Remembering a true champion: Jimmy Glenn

The news the boxing world didn’t want to hear, sadly, broke this morning – the passing of New York fight legend, Jimmy Glenn. The former trainer and cut man, who was most famous for his hole in the wall tavern on 44th Street in Manhattan, and was a much-loved boxing figure, was in his 90th year.

Word broke a while back that he had caught the Corona virus and was struggling in a New York hospital. Fans and friends were kept updated by his son Adam, a New York attorney, who walked away from his law practice to help out his father at the legendary watering hole after the passing of Glenn’s wife Swanny in 2014.

Frank Sinatra, Michael Jordan, Sammy Davis Jr., Robert DeNiro, and pretty much every legendary fight figure the world has even known, were just a few of the stars that had the pleasure of hoisting a pint at Jimmy’s. The bar, covered in classic fight photo’s, was indeed built on character. As Jimmy himself said in a New York news piece on him, and his bar, a few years back, “I’m never going to be a billionaire, it’s too late for that. So, I sell three-dollar beers”.

Tributes to Jimmy, who described boxing as “my first love” and “this bar” as his second, poured onto social media when the news broke.

Here are just a few.

“My heart is broken right now. Jimmy Glenn was more than a friend to me; he was my family. Along with my late Dad, Jimmy was the best man I have ever known. He was a source of unconditional love and support in my life for 30 years”. – Lou DiBella

“A legend of boxing has heard his final bell. Jimmy Glenn has passed at 90 years of age. One of the first things I will do, whenever it is possible, will be to visit Jimmy’s corner in New York City and pay tribute to such a great human being” – Mauricio Suilaiman

“Sad to hear of the death of Jimmy Glenn. A great figure in boxing and a wonderful man” – Al Bernstein

“Today I (and so many others) am heartbroken. The legendary Jimmy Glenn — one of the loveliest people on our planet — has passed. His Jimmy’s Corner is a New York and boxing landmark, a place of camaraderie and comfort for decades. RIP dear Jimmy Red heart and thank you for being YOU!” – Mark Taffet

“Sad day. No more updates Woke up to message from Adam Glenn that his father Jimmy, everyone’s Daddy, is gone. Jimmy Glenn, 89, fought the good fight and NYC and boxing lost a great man. I have no further words to describe our beloved owner of Jimmy’s Corner. RIP, buddy” – Bruce Trampler

“Rest in Peace to Jimmy Glenn, a great human being who will be missed by many” – Steve Kim

“Terrible news, Jimmy Glenn passed away. A fine man and a stalwart supporter of boxing and fighters. Owner of Jimmy’s Corner Tavern in New York City, Jimmy trained countless fighters and was a great friend to all NYC boxing visitors. As good a man as you could ever know”- Pete Susens

“The Top Rank family extends its deepest condolences to the family of Jimmy Glenn, an integral and much beloved member of the boxing community as a friend to so many, a trainer, cut man, manager and the long-time owner of Jimmy’s Corner in New York City” – Top Rank Boxing

“I know everyone remembers Jimmy for Jimmy’s Corner, the bar, but he was also a very good cut man and trainer. He was such a nice guy” – Kevin Iole.

“Very sad news today that NY boxing Icon Jimmy Glenn owner of famous Jimmy’s Corner Bar has passed from Cov19. Jimmy has been a part of boxing history long before his bar. Ever since he opened in 1971 the bar became a stopping point in Times Square for boxing fans across the globe. I’m lucky to have gotten the chance to know him. My prayers to his son Adam and family. Boxing lost a champ. RIP Jimmy” – Steve Feder

“Very sorry to hear about the passing of Jimmy Glenn, a legend who had so many boxing stories. It was mandatory for us to go to Jimmy’s Corner to see him and have a drink whenever we were in NYC for a show. Rest in Peace” – Tom Loeffler

Interviewed a couple years ago, long-time New York boxing man Lou DiBella, who loved Jimmy dearly, summed him up best.

“There aren’t a lot of guys left like Jimmy, and it’s sad, because the Jimmy Glenn’s of the world are the best we have”.

Asked why his son Adam would walk away from a lucrative law practice to come and run the bar after his wife passed, Jimmy simply said, “because he loves me”.

We all did Jimmy. Rest in peace champ!