The Iceman Cometh: John Scully continues to help boxers in need

Top trainer John Scully has dedicated his entire life to boxing. Once a light-heavyweight athlete who regularly sends donations to boxers in need, Scully strives to reach the end of her life with the sport.

BN: What drew you to boxing in the first place?

When I was a kid, I stayed with my dad for the weekend and he had a lot of books for me to read, the main ones being the autobiography of Muhammad Ali, Willie Pep and Sugar Ray Robinson as well as the Book of Records from 1952 Every Weekend, I read them over and over again and the images they put in my head intrigued me just as much as watching games on TV over the weekend with my father.

If I remember correctly, the first upcoming fight I ever heard was ‘Thrilla In Manila’ in 1975 when I was 8 years old and the first fight I actually watched on TV was Ali vs Jimmy Young in 1976. was between Ali, the 1976 Olympics and the first release [i]Rocky[i] movie, I came at a perfect time when all the stars were perfectly aligned to draw me into the bloated sport of boxing ahead.

BN: You’ve got more experience than most as a boxer, coach, and analyst. You’ve seen more than your fair share of the bad. Why are you still drawn to this business?

I still love ground-level boxing because I was still involved there when I was at the COBA gym in Hartford, Connecticut regularly working with local young amateurs between training camps with [Artur] Beterbiev. For me, it’s all about boxing and training. I am not a fan of the boxing business at all and that is why I will never be a promoter, matchmaker or manager.

I’ve always connected with aspects of boxing that I first fell in love with as a kid, and I’ve always believed that to stay passionate about something, you need to get into it like you did. initial. I try to maintain the same general approach and connection to the sport as I do now that I did when I was still a kid.

BN: Have you ever been tempted to turn your back? If not, what is the lowest score?

There have been three different times when I wanted to get out of boxing altogether. In the years 1990, 1993 and 1998, I was completely confused, disillusioned and frustrated with weight training for my matches and also with the aforementioned boxing business, what went on in the background. school.

It is very different from amateur boxing. When I was an amateur, it was all cut and dried. You enter a tournament and you have to fight whoever you match, there is no argument or negotiation. I fought at the weight I was most comfortable with and that was understandable.

As a pro, there are plenty of business reasons behind the scenes for the moves made. I was made to be more pro than I wanted to be at 160 because I was told that super middleweight was “not the real weight class” and middleweight was where the money and the ability was. display. So even though I had to starve and wear rubber suits while running and competing to gain weight, I was still required to be relegated to middleweight.

It finally caught up with me and before I left my manager and moved up to super average; I really hate boxing. So in 1990 when I was 24 years old, after losing weight by Kevin Watts, I felt like I didn’t want to do sports anymore.

The same thing happened after similar losses to Tony Thornton and Drake Thadzi. It’s definitely a love-hate relationship in the game but it’s still completely, overwhelmingly, more love than hate in my mind.

BN: You recently attended the annual Atlantic City Hall ceremony. What’s so special about this event?

I told the event director, Ray McCline, a few years ago that I believed the Atlantic City Hall of Fame would eventually be comparable to any other including the International Boxing Hall of Fame. in Canastota and I believe we are definitely on our way to seeing that happen.

I say so not only because the guest list is less, more impressive, but also because the whole vibe is one of family atmosphere. Fans and veterans both hang out together in places like they’re on vacation together. It is truly unbelievable. The ability to reach and interact with champions is second to none.

BN: What was the highlight of the weekend?

It’s almost impossible to pinpoint a single moment as the absolute highlight of the weekend. I mean, it might come out of the elevator on the first day and realize that Robert Duran is in the room next to you or it could be at the front desk that night watching Ray Mercer, Pinklon Thomas and Tim Witherspoon on disco in front of you. It might have been when I suddenly found myself standing next to Mike Rossman, or it might have been that Friday night when I found myself outside on the hotel rooftop against the Steel Pier of the Atlantic City as I reminiscing about Michael “The Silk” Olijade, Michael Nunn and James Toney about our history together.

It could also have been when I found myself in the hotel lobby watching Saturday night’s game against a group that included Iran Barkley, Reuben Olivares and Kelly Pavlik.

Being among my warriors is truly something special, especially at this point in our lives and careers. Close friendship is a phenomenon, I mean wonderful to feel and witness. People are talking about when they fought each other, when they fought each other, just reliving all the old war stories. They show a lot of respect for each other.

