Q&A: Buddy McGirt!

Why on earth didn't Eddie throw more punches? He had no problem landing his right hand... he had more speed than Povetkin... and he was in better condition. The fight was his to take, but he wouldn't pull the trigger. What happened?
You know, I don't know how to answer that question. I've been asking myself the same questions over and over again. The only thing I can think of is that it was the big stage. Maybe everything surrounding this fight was all overwhelming to him - with HBO, the big press conferences and with everyone knowing who he is wherever he went. It could have gotten to him. I'm not sure, but I think that's what happened.

In training camp, did you talk to Eddie about what to expect as far as the ‘big stage' and how to handle it?
Yes, I talked to him! I was talking all through camp and right up until he was dressed and ready in the locker room. I told him he had the perfect guy in front of him to showcase his skills. But when it was lights-camera-action, it was a different ball game.

Eddie did well the early rounds. He didn't look nervous. And once a fight starts, all that nervousness goes out the window anyway.
That's all true. That's why I've been asking myself the same questions. But only Eddie knows what was going on in his mind that night. No one but him can really say what happened. All I can do is guess.

What went on in the locker room after the fight?
After the fight... actually I was sick. I got food poisoning the night before, believe it or not......

(Laughs) Food poisoning?! FIGHTERS are always talking about getting poisoned in Europe. Now the TRAINERS are getting poisoned? You didn't eat a steak from room service did you?
(Laughs) I was eating German food for four days, and had no problem. Then when I went to Burger King, I got sick. The night before the fight, I had a bad fever and was sweating like crazy. And on fight night, I was sick as a dog. But what I told Eddie in the locker room was: ‘You can take this defeat, learn form it and make yourself a better fighter, or get out of the game.' Being that I was in the same situation when I had my first defeat, I left it at that. You can't say too much because the fighter can't process everything you're saying at such a delicate moment. But knowing Eddie, he'll learn from this and he'll become a better fighter. This was a maturing stage for him. It's unfortunate that fighters have to suffer through a loss to get this type of knowledge, but that's what happens.

Will you continue to work with Eddie or were you only brought in for the Povetkin fight?
If Eddie wants me to, I'll definitely be there for him. He has so much ability, has a great team and the kid can fight! At the airport the next day, I could see that Eddie was still deep in thought - and that's a good thing. If he had an ‘I don't give a sh*t' attitude, I wouldn't waste my time with him.

While Povetkin did show some heart, it seems that many heavyweight fighters nowadays are content to simply be "IN" a big fight, rather than to "WIN" a big fight. We rarely see a heavyweight with the desire and determination of an Ali or Frazier anymore. Why is there such a growing passiveness within the division?
You know, it's not just the heavyweights! It's EVERY-weight! From 147 pounds and up, you see so many of these guys that are only looking for the million dollar payday. Look at that title fight at the Garden last November! Shane fought just enough to get by! There are so many fighters in this sport who just don't care and they end up cheating the fans. They ACT like they're gonna fight, but they don't because they already got the money. Then you get guys like Marquez and Vasquez, who put their heart and soul on the line, and don't make anywhere NEAR the millions the other guys get. The whole thing burns my ass! There are so many fighters out there that are really trying and struggling to make it in this sport, but they can't because the fans are tired of the bullsh*t. So it's not a ‘passiveness,' it a laziness and a greediness. This is why I have a whole lot of respect for Floyd Mayweather Jr. He makes a lot of money, but he STILL fights his ass off. He talks the talk and he walks the walk.