Tom Hanrahan On Al Gavin

Tommy Hanrahan was a former columnist for the New York Daily News and is now one of the country's most renowned writers on the outdoors.

I covered the Golden Gloves during the 1980s and knew very little about boxing aside from being an avid fan of the game. It was like being dropped deep behind enemy lines - there was a crushing mayhem everywhere I turned. Just absolute chaos. Remember, there were hundreds of fighters back then and some cards featured as many as 32 fights and went well beyond midnight.

Enter Al Gavin.

The laconic man who stood at the back of the dressing room, saying nothing, taking it all in. The man who knew all and kept it to himself, sharing his wisdom only with his fighters - and me.

"Watch out for the kid who stands in his corner and doesn't say anything and doesn't do anything flashy - that's a kid you need to take seriously. He didn't come here to show off he came to fight. Most of the people here in this game - the fighters and the managers and the trainers and the hangers on - they're here to show off. But there's that few who are here to win, here to compete, and those are the people who make this game great."

Just like Al Gavin.

I used to watch him watching a fight and it was all in his eyes. The face betrayed very little. A small smile. A barely discernible frown, a growl so low it was almost inaudible. He taught me how to watch a fight, he did. How to watch the sequence of punches, the speed of a fist, the telling blow, the moment a fight goes one way or the other.

He taught me the best fight is the one nearly lost. When a fighter gets beat up and then somehow from somewhere discovers he is still in it and gains a new level of life and tastes victory and seizes it. That always brought a smile to Al's face, to see a kid come along who made up his mind to win and did it. Often against substantial odds. That was Al's favorite fight and it became mine too. A fight where you might say goodness won.

I remember Al taping hands and it was a thing to watch. I remember Al grabbing me when I did something stupid and pulling me away from a fight of my own. I remember Al in deep discourse with a fighter, his face so close, his hands moving across a cut so expertly, all the while dispensing the most lucid advice, encouraging and cajoling and inspiring some unknown kid to a kind of greatness.

Because Al was great. He knew the game very, very well and he knew people and he knew that the great virtues - integrity, hard work, purpose - were what championship fighters had to aspire to to be truly great. Al worked with a lot of legends and a lot of unknowns and he was the same with everybody. Al was a good adult, you see, a good grownup. There aren't a lot of people out there like that. Very few, if you must know.

Al had very little patience with the baloney - and that's the word he used - that is such a part of the boxing scene. He was the man who focused on those moments in the ring when normal existence came to an end and something else took over. Something wonderful and something beautiful. Al Gavin made the boxing scene something clean, and dignified and wonderful. He was the most honest man I met in a largely dishonest flesh trade and proved that good men exist everywhere, and often in places you least expect them to be.

If I had had a son I would have brought him to Al to learn how to box. Because I know in the process he would learn something far more important than how to hook and jab. To learn what it means to be a real man.

God I miss him.

Montage - A Half Century In Boxing

More Accolades For The Cutman

I met Al in 1997 ... as such, did not know him as long as many others. Yet he took me in as a close friend as if he had known me since childhood and always treated me as part of his extended family. I had the highest respect for him, not only as a cutman, but as a person. There are very few people in this world that deserves the highest accolades that Al Gavin has earned. Without doubt, Al Gavin will be in the Boxing Hall of Fame.

Al Gavin meant so much to so many ... fighters, friends, and family. His expertise as a cutman was unquestionable. He was as genuine and close a friend as anyone could imagine. He loved his family and extended that love to the boxing community. That too was his family. He was someone that you could always depend on and someone who always gave so much of himself to others. "Uncle Al", as we knew him, will always be in our hearts as we were always in his.

Rest In Peace, my friend.

Victor & Maria Pei

Will Zito Video Tribute

Will Zito, a former fighter under Al's tutelage sent us this video and tribute...



For two years Al was my trainer and cut man; but most importantly he was a father figure to me, both in and out of the boxing gym. During this time we became very close and overcame battles both in and out of the ring. Aside from training Al and I spent most of our time together talking about life, boxing and every other topic you can think of. During our talks Al would dig deep with the questions he would ask to find out what really made me tic. He wanted to know who Will Zito the person was, and paid a higher interest in me as a person, than as a fighter.

