Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) 2002 Trainer of the Year, James "Buddy" McGirt, and Manny Pacquiao's former cutman Lenny De Jesus of Puerto Rico are slated to arrive in the country next week to personally witness the October 22 showdown between RP lightweight champ Fernando Montilla and Dexter "Dinamita" Delada.
McGirt, who maintains a gym in Vero Beach, Florida, is expected to immediately fly to Cebu to oversee the training of some fighters belonging to the Wakee Salud Stable and young upstarts from Mindanao under North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Pinol.
McGirt, who won the IBF junior welter and WBC welter titles in the late 80's and early 90's, plunged into retirement with an stellar record of 73-6-1, 48 KO's. He trains the likes of undisputed light-heavyweight king Antonio Tarver, ex-WBC lightweight boss Arturo Gatti, ex-WBA junior lightweight champ Joel Casamayor, Timo Hoffman, Mads Larsen and his son James Jr.
Former world superfly champ Gerry Penalosa and Z "The Dream" Gorres had also undergone training under McGirt in the United States.
McGirt, who remains the only BWAA Trainer of the Year awardee to have won world titles of his own, and De Jesus are expected to arrive on October 10.
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