Page 25 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 45

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An Interview with Boxing Great Gaetan Hart

By Tony “The Fighting Writer” Luis help me to control my weight when I was all the moments you experienced in your Cleveland Denny stories out there. With
training. (*at this moment there is a brief career, is there one that sticks out for you; a all the authorities that exist in boxing, from
pause and then we both begin laughing at his personal favourite, or even just a funny story sanctioning bodies, to athletic commissions,
lame attempt to justify his bad habit). that media and fans may not know about? to referees/trainers/ringside doctors; is there
TL: How soon did you get into boxing, and First I will say, that I always thought I beat anything that can be done differently to
what lead you to the sport? Livingstone Bramble and should’ve got the prevent a tragedy like Cleveland Denny?
I started boxing around 14-15 years old. decision, but that’s boxing. My three fi ghts Or is it just a risk that we don’t talk about

There was this kid at school who was with Nicky Furlano come to mind. (Hart enough; that a fighter takes when he steps in
constantly bullying me. One day the bullying won 2 out of 3; their last two fi ghts were for that ring?
escalated to a fight and he gave me a black the Canadian title). But this is my best story. It’s a risk, and it will always be there.

eye. When I came home, I had to explain to It’s near the end of 1975, 3 years into my Listen, I fought five world champions in my

my father what happened. He bought me a career. I’m between fi ghts; nothing is lined career. There were many times that I could
“It was the crowd, the spotlight. I was pair of boxing gloves and hung up a heavy up for me at the moment. It’s 5 am when I have suffered the same fate. Luckily, I was
blessed to have such a good following in bag for me in the garage. He showed me the hear the buzzer go off at my front door. It’s blessed with a good chin. I was always tough
Montreal, the fans always appreciated me. basics and I started practising and whacking my trainer; he says “Gaetan, I got a big fi ght and I was always in good condition. You can

I missed hearing the cheers. You feel like that bag every day. A few weeks later, I for you! Great opportunity!” recover from shots much better if you’re in
people forget about you. When you retire, it stood up to that bully and he never bothered I say, “Ok, where?” good shape. That’s why it’s so important for

all stops.” — Gaetan Hart me again! He replies, “Puerto Rico. But if we’re taking a fighter to take care of himself.
Four months ago, I attended an amateur TL: So you got your feet wet in boxing this fi ght, we need to take the earliest fl ight, TL: What’s the best advice you can give
boxing show in Gatineau, Quebec. I was practising with your father and a single ASAP!” to a young man/woman who wants to box
one of the guests of honour, along with a heavy bag in the garage. How soon I said yes and we headed for the airport. I’m professionally?
couple of other up and coming pros. But this thereafter did you fi nd your fi rst gym? sleeping on the plane when I wake up and it If you train hard, treat your body right, and
was not my night. The night belonged to the Not long after, I heard of a gym in downtown comes to me, “Who am I fi ghting?” perfect the basics, you have nothing to worry
star guest of honour, Gatineau boxing gym Gatineau, where I was living at the time, My trainer says “Alfredo Escalera”. about. The rest will fall into place.
owner, Gaetan Hart. I felt privileged to be and I would go there from time to time “Who’s that?” I asked. TL: Retirement… Every fi ghter is their own
sharing this evening with this former world and watch the guys train. I signed up and He says WBC Jr. Lightweight Champion of person, with their own unique experiences.
class fighter. slowly worked my way into it and really the world. But often times, most fi ghters come back

I wondered just how many of these young started to grow a love for the sport. I “Are you crazy?!” for the same reasons (money, the spotlight).
amateurs actually knew who this man was, started competing in amateur fi ghts. After Relax Gaetan! You’ve been training and Your fi rst comeback was in 1990, after 6
or, even had an idea of how courageously 7 amateur fi ghts, a manager in Ottawa you’re tough. Just do the best you can, fi ght years away from the ring, beating undefeated
he represented the Canadian flag, in his time discovered me and approached me after a hard, if we don’t win, we don’t win. But it’s favourite Michel Galarneau. You would

on the world stage; a real life Rocky who fi ght and said “Gaetan, with your aggressive a good payday, and the experience; this fi ght then lose a majority decision to Greg Gayle
would sit by the phone, ready to take on any style, you should strongly consider turning can only make you better”. Two days later, I and retire. You came back 2 years later,
challenge, on any given notice, on either side professional”. I thought, why not? I was went 6 rounds with Alfredo Escalera. I had 1992, to fi ght Michel Galarneau again, this
of the world. After a brief amateur career, a young man (19 yrs old) and wanted to just turned 22 years old and I learned what it time for the Canadian title, which you were
which didn’t even make it out of the novice make money. I lost my fi rst fi ght against was like to bleed from a cut for the fi rst time. attempting to win for the 4th time. This
ranks, he embarked on his professional Paul Collette, who was also making his pro The cut is what did me in. I was bleeding time, Galarneau wins a decision, keeps his
journey. It was a roller coaster ride that debut, near the end of 1972. I would end everywhere and they fi nally stopped it in the belt and you hang up the gloves again. You
saw many highs and lows. Ultimately, he up fi ghting him again about 10 years later 6th round. would come back 8 years later, in 2000, at 46
cemented his claim as a legend for Canadian and got my revenge! But at the time, I was TL: That’s wild. What an amazing story. years old, losing to a journeyman who would

boxing. He finished his career with 57-31-4, very disappointed, losing my fi rst pro fi ght. Sometimes, you hear horror stories when not have belonged in the same ring as you, in

