James McGirt Jr. a son on the rise

Friday, Nov. 5, 2004 | 10:44 a.m.

James "Buddy" McGirt amassed 73 victories against only six losses in a 15-year professional career, capturing world titles at junior welterweight and welterweight before retiring in 1997.

Now one of boxing's top trainers, McGirt sees an even more celebrated career in store for his son James McGirt Jr., a 21-year-old middleweight who turned pro in January under his father's tutelage.

McGirt Jr. (5-0, 2 knockouts) faces Danny Jevic (3-1-2, 1 KO) tonight in the co-feature of a card at the Plaza downtown. The first bout is scheduled for 6 p.m.

It's one of two boxing events in Las Vegas tonight, as featherweights Martin Honorio (17-2, 12 KOs) and William Abelyan (23-5-1, 12 KOs) headline a card at the Gold Coast set for 7 p.m.

"I feel (McGirt Jr.) has the ability to go all the way to the championship level," Buddy McGirt said Thursday during the official weigh-in at the Plaza. "I feel he has the ability to be better than I was."

McGirt, who guided Arturo Gatti in his unforgettable trilogy against Micky Ward and also trains light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver, said he tries not to afford his son any special treatment in the gym.

"I am tough on him, just like I'm tough on every fighter, each in his own way," said McGirt, who is based in Vero Beach, Fla. "At first, I was a little too hard on him. I had to step back a little, let him do his thing."

McGirt Jr. wasn't so sure about that.

"Oh, he definitely pushes me harder than anyone else," McGirt Jr. said. "He's my father, I'm his son, and that's just the way it is."

McGirt Jr., whose first fight as a professional was on the undercard of Gatti's victory against Gianluca Branco for the junior welterweight belt in Atlantic City, has his eye on a world title of his own.

"I'm going to pay my dues and respect the game, but that's what every boxer works for, that's what you're in the gym for -- a shot at a championship," he said.

Although most of his big fights took place in the East, in a rare Las Vegas appearance Buddy McGirt beat Simon Brown at the Mirage in 1991 to claim the world welterweight championship.

In another memorable title fight, McGirt put Pernell Whitaker on his behind in the second round before losing a 12-round decision in Norfolk, Va., in 1994.

McGirt said he's too busy working with young fighters to reminisce much about his glory days.

"I used to spend more time thinking about that stuff than I do now," said McGirt, 40. "I had a lot of fun, but that's in the past."

On Saturday morning, McGirt will fly back to Vero Beach to begin preparations with Tarver for his high-profile title fight against Glen Johnson scheduled for Dec. 18 in Los Angeles. It's the last major bout of 2004, and the winner will be a front-runner for fighter of the year honors.

"Glen is tough, and I respect him for what he's accomplished," said McGirt, who was named trainer of the year in 2002 by the Boxing Writers Association of America. "But I feel that as good as Tarver is right now, he could get even better."

Also on tonight's Plaza card, promoted by Joel Berman of JBC Boxing, bantamweight contender Mauricio Martinez of Panama (26-5-1, 18 KOs) meets Gerardo "Locomotora" Espinoza of Tijuana, Mexico (28-6-2, 24 KOs) in a scheduled 12-rounder; Joel Julio (18-0, 15 KOs) faces Antonio Soriano (9-2-1, 8 KOs) in a six-round junior middleweight bout; and junior welterweights William Morelos (16-0-2, 9 KOs) and Silverio Camacho Ortiz (9-6-2, 7 KOs) are in an eight-rounder.

In a 117-pound women's matchup, Las Vegas' Melinda Cooper puts her 12-0 record on the line against Canadian Tracey Stevens (5-7).

"I've been preparing the same way I prepare for all my fights -- train hard and treat it like it's a world championship fight," Cooper said.