::DEEP SOUTH BOXING::

Long Journey Carries Gogarty To Success In And Out Of Ring

After her boxing career ended, Deirdre Gogarty became a highly-sought after trainer. (Photo credit: Ragin' Cajun Boxing)

By Winston Mount-Batten

LAFAYETTE, LA - The trip from the top of the world to the lowest rung on the ladder can be slow and excruciatingly painful, or fast and nearly pain free. Seldom are you allowed to plan your own itinerary for this excursion. In some cases the slide downward is not only pain free, but planned well in advance.

Trips like this for the male population, who have enjoyed centuries of dominance, are difficult to say the least. For women, who have only recently been in a position to make it to the top, departing from the mountain's crest has, to my knowledge, never been planned.

What do you do when you are at the very bottom of the valley? The strong willed (nearly all who have made it to the top are strong willed, but the fall can easily break the spirit), place their foot on the bottom rung and try to ascend once again. An example is Donald Trump, who with all his real estate, hotels, restaurants, casinos, etc., found himself in bankruptcy court one day, the next nearly penniless, and in debt up to his well styled hair. What to do? "The Donald" scrambled back up that ladder and placed himself in a position to tell all, "YOU'RE FIRED!"

Unlike "The Donald," whose trip was unplanned, we have a young lady from an aristocratic Irish family, who not only made the ascent to the pinnacle, but also planned the descent.

In 1987, Deirdre Gogarty, the youngest child of two dentists, made up her mind to enter the world of boxing. With absolutely no knowledge of the "Gentleman's Sport," only the inspiration from seeing Ireland's Barry McGuigan win the world featherweight crown from Eusebio Pedroza in front of over 100,000 fans, Deirdre made her decision.

Letting her family think that she had a boyfriend who boxed, Deirdre joined the Drogheda (Ireland) Boxing Club. Although she was allowed to use the facility, no one offered any training advice and she had to learn by watching the other young boxers in the gym. The disappointment of learning that women's boxing was against the law in Ireland - and most of the world - did not deter her determination to box. A move to Dublin to attend the prestigious Fitzwilliam Institute of Art also took her to St. Saviours Boxing Club, the No. 1 boxing club in Ireland. There she met Pat McCormack, a former amateur and professional champion, who decided to help her after seeing her willingness to learn and her never-ending quest to become the best conditioned athlete possible.

After four years in the gym while attending school, she became an Irish urban legend in boxing circles. A mere slip of a lass who was fearless and never turned down the opportunity to spar with anyone from flyweight to heavyweight. Finally, in 1991, she had her first fight while working as an animator on The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. She faced Ann-Marie Griffin in Limerick, winning a four-round decision in an illegal underground match. Another illegal underground (literally) bout in the basement of a pub in London, was for the British Lightweight championship and Jane Johnston was easily handled. Deirdre had her first title.

Reflecting on her boxing career which had encompassed only two bouts in nearly six years, Deirdre decided that her only alternative was a move to someplace in the world where women's boxing was legal. Sending out letters to managers and promoters all over the world resulted in only replies from sleazy topless boxing promoters.

A friend of Pat's, Paddy Sower, of London, recommended that Deirdre write to the "Professor," Beau Williford, of Lafayette, LA, in the United States. Sower explained how Williford made world champions out of Glenn McCrory and Dennis Andries after their careers were suffering a downslide. After months passed with no response from Williford, Deirdre was distraught, but still determined.

Out of the blue a call came in from Williford. Suddenly she was on her way to America. Four years later, with many trials and tribulations behind her, she was the undisputed featherweight champion of the world.
Along with former opponent Christy Martin, they were the face of women's boxing.

A shoulder injury forced Deirdre to retire from the ring. She voluntarily relinquished her undisputed world title.

Her thriving graphic design company in Louisiana kept her busy, but she was still in the gym daily helping her "Professor" with his Ragin' Cajun Amateur Boxing Club. Beau watched, taught and entrusted her. Before long she was no longer an apprentice but the Professor's chief assistant, who he could trust to train and match the club's young charges. She took over the training of a young female pro, Kasha Chamblin. Kasha went on to the No. 1 spot in the world and two world title bouts. All this after only one amateur fight.

Other boxers in the gym noticed Gogarty's success and asked for advice.
She soon was assigned the task of training new pro Wilford Scypion, Jr.
(son of Wilford Scypion, who battled Marvelous Marvin Hagler for the World Middleweight Title) and is slowly developing Wilford into what she and Wilford's agent Kerry Daigle of Keepunching, LLC believe will be a top notch professional. Scypion sports a 7-1 (7 KOs) pro record.

