Buddy McGirt on Dillian Whyte: “I’m at a loss for words”

BN: Youโ€™d been driving back and forth between Liverpool and Manchester, from where youโ€™d been preparing Callum Smith and Dillian Whyte for big fightsโ€ฆ

I mean, it wasnโ€™t bad. It worked out good because it just gave me something good to do throughout the day, โ€˜cause Dillian doesnโ€™t train until late at night, and Callum trains earlier in the morning. So it kept me busy during the day. I love what I do, so it really wasnโ€™t a big problem.

I was staying [like Whyte, in a hotel in] Manchester, because Dillian trains at night โ€“ sometimes we get [to the gym] at like nine, ten oโ€™clock. It wouldnโ€™t make sense for me to travel back to Liverpool at that time of night.

We [me and Smith are] still working, because theyโ€™re trying to get Callum something, and weโ€™re just working, man. Weโ€™ll see what happens. I just hope they can get Callum a fight, you know? A tune-up or something to keep him busy.


BN: What was your reaction when you learned of the cancellation of Joshua-Whyte II?

I was in my hotel room. I received a phone call from a reporter. I was like, โ€œI donโ€™t got time for no games, man โ€“ย I donโ€™t know what the hell you talking aboutโ€. [My immediate reaction was,] โ€œI donโ€™t believe itโ€. I still donโ€™t believe [heโ€™s cheated]. From being around him, and watching him work โ€“ for this fight, his determination was through the roof. Youโ€™re looking good; trainingโ€™s going well. Youโ€™ve had all the best sparring. Why fuck it up?

Itโ€™s frustrating, because itโ€™s the week of. When we trained Friday, I said to myself, โ€œThis is it, baby โ€“ย we winning this fightโ€. Then you get a call the next day. โ€œGod damn.โ€

I had one fight โ€“ย we was at the weigh-in and they called off the whole damn card. But fights of this magnitude โ€“ย these were two fights, you figure Callumโ€™s becoming champ again, and Dillianโ€™s going to upset [Joshua]. I always tell people, โ€œI believe the fight is happening when the bell rings โ€“ย I donโ€™t even believe it when weโ€™re walking to the ring โ€˜cause anything could fucking happenโ€. When the bell rings, and they take three steps inโ€ฆ โ€œOkay, weโ€™re here.โ€ Other than that, I donโ€™t believe shit until then.

Iโ€™m totally against [the use of PEDs]. I support Dill โ€“ย I just canโ€™t see him doing it. From being around him, watching him, I just canโ€™t see it.

[The negative influence of PEDs] makes me hope and pray for changes. But I wouldnโ€™t let nothing like that allow me to walk away from the sport.


BN: How widely do you think theyโ€™re used?

That I really, really donโ€™t know, because I never really get into that. I know that theyโ€™re strict on it. I know that thereโ€™s heavy fines to be paid, from what Iโ€™m hearing. I donโ€™t know exactly what. Do I know? No. Why? Because I never experienced it. I really donโ€™t know, because when I was fighting there was no such thing โ€“ย they didnโ€™t have all that shit when I was fighting. They would piss test you for drugs, but, shit, they would do that after the fight โ€“ย they wouldnโ€™t even do that like they do it now. Iโ€™m at a loss for words right now.


BN: What has Whyte told you?

I called him to see how he was doing. He was upset. He said heโ€™s going to clear his name, and I said, โ€œLook, take a few days to clear your head, and when youโ€™re ready to talk, call meโ€. He said, โ€œI willโ€. I kept it simple. I told him I support him โ€“ย I got his back โ€“ย I believe in him, and when heโ€™s ready to talk, I told him, โ€œCall meโ€. All I asked him was, he okay?


BN: Where does your faith come from?

If we go out to eat, he watches what everybody orders. If you order fucked-up food, heโ€™ll be the first to tell you, โ€œYo, why you eating that shit?โ€ When we go out to eat Iโ€™m scared to order in front of him โ€˜cause I like to eat every damn thing. He watches you and if you order something thatโ€™s wrongโ€ฆ There was one time I would take a picture of the food and send the picture to him. โ€œAlright, good shit.โ€ He was always concerned with everybody around him โ€“ what they eat โ€“ย even if he didnโ€™t know them. If youโ€™re smoking or something, heโ€™d confront you. โ€œYo, why you putting that shit in your body?โ€ Without a doubt [heโ€™s got integrity]. โ€œYo, thereโ€™s a thing out here called diabetes, man. What you eating that shit for?โ€ Nobody likes to eat around him โ€˜cause heโ€™s a pain in the arse. If he sees me he hands me a big bottle of water. โ€œHow much water you drink today?โ€ And heโ€™ll give it to me. Anyone else in camp โ€“ย if theyโ€™re not eating right heโ€™ll let them know. That [his health consciousness] is why I donโ€™t believe it.

