Former New York Golden Gloves champion, #3 ranked cruiserweight contender Seamus McDonagh shares details and insights from his June 1990 clash with future Heavyweight kingpin Evander Holyfield. The fight took place at Convention Hall in Atlantic City, McDonagh was 19-2-1 (14 KO’s), Holyfield was 23-0. Their bout was for the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight title…
Scoop Malinowski: What memories stand out about actually being in the ring and boxing Evander Holyfield?
Seamus McDonagh: “I choked [laughs]. I choked. There’s scientific data saying that the more tight you are, the more possibilities that you’re gonna choke, have overreactions. I choked. I don’t regret it – because I got out of boxing. I had one more fight after that (TKO 7 loss to Jesse Shelby in June 1991), then I quit fighting. I have no lasting damage from fighting for 17 years. I mean, I had hundreds of fights, I sparred every day, I fought Holyfield, Bowe, Iran Barkley, everybody. I was a cruiserweight. Alex Stewart. Donny Lalonde, Chris Reid. All those guys.”
Scoop: Going into the fight you just didn’t feel comfortable?
Seamus McDonagh: “Physically I was in great shape. But I wasn’t prepared mentally. At all. This is going from fighting at the Felt Forum to the world stage (Showtime televised the bout). It was too much, too much. I choked.”
Scoop: What was it about Holyfield that made him so difficult to fight?
Seamus McDonagh: “It wasn’t that he was so difficult, I hit him quite a lot. But also…he had to look good against me. And we were in the fourth round. We both threw left hooks and he caught me and he knocked me down. And I was laying on the canvas and thought…if I stay here it’ll all be over [laughs]. So I jumped up. I was fine. But they needed a spectacular win for him so they stopped the fight.”
Scoop: What was your strategy for Holyfield?
Seamus McDonagh: “I didn’t have one. Didn’t really have professional trainers. Till after the fight I started training with Joe Ferrioala.”
Scoop: During the fight was there anything you did against him that was effectively working?
Seamus McDonagh: “Kept making him miss a lot. Made him miss a lot and I caught him a few times. I just was too nervous, too fearful. Too nervous. I mentally wasn’t prepared.”
Scoop: Before the fight and after the fight how did Holyfield treat you?
Seamus McDonagh: “Very nice. I just saw him in San Francisco and I showed him this picture (see above). I have a great picture because I landed a left hook in the 4th round. (Seamus pulls out his business card). I’m the white guy on the right. I showed him the picture. You know what he said? ‘I got you with a left hook after that!’ I said, Prove it [smiles].”
Scoop: How did you meet up with him twenty years later?
Seamus McDonagh: “I knew he was going to be at the Mosconi Convention Center. I have a business called Shoeshine.com. We shine shoes all over the world and we don’t care. I knew he was coming because he was one of the attractions at the booth. I didn’t know if he’d remember me. I sent my friend, ‘Tell Evander Seamus is here.’ Evander said, ‘Where is he?!’ So I go over. We had a big hug. I told him he’s the greatest fighter ever – because he beat me [laughs].”
Seamus McDonagh is an actor, writer, entreprenuer and resides in San Francisco. He recently attended the Boxing Film Festival in New York City where two of his films were presented. He appeared in the Broadway play “Kd Shamrock” in late 2011. His final ring record was 19-3-1 (14 KO’s).
The Next installment of the “I Boxed A Legend” series will feature DeMarcus Corley recalling his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
