LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: JAMES MCGIRT JR. LOOKING TO ADD ANOTHER WIN TO HIS UNDEFEATED RUN
Posted on | September 3, 2007 | 1 Comment
Undefeated James McGirt, Jr. fighting at home again in Big Apple
Broadway Boxing co-feature Wednesday night at Cipriani
VERO BEACH, Florida (September 3, 2007) – Undefeated super middleweight prospect James McGirt, Jr. (16-0, 9 KOs) has returned home to New York City for Wednesday night’s eight-round co-feature against veteran Thomas Reid, showcased on Broadway Boxing, at Cipriani Wall Street.
The 24-year-old southpaw McGirt, rated No. 36 by the World Boxing Council, is a native of Brentwood (NY), but he lives and trains in Vero Beach (FL) with his father, James “Buddy” McGirt, former world champion and Trainer of the Year.
“It’s a special feeling for me as soon as I land in the airport,” McGirt spoke about fighting at home. “This will be my fifth fight in a row in New York. I love being there, everything about New York City. I get to see and perform in front of my family.”
McGirt is coming off of a devastating first-round knockout of Delray Raines (8-2) on June 20 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan. James took the fight against Reid (35-14, 13 KOs), whose last action was a loss by six-round decision last December to Jaidon Codrington, on a little more than two weeks notice.
Reid is known for eating up rounds and has taken the likes of former world champions Montell Griffen (twice) and Danny Green, as well as Prince Badi Ajamu, Yusaf Mack, Khalid Jones, Julio Cesar Gonzalez, Rodney Moore and Elvir Muriqi, the full distance during the Tennessee native’s 14-year pro career.
“I am happy to have an opportunity to fight, anytime,” McGirt explained. “When we got the call for this fight, my manager (Dennis Witherow) spoke with me and my father, and we decided to move forward. I’m always in shape, and work hard everyday on my boxing skills” “Even when my father was in California working on The Contender (‘Buddy’ is a coach for the television reality show’s upcoming third season), I was in the (Vero Beach) gym every day working hard. This is what I do (fight) for a living, so I take pride in my conditioning and training.
When asked about his upcoming opponent, McGirt said, “To be honest, I don’t like to know too much about my opponent. That’s my dad’s job. He studies the tapes, breaks down my opponent’s weaknesses, and tells me what to do. I know he (Reid) goes rounds and has been around a long time.”
-JM-