Now settled in Australia (Kedron, Brisbane) with his wife Jenny, also from Dundee, his first book sold around 45,000 copies worldwide and his second was a No. 1 best-seller.
“The books are about my experiences with the world’s best boxers,” said Gary, who grew up in the Ardler area of Dundee.
“There’s unique tales about Mike Tyson, Ricky Hatton, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, Jun., Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and some 50 or so more, telling how they spend their time while training for a big fight.”
Gary’s interest in boxing grew from his early years as it was soon obvious he had to take care of himself on the streets of Dundee.
“I grew up in St Mary’s with my mum (Nan Todd), then moved into the Ardler multis, and stayed there until I left Dundee in 1987,” revealed Gary (brave_haggis @hotmail.com).
“I was at ‘The Rocky’ (Rockwell High School), but I didn’t enjoy school much, so I didn’t go very often.
“My mum had separated from my dad when I was nine, and we always seemed to be skint.
“Consequently, I started working in Fitzgerald’s (Butchers) when I was 13, and eventually worked in the slaughterhouse.
“I loved it, and the money was good.
“I suppose you could say I had an unusual childhood, and took an interest in boxing at a very early age.
“Unlike most of my mates, I didn’t play football, so started boxing and gym work when I was 10 years old.
“Then, after seeing Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky film . . . that was it, I was hooked on training.
“Growing up, I was fearless. Mind you, living in Ardler, I had to be.
“I was surrounded by Lochee, Kirkton, St Mary’s and Dryburgh, and it was the time when the gangs were on the go.
“I never got involved with any of the gangs as I had pals in every one of these areas.
“However, I did get involved when someone from the gangs tried to bully any of my pals.
“Because I started work earlier than I should have, I always had money in my pocket, and I used to treat my pals who didn’t.
“It was pretty hard at that time, and kids of that time all had ways of getting money.
“They weren’t really bad kids, just desperate.
“Fitness and training took up more and more of my time and I started running.
“Starting with small distances, I was eventually running up to 11 miles every night, eventually completing my first marathon at 16.
“Over the years, I’ve now completed 13 marathons, although my legs are starting to go now.
“I was happy working out on my own, so training was easy.
“I joined the boxing section at Lochee Boys Club and was there for years without any of my friends knowing about it.
“One of the few who did know was a guy called ‘Meeky’, and he was always asking me to go 15 rounds with him . . . even in the middle of the Coconut Grove!
“During the Margaret Thatcher time as Prime Minister when the working man suffered badly, I always remember my mum saying to me, ‘No-one will ever give you anything, so you will have to work for it’.
“That still sticks with me to this day.”
Gary revealed that, in his time in Dundee, he frequented Stables Bar and the Dundee FC Social Club, “then usually into town with the boys or a girlfriend”.
He continued, “To earn the money to get to Australia, I worked at several things, including skinning deer.
“Once I got to Australia, I got a job as a steelfixer, learning as I went along.
“It took me ages to settle in to my new life, and I made a few mistakes, but I worked hard and stuck with it.
“I’ve now worked my way up the ladder to become a boss with Australia’s biggest construction company.”
Gary’s love of boxing didn’t desert him when he emigrated and, on settling in Australia, started training at a gym which boasted two world champions in Jeff Fenech (three times at bantamweight) and Edinburgh-born Jeff Harding (two times at light-heavyweight).
“I started training with Harding and we became good friends,” continued Gary.
“He had epic fights with Britain’s Dennis Andries and I helped him get ready for the last fight. I was also his running partner.
“From there, I went to Kostya Tszyu’s gym and, in 2001, I trained with him while preparing for his bout with Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez.
“It was around then I decided to write my first book — while I was working nightshift. I started to think about how the (future) world champions had to hold down a job while waiting for a big payday, and about what they did in the gym.
“I’ve travelled to some of the biggest fights around the world, and have written for nine boxing websites, spoke on radio and contributed to Sky Sports.
“In addition to this writing, I still train my body as hard as I can and, over the years, in addition to training fighters, have also tried to help kids who were going down the wrong path or, in some cases, just wanted to belong.”
Gary’s homeland, though, is never far from his thoughts.
“I go back to Dundee every couple of years or so on holiday and that’s where I met my better half, Jenny Lochrie, who was from Mid Craigie,” he revealed
“We were married in the City of Discovery, then made the big permanent move to Oz in 1996.
“We have three kids, John, Erin and Hannah.
“Through your column, I would like to say hello to old friends Cammy Menzies, Jake McConnachie, Macko, Pie Smith and Stoney, and any other family and friends I’ve not seen for years.
“Finally, as I say in my book, “Life’s a battle, but it makes it easier to take the blows.”
HOW MANY CAPS DID MIKE GET?
TOM SMITH, of Albert Street, Dundee, hit me with a query.
“I go for a pint with a few of my football friends, including former junior goalkeeper John Morrison, and I know you know John well.
“We’re always having discussions on junior football, and the latest one to crop up is about former Lochee Harp centre-half Mike McManus.
“How many Scotland Junior caps in total did Mike get? I reckon it went into double figures.”
I know Mike reads this column, so I’ll wait on him getting in touch — and he can reveal to BwB just how many international honours he picked up.
IN DUNDEE?
That old chestnut . . . “is Lochee part of Dundee” is raised by reader M. SOUTAR, who, it seems, is trying to re-establish local geographical boundaries.
“DOUGIE MITCHELL (BwB May 7) stated he worked in the Cox’s Mill offices in Dundee,” he wrote. “Cox’s Mill never has, was, or ever will be, in Dundee. It’s in Lochee!
“I assume Mr Mitchell is not from Lochee or this ‘error’ would not have been made.
“As one who was born and brought up in Lochee — and also worked on the factory desk (weaving) with Miss Gilkison, in Cox’s Mill, Lochee — I object to Lochee apparently losing its identity.”