It’s surreal to have people you admire even know who you are and address you by your name. For a while, you really feel like you’re with your idol but also with your friends.

I mean, I remember one particular instance when former middleweight contender Michael Olijade pointed across the room and asked me, “Is that Marlon Starling over there? Wow, I used to watch him in the 1980s! ‘ before going over to say hello.

BN: You continue to help boxers in need. How important is that to you?

As I got older and more experienced in the game, I realized, with great sadness, how many former boxers couldn’t enjoy these times as much as they should. We can have fun recalling some of the best memories life can make, but we also have to remember that not all of us make it. The hard truth is that men like Prichard Colon, Wilfred Benitez and Gerald McClellan will never be able to experience and enjoy these events with us as we do. They are affected and damaged beyond repair. I think it’s the duty and responsibility of those of us who still have the mind and energy to at least spread awareness, if not really help a little financially.

Once I sat with Wilfred in his living room in Puerto Rico, me in the chair and him on the hospital bed in the middle of the room, and most of the time he was holding my hand. I’m sure he doesn’t know who I really am but his sister told me he knows that I’m a boxer and he feels close to me because of it. It was a really powerful moment for me. This great champion is holding my hand, like he can somehow connect back into the game by holding another boxer’s hand. I have to admit it’s pretty insightful for me.

BN: Why did it leave you? Shouldn’t more be done to help former boxers in need?

I love what I do, I feel it’s appreciated, but at the same time I have to wonder why more people older in the game aren’t doing something similar. I mean, no need to name, no one is forced to do anything, I know that. But let’s just say that there are some people in this game who can easily help the likes of Gerald McClellan, Prichard Colon and Wilfred Benitez with donations that can be taxed but will also be money that doesn’t even need to be. or missed. It would be like I dropped a quarter on the street and didn’t even realize it was gone. But for veterans in need, it will be terrible.

I mean, of course – hypothetically – sports moneymakers like Jake Paul or Floyd Mayweather only spend a thousand dollars a month on Wilfred, Prichard and Gerald, for a total of just $3000 one month. They won’t even miss that money! However, for Wilfred, Prichard and Gerald and their families, it will be life changing help!

I know one thing with absolute certainty, one million percent: If I have that money to burn, I can assure you that these three families will never have to worry about food or mortgages again.

BN: Are you worried that one day all the punches might catch up to you?

It’s a funny thing that I’ve been thinking about more lately when my career is long over but when it comes to actively fighting, I never think about getting injured. I mean, that’s what combat training is all about. You train yourself not to think like that because if you do then this sport is definitely not for you. That’s why only a small percentage of people on this earth can even do it with any success because the average person will think in terms of both immediate and long-term effects.

Honestly, it’s a mindset that you must have. I remember for example when I first started boxing, I had a headache that basically lasted a year and a half. I mean, every day and night I have a headache like this.

Terrible, the only time it doesn’t bother me is when I’m in the gym. Before and after going to the gym every day, it was a very difficult time for me. I just live with it. I also never told anyone about it because I thought if my dad knew about it, he would make me quit boxing. I realized that I’d rather deal with daily headaches than be told I can’t go to the gym anymore.

I also feel as if at some point in the future I start to develop issues related to boxing, not deep in my mind, I will feel like I can wear them with a sense of pride and honor. certain that perhaps only old boxers would understand.

BN: If you could relive one day in your life, what day would it be?

Sometimes when I think about my life and what I could have done differently given the opportunity, I often conclude that what should have happened has actually happened and that changing something in history has the potential to change. may inadvertently lead to an even worse outcome.

With that said, if I was inclined and could change a day or a moment it would most likely be the game against Drake Thadzi on ESPN in 1998. Physically, mentally, emotionally. , I have no business anywhere near a boxing ring. night. I totally know I shouldn’t go through with the fight but I never want anyone to think I’m scared so no matter what’s going on I always have to get through it and try to figure it out like I did. via. If I were my own coach there would be no way that would allow me to fight that night but for most of my career I kept quiet, I never told anyone about any of the issues. that I may encounter and I have tried working situations for myself.

I’ve been stopped for the only time in my entire professional and amateur career, stopping just because I didn’t throw back punches out of fear of fatigue and opening up to punches I knew I wasn’t prepared for. ready to receive.

Probably the worst night of my life, at least psychologically.