 | Loss | 59–3–1 | Pernell Whitaker | UD | 12 | Mar 6, 1993 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Lost WBC welterweight title |
| 62 | Win | 59–2–1 | Genaro Léon | UD | 12 | Jan 12, 1993 | Paramount Theater, New York City, New York, U.S. | Retained WBC welterweight title |
| 61 | Win | 58–2–1 | Oscar Ponce | UD | 10 | Aug 14, 1992 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 60 | Win | 57–2–1 | Patrizio Oliva | UD | 12 | Jun 25, 1992 | Acquaflash, Licola, Italy | Retained WBC welterweight title |
| 59 | Win | 56–2–1 | Delfino Marin | TKO | 7 (10), 1:55 | May 2, 1992 | Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. | |
| 58 | Win | 55–2–1 | Simon Brown | UD | 12 | Nov 29, 1991 | The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Won WBC welterweight title |
| 57 | Win | 54–2–1 | Alfredo Ramirez | TKO | 5 (10), 3:00 | Oct 4, 1991 | Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 56 | Win | 53–2–1 | Tyrone Moore | TKO | 7 (10), 2:08 | Jun 15, 1991 | Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. | |
| 55 | Win | 52–2–1 | Frank Montgomery | TKO | 9 (10) | Mar 22, 1991 | Villa Roma Resort, Callicoon, New York, U.S. | |
| 54 | Win | 51–2–1 | Joseph Alexander | TKO | 9 (10), 2:40 | Jan 19, 1991 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 53 | Win | 50–2–1 | Jose Leonard Bermudez | UD | 10 | Jul 22, 1990 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 49–2–1 | Charles Baez | TKO | 2 (10), 2:45 | May 25, 1990 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 51 | Win | 48–2–1 | Tommy Ayers | TKO | 2 (10) | Mar 31, 1990 | Trump's Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 47–2–1 | Miguel Santana | TKO | 2 (10) | Jan 26, 1990 | Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 46–2–1 | Rafael Williams | UD | 10 | Dec 7, 1989 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 45–2–1 | Joe Manley | TKO | 9 (10), 2:59 | Nov 10, 1989 | Villa Roma Resort, Callicoon, New York, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 44–2–1 | Gary Jacobs | UD | 10 | Aug 27, 1989 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 43–2–1 | Tony Baltazar | UD | 10 | Jul 9, 1989 | Imperial Resort Hotel, Brookhaven, New York, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 42–2–1 | Orlando Orozco | KO | 5 (10), 0:21 | May 25, 1989 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 41–2–1 | Edwin Curet | UD | 10 | Mar 16, 1989 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 40–2–1 | Willie Taylor | UD | 10 | Feb 17, 1989 | Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 39–2–1 | Manuel De Leon | TKO | 6 (10), 0:29 | Jan 12, 1989 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 41 | Loss | 38–2–1 | Meldrick Taylor | TKO | 12 (12), 2:00 | Sep 3, 1988 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Lost IBF light welterweight title |
| 40 | Win | 38–1–1 | Howard Davis Jr. | KO | 1 (15), 2:45 | Jul 31, 1988 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | Retained IBF light welterweight title |
| 39 | Win | 37–1–1 | Frankie Warren | TKO | 12 (15), 1:32 | Feb 14, 1988 | Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. | Won vacant IBF light welterweight title |
| 38 | Win | 36–1–1 | John Sinegal | TKO | 1 (10), 1:54 | Dec 17, 1987 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 35–1–1 | Eduardo Lugo | KO | 3 (10) | Oct 1, 1987 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 34–1–1 | Roger Brown | KO | 5 (10), 1:05 | Aug 6, 1987 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 33–1–1 | Sergio Aguirre | KO | 2 (10), 2:28 | Jun 18, 1987 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 32–1–1 | Vincent Releford | TKO | 12 (12), 2:59 | Apr 24, 1987 | Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York, U.S. | Won vacant WBC Continental Americas light welterweight title |
| 33 | Win | 31–1–1 | Eric Martin | UD | 10 | Jan 29, 1987 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 30–1–1 | Joe Edens | TKO | 8 (10), 2:54 | Jan 6, 1987 | Premier Center, Sterling Heights, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 29–1–1 | Saoul Mamby | UD | 10 | Sep 25, 1986 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 30 | Loss | 28–1–1 | Frankie Warren | UD | 10 | Jul 20, 1986 | Bayfront Plaza Convention Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 28–0–1 | Rudy Fuentes | TKO | 8 (10), 2:19 | Jun 23, 1986 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 27–0–1 | Ricky Young | TKO | 10 (10), 0:50 | May 20, 1986 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 26–0–1 | Kelly Koble | TKO | 4 (10) | Apr 11, 1986 | Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 25–0–1 | Dave Odem | TKO | 1 (10), 2:09 | Mar 10, 1986 | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Hempstead, New York, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 24–0–1 | Joey Ferrell | UD | 10 | Feb 21, 1986 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 23–0–1 | Sugar Boy Nando | TKO | 5 (12) | Dec 21, 1985 | Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | Won vacant WBC Continental Americas light welterweight title |
| 23 | Win | 22–0–1 | Jose Luis Alejandro | TKO | 7 (10), 1:26 | Oct 4, 1985 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 21–0–1 | Willie Rodriguez | TKO | 7 (10), 1:35 | Aug 29, 1985 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 20–0–1 | Ralph Twinning | TKO | 1 (10), 1:02 | Jul 11, 1985 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 19–0–1 | Allen Braswell | UD | 10 | May 24, 1985 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 18–0–1 | Mike Blunt | KO | 1 | Mar 8, 1985 | Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 17–0–1 | Felix Nance | TKO | 9 (10), 1:58 | Dec 14, 1984 | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Hempstead, New York, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 16–0–1 | Manuel Toribio | KO | 3 (10), 1:40 | Jul 12, 1984 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 15–0–1 | Pete Padilla | TKO | 10 (10), 1:07 | May 25, 1984 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 14–0–1 | Jake Torrance | TKO | 6 (10), 3:00 | Mar 30, 1984 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 13–0–1 | Felix Nance | TKO | 2 (10), 1:36 | Feb 17, 1984 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 12–0–1 | Chi Chi Hernandez | TKO | 2 (10), 1:33 | Dec 9, 1983 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 11–0–1 | Larry Fleming | TKO | 3 (10), 2:26 | Sep 30, 1983 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 10–0–1 | Leslie Toney | TKO | 1 (10) | Sep 6, 1983 | Tropicana, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 9–0–1 | Darnell Smith | TKO | 1 | May 26, 1983 | Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 8–0–1 | Tom Dietz | TKO | 3 | Apr 21, 1983 | Symphony Hall, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 7–0–1 | Cesar Guzman | PTS | 6 | Feb 16, 1983 | Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 6–0–1 | Dave Bolden | KO | 5 | Dec 30, 1982 | Embassy Hall, North Bergen, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 5–0–1 | Michael Clark | TKO | 1 | Nov 7, 1982 | The Great Gorge Playboy Club Hotel, Vernon, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 4–0–1 | Ramon Rivera | KO | 1 (4) | Sep 30, 1982 | Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 3–0–1 | Michael Evans | KO | 1 | Sep 21, 1982 | Embassy Hall, North Bergen, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 2–0–1 | Michael Palms | KO | 2 (4) | Aug 7, 1982 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 1–0–1 | Michael Palms | TKO | 3 (4) | Mar 22, 1982 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Lamont Haithcoach | PTS | 4 | Mar 2, 1982 | Embassy Hall, North Bergen, New Jersey, U.S. | |