BoxRec

Famed manager/trainer/boxing commentator Gil Clancy passed away early this morning. He was 88.

Clancy began training young amateurs at the PAL boxing gym in Queens, New York and eventually rose to prominence as one of boxing’s great boxing trainers and managers. During his career Clancy worked with Ralph “Tiger” Jones, Rodrigo Valdes, Juan LaPorte, Johnny Persol, Jorge Ahumada, Harold Weston, Tom Bethea, Jerry Quarry, Gerry Cooney, Oscar De La Hoya and Hall of Famers Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Ken Buchanan. However, he is best known for his 20-year association with legendary Hall of Famer Emile Griffith, whom Clancy and Howie Albert guided to the welterweight and middleweight crowns. He was twice named Manager of the Year. From 1978 – 1981, Clancy was matchmaker for Madison Square Garden Boxing. He was also an award winning boxing analyst on MSG Network, CBS and HBO in the 1980s and 90s.

“Gil Clancy was one of boxing’s truly great minds,” said International Boxing Hall of Fame Executive Director Edward Brophy. “As a trainer and manager he was held in the highest regard by his peers.”

RIP Gill, my favourite commentatory and hall of fame trainer/manager. Fantastic boxing brain.

RIP Gil.... I recently watched the Ring Of Fire documentary in which he features heavily. Great commentator too...

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.

He was absolutely superb, RIP Gil

Of course more recently he worked as a tactician in the early part of Oscar De La Hoya's career and became the fall guy for DLH's close decision loss to Trinidad. Many think that Gill's tactics were spot on that night, with many thinking Oscar could afford to coast the last 3 rounds and still win on points.

His commentary on Hagler vs Leonard is a masterpiece in how to commentate.

MachoMan09 wrote:I have watched de la Hoya vs Trinidad perhaps 10 or a dozen times since '99. The judges got it wrong every time.

T'was a boxing lesson.

MachoMan09 wrote:He had a fantastic life.

I'll second that; what a buzz it must have been.

MachoMan09 wrote:I have watched de la Hoya vs Trinidad perhaps 10 or a dozen times since '99. The judges got it wrong every time.

Me too mate, it was a clinic. I had him beating Mosley as well.

Gutted, loved Gill's style.

Sad sad day.

King Geedorah wrote:RIP. Great man. Although I thought his commentary on Hagler-Ray was off beam (basically cheerleading) his HBO pre-fight slot was excellent.

I think what happened was the he was so certain Hagler was going to do it - that as the rounds progressed, he did get bias towards Leonard.... but in the opening few rounds - everytime Hagler switched to Southpaw - he was stating "now Hagler is southpaw, now he'll tag him".

Hagler had a big 5th round and I think Gill thought it would be curtains - he was amazed at Ray's resiliance....

Can see why you think it was cheer leading esque. I just think what he said was true - what Leonard did had never been done before. After such a lay off, after looking so poor in his last fight - moving up to face one of the all time greatest fighters. I think we have seen some better achievements since - like with Pacquiao, but then it could be said that most commentators are abit Chair leaderish when it comes to Manny - take Watt's commentary vs DLH. I think there comes a point that you need to just celebrate an achievement.

He was fantastic on the hearns vs Leonard commentary. Not a funny as UK commentator who said "its like watching Bambi being mugged" - but had some great moments in that.

Hagler - "Hearns has got to fight back"
Gill - "He is fighting back".

Great commentator and a great boxing purist! Was superb in the corners of his fighters and was one of the best commentators in the game. RIP sad loss

Love watching the older fights on YT that Clancy commentated on. RIP.

stujones wrote:Famed manager/trainer/boxing commentator Gil Clancy passed away early this morning. He was 88.

Clancy began training young amateurs at the PAL boxing gym in Queens, New York and eventually rose to prominence as one of boxing’s great boxing trainers and managers. During his career Clancy worked with Ralph “Tiger” Jones, Rodrigo Valdes, Juan LaPorte, Johnny Persol, Jorge Ahumada, Harold Weston, Tom Bethea, Jerry Quarry, Gerry Cooney, Oscar De La Hoya and Hall of Famers Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Ken Buchanan. However, he is best known for his 20-year association with legendary Hall of Famer Emile Griffith, whom Clancy and Howie Albert guided to the welterweight and middleweight crowns. He was twice named Manager of the Year. From 1978 – 1981, Clancy was matchmaker for Madison Square Garden Boxing. He was also an award winning boxing analyst on MSG Network, CBS and HBO in the 1980s and 90s.

“Gil Clancy was one of boxing’s truly great minds,” said International Boxing Hall of Fame Executive Director Edward Brophy. “As a trainer and manager he was held in the highest regard by his peers.”

An old school trainer and a great one at that.

Not like todays guys who always refer to the fighter as "we" when its only the fighter fighting.


RIP Gil,a great man and a great Irishman.

R.I.P

King Geedorah wrote:

stujones wrote:

King Geedorah wrote:RIP. Great man. Although I thought his commentary on Hagler-Ray was off beam (basically cheerleading) his HBO pre-fight slot was excellent.

I think what happened was the he was so certain Hagler was going to do it - that as the rounds progressed, he did get bias towards Leonard.... but in the opening few rounds - everytime Hagler switched to Southpaw - he was stating "now Hagler is southpaw, now he'll tag him".

