BoxRec

Yes,sad news. Gil Clancy passing. He had been sick. One of the elite trainers going back to the old days.

CNorkusJr wrote:Yes,sad news. Gil Clancy passing. He had been sick. One of the elite trainers going back to the old days.

Gil was proof that you didn't need to be an ex-pro fighter to be a good trainer and manager. In fact, I don't think Gil even had any amateur fights - although I could certainly be wrong about that.

Rick, Ray "Windmill" White is training boxers in Ventura at this time. He once trained boxers at the Colonia Boxing Club in Oxnard. The article in yesterday's edition of the Ventura County Star had at least one error....about White being a lefty. He may be a natural left-hander, but had an orthodox stance when boxing.

- Chuck Johnston

Colleagues remember legendary trainer Clancy

By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports

Hall of Fame boxing trainer Gil Clancy, who took Emile Griffith out of a factory and turned him into the world welterweight and middleweight champion, died at 88 on Thursday following a lengthy illness.

Clancy was one of the pivotal figures in boxing in the second part of the 20th century, training and managing dozens of elite fighters, running the boxing program at New York’s Madison Square Garden and working as an expert television analyst on boxing broadcasts on CBS and HBO.

Among the heavyweights champions he worked with during his career were George Foreman, Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. He came out of retirement in 1997 and served as Oscar De La Hoya’s co-trainer for several years, working primarily as a strategist and making observations.

He had a close relationship with one-time heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney, who was 18 and a top amateur when he met Clancy for the first time. Clancy only trained Cooney for one fight, the final fight of his career in 1990, when he was stopped by Foreman.

But they had struck up a close friendship in 1974 and remained close until the end.

“We’ve lost one of the giants today,” Cooney said. “I loved the man. He was a great trainer and he did so much for boxers as a trainer, but the thing I remember most about him is what a great, great guy he was. He loved to joke around and laugh and he was always fun to be around. They don’t make too many like Gil, and they never have.”

Clancy was named Manager of the Year in 1967 and 1973 by the Boxing Writers Association of America and in 1983 was given its Sam Taub Award for Excellence in Boxing Broadcasting.

Clancy began to train Foreman in 1975, after Foreman had been knocked out the previous year by Ali. Foreman said Clancy helped him adjust to and become a better broadcaster when Foreman was hired as HBO’s boxing analyst.

“Gil Clancy was an all-time great boxing man and a great all-time friend,” Foreman said. “I was lucky to have him as a part of my life. The daily workouts were never boring with Gil. He always had something new and different to say and to teach.”

Clancy, who had a Master’s degree in education and was a former teacher, also became close with De La Hoya. He had been retired when De La Hoya hired him in 1997, but he stuck with De La Hoya for two years and developed a fast friendship.

De La Hoya said Thursday that he was amazed by Clancy’s knowledge of the sport and the ease with which he delivered it. He said Clancy was always joking and made boxing fun. “He made me want to go to the gym and train, particularly for the [Felix] Trinidad fight,” De La Hoya said. “He brought a great deal of energy to the gym, or wherever we were, and was a pleasure to be around.

“The knowledge he had, you can’t buy it. He had these stories he would tell of fighters he had trained, and he knew so many little details. I’d be shadow boxing and he would make these comments about things like my footwork, or where to position my left hook, or how to jab better. I had a pretty good jab, but he definitely made it better.”

Marc Ratner, the former executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, said Clancy was one of the elite trainers of his era. Ratner said Clancy was “sort of a Damon Runyan character” and was one of the sport’s leading historians.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, a longtime friend of Clancy’s, was emotional upon learning the news.

Arum, who once was partners in a thoroughbred race horse with Clancy, said he’ll remember Clancy as more than a boxing figure.

“Gil was one of my best friends and when I reflect upon his death, I’m flooded with many wonderful memories of him,” Arum said. “We spent considerable time together, when he was a trainer and a commentator. He was a big part of my life, and I remember cavorting around at some of Europe’s finest watering holes having a lot of fun together as we were doing fights. He really brightened my life and, even though he’s gone, I’m left with all these memories. I’ll never forget him.”

Clancy is survived by five children, 18 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

Chuck1052 wrote:Rick, Ray "Windmill" White is training boxers in Ventura at this time. He once trained boxers at the Colonia Boxing Club in Oxnard. The article in yesterday's edition of the Ventura County Star had at least one error....about White being a lefty. He may be a natural left-hander, but had an orthodox stance when boxing.

- Chuck Johnston

He was definitly a right-hander, Chuck.
Good to hear he is still working with kids.
He was a good teacher, his amateurs that I fought (The Ramirez brothers) were both well taught.
We used to talk in the gym and I look forward to saying hello in June.

Rest in Peace Gil Clancy.
One of the last great old school trainers.
As a kid, I was a fan of Emile Griffith. It was from that I first learned of Gil Clancy.
A great loss for boxing.