25 KO’s. But I stayed in the gym, kept training, and a fi ghter boxes in a foreign country. They your prime. What was it for you that would
Of course, the fighter in me also started improving, and started winning more than I poison the food, they send hookers up to compel you to come back? What makes life

sizing this man up, as I am well aware he was losing, and no matter what, I was always your room etc. How were you treated when after boxing so hard for many fi ghters?
fought in my weight class in his prime. I had learning and gaining experience. I travelled you landed? It was the crowd, the spotlight. I was blessed
to give my head a shake and leave my ego at and boxed everywhere in my career; Italy, I can’t say anything bad about my time in to have such a good following in Montreal,
the door, and remind myself this Canadian Puerto Rico, Chicago, New York, Atlantic Puerto Rico. They had me stay at a real nice the fans always appreciated me. I missed
legend is now 62 years old. There will be no City. place, close to the ocean, food was great. In hearing the cheers. You feel like people
fight for me tonight! Which ended up being TL: With only 7 amateur fi ghts, clearly fact, my biggest hassle while I was there, forget about you. When you retire, it all

just fine with me. I got to sit with Gaetan you were not entering the pro ranks with was arguing with my girlfriend on the phone, stops. All you hear is silence. I should also

throughout the evening and chat boxing, any signing bonuses and the benefi t of a because I was missing dinner at her family’s. mention I went through a divorce, lost my
exchange stories on each other’s respective manager who would protect you. There was “But Babe! I’m really in Puerto Rico; I’m house, and that made things difficult as well.

careers, have some laughs, introduce him to no development stage. going to fight the world champion!” So I would go back to what I knew best to
my beautiful fiancé, and show him pictures Defi nitely not. With my fi rst manager/trainer, TL: Now I have to ask a diffi cult question. make money, boxing. Also, it’s even harder

of my baby; all in all, just bonding with a Vern Stevenson, we fought everywhere. He You had a great trilogy with Cleveland for a guy like me, who had no education;

fellow warrior and brother in boxing. Here would pick me up at 5 am every morning to Denny. In 1977, he beats you by unanimous so good paying jobs were hard to find. So
are some highlights from our conversation run, and he trained me hard in the gym and decision. In 1978, you win a split decision I worked construction for many years,
that night. always made sure I was in shape. “Have in the rematch for the Canadian Lightweight working like a dog, for a small pay check.
TL: Gaetan, before we discuss the specifi cs gloves, will travel” was my attitude. I was title. The two of you would meet for a third Of course as years roll by in retirement, you
of your career, I have to ask this question always in the gym ready to take the call for and fi nal time in Montreal, in June 1980, fall more and more out of shape, coming
before I forget. Is it true you smoked a fi ght, at any given notice. It was a tough on the undercard of the classic fi rst battle home from a long day’s work, too sore to do

throughout your whole career? And decided way to start my career and make a living. between Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto anything, you have no life. At least that was
to quit AFTER you retired? But thanks to him, at least I got to have Duran. In a thrilling battle, you get the my story in the early years of my retirement.
Crazy eh? But I never smoked a pack a day an opportunity to go pro. I was thrown in win via 10th round TKO. Sixteen days TL: Champ, I want you to know my father is
or nothing like that. I limited myself to 2-3 tough, from the beginning, but I also learned later, Denny passed away from injuries he a big fan of yours and watched you growing
cigarettes a day. a lot and it paid off in the long run. sustained in the fi ght. up. My grandfather also admired you and if
TL: Rocky Graziano smoked throughout his TL: You had a well-travelled career, fought The story has been well-documented. I can’t he was here today, he’d be thrilled knowing
career and would have a cigarette in the a who’s who of Canadian contenders and even begin to imagine the different stages his grandson is interviewing you! Thank you
dressing room before his fi ghts to help him champions, won the Canadian title 3 times, you’ve gone through psychologically over for your time! It’s been a pleasure. Anything
with his nerves. and shared a ring on the world stage, with the years, dealing with that experience. As in closing?
Yeah, I wasn’t that brave; the last few days some of the best fi ghters of your time (Aaron a fi ghter myself, I understand you cannot be Just a big thank you to the fans who still
before the fight I would cut out the smoking. Pryor, Livingstone Bramble, Claude Noel, held responsible for that tragedy. You simply remember me and appreciated me. You guys

But I will say it helped with stress and did Alfredo Escalera, Bruno Arcari). Out of did your job. Unfortunately, there are other have touched my heart for life.