Blake Prevost, a former USA Boxing National Amateur champion and U.S.
Marine champion, requested her services, with the approval of Daigle, of Keepunching, LLC, after Prevost was off for 31 months because of a broken ankle and hand. Blake recently had his second bout under Deirdre's tutelage and has scored two unanimous decision wins.

Having been entrusted with these two fine young prospects is quite an accomplishment, but the truth will be told when their Win-Loss totals are calculated.

"I have no fear of being the chief trainer and second for Blake and Wilford. I have learned from the best," Gogarty said. "Several years ago, I had a chance meeting with former Top 10 heavyweight and current world class referee, Randy Neumann. Discussing an upcoming bout of my own, Randy's words of wisdom to me were. 'You have nothing to worry about, you have the "Professor" in your corner and he always knows what to do in any situation.'

"Randy was, of course, referring to my manager/trainer, Beau Williford, and Randy's statement confirmed my own beliefs. "Professor" Williford knows boxing and he has taught me well," Gogarty added. "I have him in the corner as one of the world's best cut men and he will be there to guide me through and storm.

"Starting at the bottom is nothing new to me and I am well prepared for the journey back to the top as a coach," said a confident Gogarty.

Ward, Treadway Win In Arkansas; Watkins Wins By Decision

From Staff Reports

ROGERS, AR - Light middleweight power-puncher April Ward believes in making fast work of opponents.

Ward, who fights out of Batesville, AR under the Bad Boy Promotions banner, recorded her third first-round stoppage on Saturday (Nov. 7) when a straight right hand from Ward sent Tierra Faucette through the ropes where she was counted out. The time of the stoppage came at 54 seconds.

Ward improved to 4-0, 4 KOs. Faucette, who hails from West Memphis, AR, was making her pro debut.

The Mixed Martial Arts/pro boxing card was promoted by World Wide Muay Thai, in association with Bad Boy Promotions.

On the same card, Batesville bantamweight Kristen Treadway won a 4-round unanimous decision over Pine Bluff, AR's Lucretia Meachem. Meachem went down in the second round from a right hand to the chin.

Junot Enjoys Quick Knockout Of Grimes Thursday In Houston

Tiffany Junot won Thursday night in Houston by TKO over Jessica Grimes. (Photo credit: Calm Before The Storm Promotions)

From Staff Reports

HOUSTON - Tiffany Junot didn't get to have much fun in her 4-round light welterweight bout against Jessica Grimes on Tuesday night (Oct. 8) at the Hilton American Hotel.

But it was fun while it lasted.

In a bout that was scheduled for four rounds, Junot took out Grimes by TKO at just 51 seconds of the first round. Junot hurt Grimes with a right hand to the body, then proceeded to pulverise Grimes with combinations to the head. Referee Robert Gonzalez stepped in and stopped the bout.

"I was starting to smooth out and get a little more organized when I go the knockout," Junot told Deep South Boxing. "Overall, it was exciting for the short time it was."

Ward, Treadway Pick Up Wins On Fort Smith, AR Card

April Ward, left, and Kristen Treadway are all smiles before their respective bout in Fort Smith, AR. (Photo credit: Ecko Hoffman)

From Staff Reports

FORT SMITH, AR - Bad Boy Promotions' two female boxers were successful in their respective bout on the Luckier Promotions' Sept. 11 card from the Fort Smith Event Center.

Batesville, AR super middleweight April Ward remained unbeaten in three fights as she posted her third knockout. Batesville super bantamweight Kristen Treadway won her professional debut by unanimous decision. Both bouts were 4-rounders.

Ward annihilated Takisha James, of Saginaw, TX, winning by knockout at 1:09 of the opening round.

"April caught her with three punches, the last one a right hand right on the jaw. James was out for about five minutes," Bad Boy Promotions head Brandon Foster said. "The paramedics had to come into the ring to attend to James."

Junot Speaks About Draw Against Connor In Houston

From Staff Reports

HOUSTON - Momentum swung back and forth for all six rounds during their 6-round women's lightweight bout at the Hilton American Hotel on Thursday (Aug.6). After both came close to knocking out the other with wicked shots, Tiffany Junot and Kimberly Connor settled for a draw.

A resident of New Orleans, Junot got the better of Connor in the second round with some big shots with the right hand. But Connor, a native of Mabelvale, AR, and current resident of Waskom, TX, turned the tide and almost had Junot out in the third round.

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