February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
“We’re leaving no stone unturned,” Paschal “Packie” Collins, McBride’s assistant trainer who suggested former Boston police hypnotist and lecturer Patrick Brady join their training camp, said last Friday.
Steve Collins, Paschal’s brother and the only Irish prizefighter to win two world titles, used a sports hypno-therapist late in his career as a middleweight and super middleweight and Packie believes McBride can benefit enormously from one, too.
“He’s working with Kevin three times a week,” Collins said of Brady. “What he’s doing is putting Kevin under and putting things in his subconscious that Kevin doesn’t know are even there. But they’ll come out in the ring on the night of the fight.”
Collins dismissing notions that the hypnotherapy is meant to embolden McBride whom, he pointed out, is from a tough part of Ireland and not intimidated at all by Tyson.
“He (Brady) is doing a lot of positive affirmation. He’ll increase Kevin’s speed, power and awareness to the point that Kevin will be able to see Tyson’s punches coming. The therapy will also increase Kevin’s pain threshold.
Brady has been working with McBride for five weeks now and Collins said a little of his subliminal handiwork was becoming evident in the gym.
Defined as the use of hypnosis for self-improvement or healing, hypnotherapy has been used by other fighters aside from Steve Collins, most famously by Ken Norton before his upset win over Muhammad Ali in 1972.
Team McBride has also added an east European weight, conditioning and diet expert in Serbula Radovan.
Overall, Collins said the 31 year-old McBride (32-4-1, 27 KOs) was in tiptop shape and punching harder than before. The Brockton, Massachusetts-based pug, has added James Clancy, one of two County Clare brothers fighting in the Boston area, to his list of sparring partners.
Clancy, like Tyson, is a small heavyweight. He’s 32 year-old and 5-0 in the paid ranks.
The stakes, meanwhile, for the Tyson fight have been raised for McBride. Last week he ran into Norman Stone, WBC heavyweight titlist John Ruiz’s controversial manager who promised him a shot at Ruiz if he beats Tyson.
GARDEN PARTY
Middleweight sensation John Duddy is pleased as punch over his scheduled debut at boxing’s most hallowed arena on June 11, but he won’t let the occasion get the better of him.
“Madison Square Garden is a very special (place) and I want to make it special for me by winning,” Duddy said.
The fiery punching Derryman will face Texas State middleweight titlist Victor Lares (10-1, 3 KOs) over six rounds, in his first bout since obliterating Leonard Pierre in 83 seconds on ESPN last March.
“I’m looking forward to it and will try to make it a good experience. My training is fantastic,” the 25 year-old, a big favorite to improve his ledger to 10-0 (10 KOs), added.
Duddy-Lares will be on the on the undercard of Miguel Cotto’s WBO light-welterweight defense against Mohamad Abdulaev. For tickets ($50, $100) call Jim Celebirti at (212) 465-6089 between 9 am and 5 pm.
GARDEN PARTY II
Like Duddy, Danny McDermott is also 25, but the 1-0 lightweight out of Jersey City has only had to wait one fight after turning pro to make his maiden Garden appearance on the same Top Rank promoted show.
He’s matched against the debuting Alex Metos of upstate Rochester in a four-rounder and can hardly contain his excitement.
“Unbelievable!” he exclaimed in an interview from Vero Beach, Florida, where he’s training with his mentor and fellow Jersey City resident, WBC junior welterweight champion Arturo “Thunder” Gatti. “All the greatest fighters have fought there. I’m excited.”
McDermott, who shares trainer Buddy McGirt with Gatti, said he knew nothing about Metos but was preparing like he was fighting a Pan-American champion.
That includes sparring with Gatti, remembered by Irish fans for his thrilling and bloody trilogy with the now retired Mickey Ward.
McDermott, who traces his lineage to Foxford, County Mayo, out-pointed Jason Chacon over four rounds last February in his only pro match. He’s a two-time New Jersey Golden Gloves finalist and Diamond Gloves winner who compiled a 36-6 amateur log