Hagler had a big 5th round and I think Gill thought it would be curtains - he was amazed at Ray's resiliance....

Can see why you think it was cheer leading esque. I just think what he said was true - what Leonard did had never been done before. After such a lay off, after looking so poor in his last fight - moving up to face one of the all time greatest fighters. I think we have seen some better achievements since - like with Pacquiao, but then it could be said that most commentators are abit Chair leaderish when it comes to Manny - take Watt's commentary vs DLH. I think there comes a point that you need to just celebrate an achievement.

He was fantastic on the hearns vs Leonard commentary. Not a funny as UK commentator who said "its like watching Bambi being mugged" - but had some great moments in that.

Hagler - "Hearns has got to fight back"
Gill - "He is fighting back".

He called a few that didn't land cleanly and seemed caught up in Ray's remarkable come back.

That said, enjoyed his pre-fight stuff on HBO and a lot of his commentary. He was great in Ring Of Fire.

He still says he scored it to Ray by a round or two and contends that Hagler lost the first few rounds by fighting orthadox. I can't remember if it's him or Bernstein who continually comments on how much more effective he is when fighting spaw but they're on the money.

Decent, long, interview with the man here:

http://fightbeat.com/judgejake/clancy.htm

What a great commentator he was, one of the all time best, was it Tim Ryan he used to work with ?

RIP

MightyWarrior wrote:What a great commentator he was, one of the all time best, was it Tim Ryan he used to work with ?

RIP

It was. Great commentary on Hagler - Mugabi. Clancy called it sopt on as usual, as he did in Hagler v Leonard and Arguello - Rooney from what I recall.

RIP x

'What's Hagler doing turning throwing away the first two rounds turning southpaw... all he has to do is try to win the fight'..... or something to that affect! RIP Gil.

DIRT SUGAR wrote:'What's Hagler doing turning throwing away the first two rounds turning southpaw... all he has to do is try to win the fight'..... or something to that affect! RIP Gil.

"He would be much better off fighting as a Southpaw, his best bet. Seeing Ray in sparring he cannot handle southpaws"..... "I just don't understand Marvelous Marvin he's much better as a Southpaw, but yet he's fighting Authordox".

I think he willed Leonard on because Ray looked Fecked in the fifth - Hagler had him pinned on the ropes and Ray was holding on.... but Hagler fought stupid, still switched often

Someone said he commentated Hagler/Hearns, but I don't think he did ? The ones I've heard are Reg Gutteridge and the US one was Al Bernstein I think.

And would anyone call Al a great commentator ? .......I don't think he is, really, he's sort of neutral: not great, not bad - and a million miles away from someone with the background Gil Clancey had.

MightyWarrior wrote:Someone said he commentated Hagler/Hearns, but I don't think he did ? The ones I've heard are Reg Gutteridge and the US one was Al Bernstein I think.

And would anyone call Al a great commentator ? .......I don't think he is, really, he's sort of neutral: not great, not bad - and a million miles away from someone with the background Gil Clancey had.

Different role I would say. I would compare Al Bernstein to the Reg Gutteridge, Ian Darke, John Rawling role - I know he's done the other role also, but thats what he is best at.

Gill was more the Jim Watt role.

I would compare Al favourable to the likes of Reg and Harry - all 3 are exceptional IMO.

The funeral of Gil Clancy took place last Monday in the balmy setting of Malverne in the shadow of New York City, the end of a journey that had begun a million Mondays earlier when Clancy shaped Emile Griffith into a formidable fighting machine from the late 1950s.
It was a journey marked by many highs and lows, most tragically by the death of Benny "Kid" Paret at the hands of Griffith 'live' on American-TV in 1962. Paret had labelled Griffith a "maricon" at the weigh-in but Clancy insists that the gay slur played no part in Griffith's frightening final onslaught in the 12th round. Dedicated, muscled and one of those complete fighters, Griffith, a man who went the full 15 rounds all of 18 times in his career, simply overwhelmed Paret at a stage in a fight when he always poured it on,
"Emile hit him with 17 punches in five seconds," said Clancy, with Paret unable to fall due to the ropes. (Referee Ruby Goldstein retired in the fight's wake.) "After that, Emile wouldn’t really go after the guy until the guy hit him a couple of times; then he'd start to fight."
Griffith was always the star of Clancy's show as he showed when he dropped horrible 15-round decision to Eckhard Dagge in Germany in 1976 for the WBC light-middleweight title. The title would and should have made Griffith, at the age of 38, the first three-weight champ since Henry Armstrong. "He went from the welterweight title when he beat Paret to become the middleweight champion when he beat Dick Tiger," said Glancy, but Gil was involved with countless other gifted fighters, among them George Foreman, Jerry Quarry, Harold Weston, Oscar De La Hoya and our own Ken Buchanan, before branching into TV-commentary with equal success.
"I guess Emile was the best," said Clancy, "but Jerry could really fight, he really knew how to fight. Kenny was also one helluva fighter. You know, it took a pretty good guy to beat him."
Clancy is survived by five children, 18 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Sadly, the 73-year-old Griffith, in poor mental health, was unable to attend Gil's funeral.

The build up to Leonard vs Hagler made the front page of TV times and the fight wasn't even shown live in the UK!