THEHAMMER321 wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:

raylawpc wrote: Ha! Sean is one of the least confrontational people you'll ever meet. And if they pay him enough, he'll put up with stupidity for hours on end . . .

Sean O'Grady . . .

He is one of the best former boxers to call a fight (The best I've ever seen). I'm aware that as an HBO commentator, you are expected to sell the fighters they are featuring, and get along with the established personalities. I would never expect O'Grady to confront his co-hosts, just inject something intelligent about the event on hand. Another fighter who was very good was Jerry Quarry before he blew his CBS gig, and launched numerous comebacks that destroyed his mind & body. Roy Jones does not speak well, Lennox Lewis does a good job, Bobby Czyz was pretty good in the beginning, but his obnoxious personna eventually came to surface. Ray Leonard is a gun for hire, will say anything that he's told. Most fighters are weak behind the mic. O'Grady has it all, intelligence, looks and experiuence. What in the hell is he doing selling real estate in Oklahoma? I saw him call an amateur/pro event recently, and it was way below his capability. I know it's not his call, but it really refelects another aspect of the ignorance that is driving professional boxing today. Sean and Gil Clancy would be great together, however, I imagine Clancy is to old these days. Sean is right in his prime for a ringside commentator. He deserves it.

Gil Clancy .... , He was one of my favorite announcers back in the 1980s , he has that down to earth New York street guy way of talking, unlike so many of these so called ''articulate'' announcers who fake there enthusiasm.

It is ironic just days ago I posted this on Gil Clancy, rest in peace Gil .

Gil Clancy, boxing trainer



Gil Clancy, left, celebrates with boxer Emile Griffith in 1963 after Griffith defeated Luis Rodriguez for the welterweight title. (Associated Press)

Gil Clancy, 88, a boxing trainer who helped lead Emile Griffith to welterweight and middleweight titles, died Thursday at an assisted-living facility on Long Island, N.Y., his family said.

Born in Rockaway Beach, N.Y., in 1922, Clancy boxed in the Army during World War II. After his discharge he studied physical education at New York University, earning a master's degree in teaching and paying tuition by training fighters. Eventually, he rose to prominence as a corner man.

Clancy also worked with Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Oscar De La Hoya. But he's best known for his 20-year association with Griffith.

Griffith captured the welterweight title from Benny "The Kid" Paret in April 1961 with a 13th-round knockout. Six months later, Griffith lost the title to Paret in a split decision, then regained it in a controversial rematch with Paret in 1962.

With Clancy shouting encouragement from the corner, Griffith knocked Paret unconscious, and Paret stayed propped against the ropes while Griffith hit him repeatedly for several seconds before referee Ruby Goldstein stopped the fight. Paret never regained consciousness and died 10 days later.

After retiring from training, Clancy worked as a TV commentator.

He was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993.

Good morning coffee crew members.

My wife woke me up to tell me ''we hit the lottery'' , ''April fools'' .

THEHAMMER321 wrote:Good morning coffee crew members.

Morning Paul, had any coffee yet??

kikibalt wrote:

THEHAMMER321 wrote:Good morning coffee crew members.

Morning Paul, had any coffee yet??

Morning, Frank & Paul.
I thought Paul won the lottery, as well.
Heard on the news today that a middle age Italian-American "Kept Man" from Las Vegas won the jackpot.

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

THEHAMMER321 wrote:Good morning coffee crew members.

Morning Paul, had any coffee yet??

Morning, Frank & Paul.
I thought Paul won the lottery, as well.
Heard on the news today that a middle age Italian-American "Kept Man" from Las Vegas won the jackpot.

Rolling on the floor

Gil Clancy has died in his native New York at the age of 88. He is probably best known as the trainer of Emile Griffith throughout an incredible 20-year career, taking Griffith to world welterweight and middleweight titles in the 1960s, but his shrewd, no-nonsense approach to training passed over to the microphone in recent decades as a celebrated boxing analyst for television. The former teacher who boxed briefly in the army knew how to reach the common man.
Clancy only took up boxing training at the PAL gym in Queens as an extension to his teaching but was quickly hooked. His work with Ralph "Tiger" Jones in the 1950s led to Griffith and other top fighters, such as Johnny Persol, Rodrigo Valdez, Jerry Quarry, Jorge Ahumada and Harold Weston. Gil also trained Ken Buchanan for the Scot's defence of his world lightweight title against Roberto Duran in 1972 at Madison Square Garden which ended in controversial defeat after 13 rounds, but he rates Duran as one of the 10 greatest fighters in history and admitted in 2005: "actually, I think it was my fault that Buchanan lost that fight because Duran was knocking everybody out in a round or two and we were training for 15 rounds. I said to Kenny, 'This guy gets to five, six rounds, we're gonna own him,' but Duran just kept coming."
Clancy schooled George Foreman for the big man's war with Ron Lyle in 1976 at Caesars Palace, an unforgettable affair which put Las Vegas on the boxing map. "I picked George up off his face in that fight," said Gil, who grew exasperated at Foreman's lack of confidence in the wake of the Rumble in the Jungle. In the end Clancy never found another Griffith but he did find TV and his work there made him one of the greatest boxing survivors of all time.