If they tell me theyโ€™re clean, Iโ€™m going to stick by them. Iโ€™m not the type of guy, โ€œHe could be dirty โ€“ย Iโ€™m not going to mess with himโ€. โ€œI started this training with you โ€“ย Iโ€™m gonna finish it with you.โ€


BN: What if heโ€™s found guilty?

If heโ€™s found guilty, I donโ€™t know. Thatโ€™s a good question. I couldnโ€™t answer that because if heโ€™s found guilty, Iโ€™d be in shock. Iโ€™d be in total shock. I just hope everything works out in his favour.


BN: Will you still be getting paid by him?

[Laughs] Hey โ€“ Iโ€™m gonna skip that question.


BN: Are you hopeful of him fighting Joshua again one day?

No. Theyโ€™re not going to fight. Heโ€™s too much of a risk [in the ring].


BN: How much easier had your second training camp with Whyte been?

He was looking very good. We [now] both understand each other better.


BN: Were you expecting more much from Joshua after his second training camp with Derrick James?

Oh yeah, without a doubt. Without a doubt, so weโ€™d prepared for anything and everything.


BN: To what extent is it true that itโ€™s different to train a heavyweight than a fighter in any other weight division?

Itโ€™s kinda true in some aspects, because heavyweights are different in a sense that you canโ€™t train them to move around like a lighter guy. โ€˜Cause some of these guys are too damn big. So, you gotta make adjustments as a trainer. But you gotta spend a lot of time with that fighter, and see what their weaknesses are; what their strengths are; what theyโ€™re good at; what theyโ€™re not good at.

Iโ€™ve had guys that were half the weight of these heavyweights and have the big ego. See, I donโ€™t tolerate that. I tell them they can go take that shit somewhere else. I understand with a fighter โ€“ย you the champ or whatever, but, dawg, we gotta meet halfway. Iโ€™ve been blessed in that aspect โ€“ย where Iโ€™ve never had that problem. I mean Iโ€™ve had guys try me, and Iโ€™m like, โ€œLook man, you gotta meet me halfway; if youโ€™re not gonna meet me halfway we may as well stop wasting each otherโ€™s time right nowโ€.


BN: How did Whyteโ€™s and Joshuaโ€™s performances against Jermaine Franklin compare?

I mean, number one, Franklin can fight. Thatโ€™s number one. Number two, Dillian went into the fight with one hand. One arm. He hurt his left elbow two weeks before the fight. He could barely jab; barely hook. So we had to stick what was working for us. It wasnโ€™t exciting, I admit. It wasnโ€™t what the world expected, I admit. But the key at the end of the day was that we got the W. But you know, his left elbow was in bad shape, and he said he wasnโ€™t pulling out of the fight. He wanted to go through with it, so we had to do what we had to do as the fight went on โ€“ heโ€™s struggling to make adjustments and stick with what was working. It wasnโ€™t the all-out Dillian that everyoneโ€™s used to seeing. You know, no one knew he was injured so we had to do what he had to do.

I saw, maybe, 30 seconds of the [Joshua-Franklin] fight. I saw enough in the 30 seconds. I just saw enough โ€“ย thatโ€™s all Iโ€™m gonna say.

I donโ€™t agree with [suggestions Joshuaโ€™s performance against Franklin showed heโ€™s lost his confidence], because if he was lacking confidence, he wouldnโ€™t be in the ring. He has enough money. He can say, โ€œTo hell with boxingโ€, so Iโ€™m not gonna say that. A lot of people say this stuff, but if youโ€™ve never been in the ring, or never been in the situation that man is in, you canโ€™t make the statement. No one knows what goes through a manโ€™s mind. You know, he has the whole world looking at him. So, itโ€™s a lot of pressure.

Itโ€™s a lot of pressure. He has to let that shit go. โ€˜Cause no matter what he does, heโ€™s not gonna satisfy everybody.

I was there at the [second Oleksandr Usyk] fight, and I thought he did well while he was letting his hands go. I thought he did very well. But then he stopped punching for whatever reason โ€“ I donโ€™t know โ€“ but I thought he looked good in the second fight at one point. Like, for three or four rounds straight, he was looking very good.

