By Rich Mancuso/ Sports Editor
Jimmy Glenn was associated with boxing as a cut man and trainer. You knew Jimmy, he welcomed you as family. You didn’t know him and that did not matter. You see he was an original.
Glenn passed away Wednesday night at the age of 89 due to complications from the Coronavirus. He is the latest member of the New York boxing community to pass away from the virus.
Francisco Mendez and Nelson Cuevas, associated with the Mendez Boxing Gym, in the Flatiron district, passed away the past two weeks Mendez was a role model and established a gym that was considered one of the best in boxing.
Cuevas, a mentor, worked many corners for fighters and was the second father to many of the aspiring fighters that came to him.
Jimmy Glenn, a friend to many also established “Jimmy’s Corner” a popular bar and meeting spot for those in the fight community. For 47-years, Glenn, would greet and meet and there was always a good story on the agenda.
But this Coronavirus does not care about those who care. It does not care about those involved with boxing, all sports, or any other industry and is suffering one way or the other.
Enough of that for now, because this is about Jimmy Glenn. He fought his battle to the last night. He was about boxing and those in the sport know how to battle to the last round.
Though Glenn had some lingering health issues that were under control, he was that warrior we get to know and admire in the sport. He was invincible, would never lose a fight with medical issues, his business, and in a debate about boxing now and then.
He worked with champions. Floyd Patterson, Howard Davis Jr., Terrance AlIi, and Mark McPherson. There were many more fighters, too many to mention, who admired his knowledge and passion. The proud moment was opening the Times Square Boxing Club that eventually closed due to that area of Manhattan going under renovation.
Regardless, you could always, as usual, see Jimmy at his place, He sat outside on a nice day a few blocks from the theatre district. Inside, behind the bar and holding court on a stool as they discussed the sport he loved it was Jimmy holding court.
Years ago and after a press conference in Manhattan, with my mentor, Bert Randolph Sugar, boxing historian and author, we visited Jimmy’s Corner. That was the normal spot for Bert and it was that passion Jimmy had for him.
There was Jimmy at the bar. He asked, “Hello, I’m Jimmy and you are?” Of course, I could not get a word in. That was Bert Sugar who made the introduction.
But Jimmy said, “Let the young man speak Bert.” We had a laugh. Jimmy and Bert were good friends and not media colleagues.
However, if you were a member of the boxing media, as the fraternity we were then, the usual stop after a press conference or boxing show at Madison Square Garden was to have a drink and talk boxing with Jimmy.
Never had a bad word to say about those who had that tarnished reputation in the sport, including Halll of Fame promoter Don King. He admired Mike Tyson and had his thoughts about the exploits of Don and Mike.
Jimmy Glenn always had a good story. He could analyze a championship fight, better than the award winning writers at ringside and the commentators that came into your home and paint a picture.
He would be at ringside at the fights or working a corner for fighters when boxing was a consistent event at Madison Square Garden.
That smile, his generosity. And then the invitation to stop by Jimmy’s Corner when we put the last words on the fight recaps. It’s not like that in this new era of boxing because they come and they go.
But you could always find Jimmy Glenn a few blocks away from the Garden. If the Boxing Hall of Fame had his name up for induction that name would be a unanimous selection.
Yes, Jimmy Glenn will be missed. Sorry, I did not associate with him more often. He was not that fighter or big name associated with the sport, instead, he was Mr. Boxing at Jimmy’s Corner.
He was that original. Rest In Peace my friend.
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