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

THEHAMMER321 wrote:Good morning coffee crew members.

Morning Paul, had any coffee yet??

Morning, Frank & Paul.
I thought Paul won the lottery, as well.
Heard on the news today that a middle age Italian-American "Kept Man" from Las Vegas won the jackpot.

Yeah Rick , but the newspaper had it '' Dago wins lotto '' .

THEHAMMER321 wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote: Morning Paul, had any coffee yet??

Morning, Frank & Paul.
I thought Paul won the lottery, as well.
Heard on the news today that a middle age Italian-American "Kept Man" from Las Vegas won the jackpot.

Yeah Rick , but the newspaper had it '' Dago wins lotto '' .

I thought I read "Wop wins lotto"

kikibalt wrote:

THEHAMMER321 wrote:

Rick Farris wrote: Morning, Frank & Paul.
I thought Paul won the lottery, as well.
Heard on the news today that a middle age Italian-American "Kept Man" from Las Vegas won the jackpot.

Yeah Rick , but the newspaper had it '' Dago wins lotto '' .

I thought I read "Wop wins lotto"

Frank , you read a different paper, I had someone call me from New Orleans and there paper said ''Greaseball wins lotto'' .

I've just been reading a peice on Art Aragon from a 1959 Boxing Digest paper where Art arranged a charity fight for a
injured fighter named Julian Velasquez, it says From the beginning of julian's troubles, Aragon has kept in close touch.
It wasn't known to the public, but Harry Kabakoff, former manager of the stricken fighter, say's Aragon has repeatedly sent
money to help the fighter with food and clothing for the past year.
Do any of you old-timers remember this? nice peice, Art a tough fighter with a heart of gold.

Cholo wrote:I've just been reading a peice on Art Aragon from a 1959 Boxing Digest paper where Art arranged a charity fight for a
injured fighter named Julian Velasquez, it says From the beginning of julian's troubles, Aragon has kept in close touch.
It wasn't known to the public, but Harry Kabakoff, former manager of the stricken fighter, say's Aragon has repeatedly sent
money to help the fighter with food and clothing for the past year.
Do any of you old-timers remember this? nice peice, Art a tough fighter with a heart of gold.

I haven't read the article, but I heard it thur the grapevine. Knowing Harry he probably took his managers cut, if not all of the money Art send Julian.....

THEHAMMER321 wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

THEHAMMER321 wrote: Yeah Rick , but the newspaper had it '' Dago wins lotto '' .

I thought I read "Wop wins lotto"

Frank , you read a different paper, I had someone call me from New Orleans and there paper said ''Greaseball wins lotto'' .

Who ya calling a "Greaseball?" ....Smile when you say "Greaseball"....

Frank, sounds like Harry Kabakoff was a typical manager, do you know what happened to Julian Velasquez?

kikibalt wrote:

Cholo wrote:I've just been reading a peice on Art Aragon from a 1959 Boxing Digest paper where Art arranged a charity fight for a
injured fighter named Julian Velasquez, it says From the beginning of julian's troubles, Aragon has kept in close touch.
It wasn't known to the public, but Harry Kabakoff, former manager of the stricken fighter, say's Aragon has repeatedly sent
money to help the fighter with food and clothing for the past year.
Do any of you old-timers remember this? nice peice, Art a tough fighter with a heart of gold.

I haven't read the article, but I heard it thur the grapevine. Knowing Harry he probably took his managers cut, if not all of the money Art send Julian.....

Ruben Navarro was managed by Johnny Flores thruout most of his pro career, however, at the end was managed by Harry Kabakoff.
Most manager's took a 1/3 cut of a fighter's purse, however Ruben told me that Harry took 1/2.
As for Art Aragon, I sent Cholo's post to Art's oldest son, Audie. I thought he might like to read of his father's generosity.

Cholo wrote:Frank, sounds like Harry Kabakoff was a typical manager, do you know what happened to Julian Velasquez?

No I don't Paul

Julian Velasquez

division featherweight

country United States
residence La Habra, California, United States

won 15 (KO 5) + lost 9 (KO 3) + drawn 1 = 25
rounds boxed 178 KO% 20

1958-04-26 130½ Eddie Gaspora 131 13-0-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L KO 10 10
time: 2:16 | referee: Dick Young
Velasquez was hospitalised after the fight

1958-04-08 137½ Leo Agbulos 139 17-2-0
Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, United States W UD 10 10

1957-10-05 130 Lauro Salas 129 73-42-10
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L KO 8 10
time: 1:59 | referee: George Latka 67-68
Velasquez was knocked down twice in the 8th round.

