Hey D,
When I started I was 147 LBS, welterweight, still my favorite class of weight today as a fan..I boxed out of Deer Park Boxing Club, same as Buddy Mcgirt, he was from Brentwood at that time. I was very lucky, this gym/club had major ties with Gleason Gym and a few others, was very competitive, so we always would take a ride to another gym/club and would spar with their members etc...I use to spar with Buddy very often since he was a Jr Welterweight, hand speed was quicker than mine, so that was always best to prepare you for your fight..Anyways, most of our fights were in the Golden Gloves & Empire State Games, sometimes in the Bronx, Tristate area in general. I was very good, 150 - 2 - 140, very heavy right hand...Most of my trainers said I hit harder than Mark Breland and that guy was dropping almost anyone he hit..
So, I was getting ready for the Semi-Finals of the Golden gloves, made it that far, but my opponent was another member from my club..LOL,..That was very awkward!! I liked the guy a lot and we knew each other's style very well, would have been a great fight!! Well, as my luck has it even today, I had to do my road work, usually a 5 mile run, but it was snowing.. i knew better!! but went anyways, should have gone to the beach!!. During my last wind sprint, I hit some black ice on the sidewalk, tore my right knee..It was so bad, I had to walk home backwards, nobody would give me a ride!!! I lived in Wantagh at that time, very nice neighborhood, you would think a ride would not be an issue, it was..
Went to an orthopedic after 3 days since my knee was so swollen, Doc told me its pretty bad, would need to remove the total cartilage and I will have clicking that will eventually lead to arthitis..Great Doc, can I still box??!! He was not a Sports Doctor, but with my insurance, had no choice but to see him or another, no sports specialist..Got my surgery, was awake to see it all on camera and my knee was never the same....Today I still cannot put the needed weight to pivot a right hand. All power comes from your legs and rotation of your body weight..
Overall, I had 3 surgeries, never reconstructive which I bet should have been done and I would have been fine...IF IF IF..could of, should of, would of..I miss it like like crazy D, loved it that much..And if you don't know who Buddy Mcgirt is, he went on a few Years later, became the Jr Welterweight champion and I am 100% sure he would have beaten Witaker for another title, he did have a torn rotator cup which gave him trouble throwing his best punch, left hook!..He now trains quite a few fighters, has a Gym out in LA and another that just opened in NJ, think Nutley, back in April,..As I heard it, my gym closed down not much time after my dilemma, our trainer Joe ragusa died in the ring of a heart attack training..What a great guy he was!! He basically was financing the gym for all of us or he got help from donations and any gym dues from us members, buy it was all Joe, RIP..
He had a son named Mike, was very good too, but no idea whatever happen to him after his dad past..At that time, he really could have gone pro! I was gonna wait one more Year since I was an open fighter, wanted more experience with the better fighters..Ha, what a joke..my life is a funny one..I'm good at many things, Mr Jack of all trades, but I still have no idea what God has planned for me..I even went to Farmmindale University for small animal care, figured to do my next love of life, be a Veterinarian, planned to hit Cornell after...Burp!! Had to stop because the hours with work was an overkill, could not do it..
Sorry to blabba on....But hey! we have a hell of a fight tomorrow tonight!!! That should be a great one!! I'm hoping something close to a Hagler & Leonard fight back in the day..Take Alvarez, if I had money right now I would go online and lay it all down on him..
Have a great day!!
Anthony