Like so many others, Al fulfilled a gap in my life that seemed impossible to fill. He became my voice of reason and taught me what being a “Man” really meant. Words cannot say what Al gave to me. What he gave cannot be described; it is a feeling, a reason, self worth and character. Al understood something that most people, and even those who are labeled as “great teachers” fail to see; and that is that success cannot be achieved without belief. He inspired so many by showing them that he believed in them, and therefore they believed in themselves. He knew that all someone needed was just one person to believe in them and that could fuel the attitude and dedication needed to accomplish an entire lifetime of dreams and goals, no matter how big or small.

I know this is true because his belief in me still drives me to this day; and as he helped me, I am now helping others. I know he is still with me and all those who had the honor of knowing him; in my heart, in my thoughts and in my soul I will carry him for a lifetime. He lives in all of us, within the hearts and minds of his children, in every breath of his loving wife, and in every fight with every boxer who ever had, and still has Al in their corner.

Thank you Al for all that you have given me, for all that you have given to all of us.
God Bless you, God Bless your family…

Love “your own” Will Zito

Jimmy Lange Remembers Al Gavin

From top Middleweight Jimmy Lange:

To me, Al Gavin was irreplaceable, as a friend and as a cutman. Al had a calming effect that came from his demeanor in and out of the ring. Nothing was gonna be shown to him that he had not seen. And he knew how to handle it."

We would talk for hours about boxing,life,women,you name it. In my time with him,he unselfishly shared a priceless look into the old time way of boxing,and life for that matter. He showed me that his perfection with cuts,was not born,it was BUILT. Built by someone willing to pass up the shortcuts and honor his trade.Respect for his trade was more important to him than money or fame.

The most important thing about Al was his compassion for his,and all fighters.He was a father to many,and fiercely protective of his men. First and foremost was his guys health. Most would say,"well that is how it should be". However, often many other things are given priority."

Never with Al.

He would refer to me as "kid",as he did with most. As I'm writing this,I can hear his voice as if he"s sitting next to me.

"What'll it be KID?","It's just a scratch KID","Now your doin it KID".
Well,we were all his KID,and we all knew it.

Al was a tough man,in the TOUGHEST sport.But his soft heart,compassion and integrity made him loved and respected by so many.

I miss you everyday Al.

Jimmy

MORE FROM JIMMY LANGE

"One of the nights that sticks out in my memories of Al was at a fight in New York city.I forget the venue,but it was in Times Square.I was to meet Al there at about 7:00 pm and shadow him for an evening of boxing.
Well I got there a little early and was told that Al had not arrived,however the mention of his name was credential enough,and I was escorted to the VIP pre fight party.

As I walked into the room,it was a small gathering,75-100 at most,but the vibe was that of a very rough crowd.
This was the kind of group who had been on both sides of the law and were proud of it. No nonsense.

Universaly,fighters are embraced in any situation,so I was comfortable.Still I put into practice the one method that is always appropriate.I kept my mouth shut and waited for Al.

So I became part of the scenery and was entertained by the personalities and conversations circulating the room.I remember how the testosterone coupled with anticipation of the fights,and of course add many different opinions on everything from,boxing to The Yankees and back to boxing,brought some the party goers to a boiling point.I felt as if there might be a couple extra,unscheduled,fights taking place that night.
Sure enough a scuffle broke out.This volitale situation was about to become a disaster.

Now,I'm no dummy,I headed for the door.And as I was leaving,guess who was walkin in?
Al saw me and said "stick with me".
The reaction of the room was priceless.
It was as if The Pope walked in.

All these tough guys forgot there beefs,and became like little kids around Al.
They clamoured the get to him,and show there respect.Very nonchalant,he chatted and made his way to the dressing room with me in tow.He denied countless requests to stay and converse.

I was filled with pride because I knew the only reason He came in there was to find me.

Anyway,as far as I know,the rest of the night went off without a hitch.And I got to watch a master at work."

Tony Danza Segment Fron "HARD COPY" 1994

Bill Patrick Interview Part 3

Bill Patrick Interviews Al Gavin

From January 2, 2001...broadcast on the Metro channel.

PART 1


PART 2


Part 3 Coming Soon

Al Gavin Video Tribute