Gil Clancy graduated from school teacher to boxing professor.
His work as a teacher led him to a PAL boxing gym in Queens, New York, where he began training young fighters. Eventually, he began working with professionals and rose to prominence as one of the great boxing trainers and managers.
Clancy's first pupil to find success in the pro ranks was Ralph (Tiger) Jones, a top middleweight contender who defeated the likes of Sugar Ray Robinson, Kid Gavilan and Joey Giardello.
Clancy's first world champion was Hall of Famer Emile Griffith, whom Clancy and Howie Albert guided to the welterweight and middleweight crowns. Clancy was a fixture in Griffith's corner for his entire 20-year career. Among the other champions Clancy tutored are Rodrigo Valdes and Juan LaPorte.
Clancy has worked with countless other fighters -- including top contenders such as Johnny Persol, Jorge Ahumada, Harold Weston and Tom Bethea. At different times he also worked with Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Ken Buchanan, Jerry Quarry and Gerry Cooney. In the '90s, he came out of retirement to work with Oscar De La Hoya.
In 1978, Clancy became the matchmaker for Madison Square Garden Boxing. He held that position for three years and then turned to broadcasting. He emerged as one of the premiere boxing analysts on television in the '80s and '90s. He worked for CBS, HBO and the MSG Network. In 1983, the Boxing Writers Association of America presented him with the Sam Taub award for Excellence in Broadcasting Journalism.
In 1967 and 1973, the Boxing Writers Association of America named Clancy the "Manager of the Year."
Born: 1922
Induction: 1993
Gil Clancy