1957-09-19 131 Dom Sacco 132 17-16-2
Memorial Auditorium, Fresno, California, United States W TKO 5 10
time: 2:49 | referee: Art Williams

1957-08-31 134½ Buddy Evatt 135 19-5-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 3 10
referee: John Thomas
A cut over Evatt's right eye, led to the stoppage.

1957-05-23 133 Lulu Perez 134 35-10-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L TKO 5 10
time: 0:22 | referee: George Latka

1957-05-02 130 Jimmy Moser 130 6-4-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W KO 6 10
time: 1:21 | referee: Dynamite Jackson
Moser was knocked down once in the 1st, 2nd, and 6th round.

1956-11-22 129¼ Billy Evans 129 29-40-19
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W UD 10 10
referee: Dick Young 98-92 | judge: George Latka 98-92 | judge: Frank Holborow 98-93

1956-02-16 133 Billy Frazier 133 6-2-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W UD 10 10
referee: Jimmy Wilson 59½-50½ | judge: Dynamite Jackson 57½-52½ | judge: Tommy Herman 57½-52½

1956-01-12 Eddie Hernandez 16-8-3
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W UD 10 10
referee: George Latka 56½-52½ | judge: Charley Randolph 57-52 | judge: Jimmy Wilson 58-51

1955-12-29 131 Vic Kid Ponce 128½ 11-3-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W UD 10 10
referee: John Thomas 60-50 | judge: Lee Grossman 60-50 | judge: Reggie Gilmore 58-52

1955-11-10 131 Ruben Salazar 130½ 39-34-6
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L UD 10 10
referee: Tommy Hart 51½-58½ | judge: Charley Randolph 52-58 | judge: Dynamite Jackson 52-58

1955-09-29 132½ Fabela Chavez 131 47-23-5
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W UD 10 10
referee: Jimmy Wilson 57½-52½ | judge: John Thomas 57½-52½ | judge: Tommy Herman 59-51

1955-09-22 130 Ruben Salazar 129 38-34-6
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L MD 10 10
referee: Russ Bradford 54½-55½ | judge: Frank Holborow 54½-55½ | judge: Abe Roth 55-55

1955-08-30 131½ Nu Nu Randle 131 16-2-3
Auditorium, Richmond, California, United States L PTS 10 10
referee: Frankie Carter 54-56
"The decision was booed even by the partisan crowd." (Nevada State Journal)

1955-08-09 130 Dom Sacco 129 13-6-1
Auditorium, Richmond, California, United States W PTS 8 8
referee: Jack Downey

1955-07-12 128 Nu Nu Randle 132 15-1-3
Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, United States W PTS 6 6

1955-06-02 130 Ruben Salazar 130 36-34-6
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L PTS 4 4

1955-03-29 128 Stanley Sequeira 126½ 6-4-2
Auditorium, Richmond, California, United States W PTS 8 8
referee: Johnny Lotsey

1955-03-15 130½ Nu Nu Randle 131½ 14-1-2
Auditorium, Richmond, California, United States L PTS 8 8

1955-02-17 131 Ruben Salazar 128 36-34-4
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 4 4

1955-02-10 129 Al Nevarez 135 7-1-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L PTS 4 4

1955-02-03 129 Ray Aguilar 128
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4

1955-01-20 129 Carlos Gordin 127¼ 2-0-3
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W KO 1 4

1955-01-03 126 Tommy English 131½ 0-1-0
Eastside Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W TKO 4 4

Thanks for the reply Frank.

My father told me that the managers he had took between 25% to 33% of his cut depending on the time of his career, but by the same token it was well spent. Back when fighters were fighting once every two months or in some cases once every month,there were expenses to be paid.My father was a full-time boxer (trained full time-year round).
Gym dues and licenses were always paid by his managers. When my father fought in other cities,my fathers managers always got his opponents to include the plane tickets as part of his guaranteed purse.His managers also paid his hotel stays on the road too. Most were high class places too.When things were slow they always coughed food money as well.
Yea,they probably did take more in the long run,but they kept his contracts coming that for my father,kept his wheels greased.
The only bad thing he said was that his last manager didnt give the taxman his whole due when his manager said he did. In the early 1960's the taxman came calling,and my father paid up. He went to collect it from his manager at that time-I dont know the results.
I have read horror stories about managers and the boxers they represented. Though my father thought his guys did the right thing by him, overall I'm not too sure.
Dont forget the mob took a cut too,besides staking a claim on the whole purse out of the gates also. Back then,alot of money flowing was cash, a great sum not recorded anywhere.