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Franklin attacks Whyte (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

BN: Did it surprise you he changed trainer from Robert Garcia after that performance?ย 

Yeah.


BN: Do you agree that Whyte recovers from defeat more effectively than Joshua?

I agree with that 150 per cent, you know? I mean, listen, sometimes you have a defeat โ€“ you gotta take it as a lesson. You canโ€™t sit back and dwell on it; youโ€™ll never get over it. And that keeps [a fighter] from getting to that next level.

Now, itโ€™s funny, sometimes weโ€™re sitting there talking, and [Whyte] jokes about his knockout losses. You know what I mean? He goes, โ€œI was waiting for one punch, then he threw another punch, and then when I saw it was too late, then I say โ€˜Ahhhโ€™โ€ [laughs]. He jokes about it, you know?

Some fighters โ€“ Iโ€™ve been blessed โ€“ย you know, some fighters they joke about it, but they know what they gotta do to make it better. You donโ€™t sit and dwell on it.

I canโ€™t explain it, but I can see [that Joshua carries his defeats around with him]. I canโ€™t really put the words together, but I can see it. Iโ€™ve been around long enough. Longer than both of โ€˜em, so I can see it. And I like Joshua โ€“ I really like him.


BN: How risky is it for him to fight a late replacement this weekend?

I wouldnโ€™t fight. I wouldnโ€™t fight. Listen, heโ€™s got too much to lose. Number one, youโ€™re preparing for one guy โ€“ a dangerous guy. Now theyโ€™re bringing in somebody else. So, your whole state of mind, you gotta regroup that shit, and itโ€™s easier said than done. Youโ€™re the late replacement, so youโ€™re going to be up for him โ€“ but youโ€™re not going to be up for him.ย So, I wouldnโ€™t fight. Iโ€™d be like, โ€œNahโ€.


BN: How disappointed were you and Smith to learn about Artur Beterbievโ€™s injury?

I think it was Sunday [July 30] night. I was sitting here, and somebody was saying to me, โ€œWhat are you guys gonna do now that the fight is off?โ€. I was like, โ€œWhat are you talking about?โ€. And somebody told me the fight was off, so I looked on social media, and boom. Then I called Callum and said we still gonna train tomorrow, so I went to the gym and weโ€™ve been training every day. Sparred Monday; sparred Wednesday, and weโ€™re getting down there.

Iโ€™m disappointed, but at the same time we gotta keep our spirits up, in case we do get a fight. You know, we canโ€™t sit back and focus on this. Itโ€™s something that happened, unfortunately, but we gotta keep moving. We just canโ€™t sit back and wait. He understands the game, so, he knows shit happens. Heโ€™s still working hard. I mean he was a little upset at first โ€“ heโ€™s been busting this up, he spent the month in Florida with us [training].

The main thing is, itโ€™s not these two training camps that matter โ€“ whatโ€™s gonna matter is the training camp we have for the fight when the fight is done. That’s whatโ€™s important. These two training camps helped us prepare, yes, but the main training camp is gonna be the one we have when the fightโ€™s rescheduled. Now that itโ€™s not Beterbiev for the moment, we gotta focus on whoever they have next.


BN: As one of Derek Chisoraโ€™s former trainers, how much does it concern you that heโ€™s fighting again this weekend, against Gerald Washington?

To be honest, heโ€™ll beat Gerald [laughs]. Heโ€™ll beat him; heโ€™s safe with Gerald. I mean, me and Chisora have our conversations, and I know what heโ€™s trying to do, so heโ€™s picking the right guys. Heโ€™s picking the safe guys right now.

Heโ€™s picking the safe guys right now. But heโ€™s told me heโ€™s got a goal โ€“ย how many more fights. Me and Chisora talk; I love Chisora, thatโ€™s my man.

I love that guy, man. Heโ€™s a good dude, man. He did a lot for me when I was training him over here during the pandemic โ€“ย he looked out for me like family. I just hope that heโ€™s careful โ€“ and whoeverโ€™s working his corner, if they see that shit ainโ€™t going right, donโ€™t be brave with Derekโ€™s blood.

He called me to check on me to make sure that Dillian is taking care of me [laughs]. Iโ€™m like, โ€œYeah, Iโ€™m goodโ€. Yeah, Chisoraโ€™s my man. I love Chisora โ€“ heโ€™s a good dude. So, we donโ€™t talk much โ€“ he just called me to make sure they were taking care of me. Make sure they got me sushi; make sure Callum was taking care of me. He always does that. Wherever Iโ€™m at he calls me and checks on me when Iโ€™m in the UK.

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