–This editorial was written by guest contributor Sean Gannon–

I walk into the gym looking like any other regular guy. My first day back after COVID, but the problem is that my gym is the one and only Peter Welch’s Gym. The South Boston boxing hub where you run into legends all the time. Kevin MacBride, the giant of a man that beat Mike Tyson was there finishing off another hard workout.

“You’re fighting Holyfield next if you win. You would be the only man to ever beat both Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. Who are you sparring in training camp to get ready for this historic fight?” I asked him.

Sean Gannon resurfaces

MacBride paused for a moment, and then said, “Looks like it’s going to be you.” Sh*t, I thought. I hadn’t really thought about it, but it made sense. We had a lot of skilled guys, but all at the lighter weights. Our last world champion had been WBA featherweight Javier Fortuna, and even at age 50, I was still the second-best heavyweight in the gym. And if I didn’t do the thankless job of sparring partner for this, nobody would.