Although Yorgey will bring a record of 22-0-1 (10) into the ring this weekend, he has been a part of this sport his whole life. When he decided to turn professional six years ago he took the road less traveled. Without any major hoopla surrounding his amateur career, Yorgey decided to manage his own career and get himself booked on as many shows possible with out having a major promoter, or for that fact, a promoter period.
So like most newly turned prize fighters, it was off to the local club shows and gymnasiums where he would dedicate himself to making his name the tough way. Make no mistake about it, this is a truly tough road that many first start to travel, but that so many seem to easily get frustrated and sidetracked from.
Once again though, it’s the look into who Yorgey truly is as a person outside of the ring which gives you some insight into how he was able to reach this point in his career. Before he became a full time fighter, Yorgey who is from Bridgeport (which is outside of Philadelphia), also made a living as a construction worker. But even during that time in his life, Yorgey had the desire to give back to a community where there are many less fortunate citizens. “I used to save a hundred bucks here and there. Anything from my pay checks that I could put to the side that could help. During the holiday season I would dress up as Santa and give away as many gifts that I could.”
Yorgey didn’t stop there. He also visited a group home in Philadelphia where he would take his time to speak to at risk youth. No, Yorgey was not a one time visitor, he made it a point to stop by at least once a month so he could prove to these youth that people really do care and worry about where their lives are headed.
As his career continued to progress locally, this included gaining several friends and fans in the critical and tough Philadelphia boxing scene. A tipping point was reached by Yorgey. “I was 19-0, and still beating guys inside of high school gyms. I would look at the world rankings and there were guys with fewer fights with wins against less talented opponents who were ranked in the top twenty. I was ranked below eighty.”
Yet again, the resilience can be seen at this point. “I knew I had to get a promoter. It was holding me back not having one.” So Yorgey decided to hand over that part of his career to Banner promotions. A move that three fights in has produced the type of results Yorgey was looking for when he signed that dotted line. After beating Jason Lehiller, who at the time another undefeated fighter for a regional belt, Yorgey got his first major television date.
As he is on Saturday, Yorgey was the B-side to a fight in which his opponent got the national recognition. You see on that night, Yorgey was standing across the ring from a Hearns. “I was fighting Ronald, not Tommy. I saw some of the flaws that he had when I saw tape on him. He has heart and is a good fighter, talented, but I knew I could take him into deep waters. That was our plan and it worked.”
Work it did, Yorgey scored a ninth round knockout after dropping Hearns in the fifth round. So after his success against Hearns on television and securing a deal with a known promoter, it was time for Yorgey to enhance his boxing education, insert Jack Loew. Loew who is best known for his work with middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik has a true test with Yorgey for their first fight together. Yorgey has relished working with Loew thus far. “He pushes me harder and harder. I’m just getting the natural part of Jack right now. His great eye for boxing, he makes me work on the little things that complete me as a fighter without trying to change my style at its core. I know his experience working the corner for big fights will come out Saturday night.”
So while things in his boxing career continues to progress. Yorgey has also continued to progress with his work helping his community outside of the ring, something that has bloomed into another passion. Saturday night will mark the seventh fight that Yorgey is fighting in order to contribute towards charity. After his last six fights, Yorgey has signed autographs and given signed memorabilia to auctions were the proceeds have all been donated. He also raises money each fight for one child that is suffering from a disease. Last fight it was a child suffering from cancer, on Saturday it is a close family friend who is battling leukemia.
In august of this year he was able to get Foreman Mills (a local clothing retailer) to donate forty thousand dollars worth of clothing vouchers. These vouchers were given out to in need families throughout Philadelphia so the children could receive new clothes for this school year.
Oh and those at risk youths that Yorgey constantly visits. As a reward for the children who have been getting high marks this school year. They will be able to see Yorgey in action this Saturday night in person. He is taking them with him to Connecticut as support and inspiration.
“God has given me the gift to fight, but it’s the gift that I receive knowing that I am helping people with my fighting talent. I am in a position to contribute; it’s the least I can do.”
Lighting Harry Joe Yorgey has come a long way. From construction and dressing as jolly old Saint Nick. From club shows and high school gymnasiums to two consecutive television appearances. An expanding community out reach portfolio later and Yorgey is aware that more resilience and time is going to be needed to obtain his ultimate two goals. “I want to start my own non profit organization.” Oh yeah and he also wants to one day be mentioned as not only a world champion junior middleweight, but also as the best pound for pound fighter in the world.
