Remembering Connecticut boxing's Mac Buckley

Word broke recently that Hartford, Connecticut manager, promoter and trainer Francis McCann (“Mac”) Buckley passed away at the age of 81.

Mac grew up in Westchester County, New York but gained fame as one of boxing’s true characters during his time working with fighters in the Hartford area. He earned a law degree from Georgetown University, and he was as comfortable performing in the courtroom as he was in the world of boxing. He was truly larger than life and attracted as much of the limelight as the fighters he worked with.

Buckley was well known for training Connecticut boxing stars like world welterweight champion Marlon Starling, world title challenger John Scully, and contender Troy Wortham, during an impressive run in the 1970’s and 1980’s when he was the go-to guy for Hartford area contenders.

Buckley lived a life that was interesting to say the least. A flamboyant character in the courtroom, and the world of boxing, he disappeared for seven weeks in the spring of 1999. He later resurfaced, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, convicted of larceny and sentenced to time in prison.

MaxBoxing caught up with former world contender Scully, from his home in Hartford, Connecticut to get his thoughts on his former trainer.

“Oh, Mac was indeed larger than life”, said Scully with a chuckle. “I mean when this guy was in court, the clerks would arrange their schedule so they would be working that day so they could see him in action, it was like watching him perform, his courtroom appearances were legendary”, he said. “He loved the limelight, he loved centre stage”.

When asked how Scully, a hot prospect coming out of the U.S.A. amateur program, connected with him, it was clear Mac was, for a time, the guy for Hartford fighters.

“He was watching me in the Olympic trials, and he saw me at the Nationals and all that, so I knew he had an eye on me. But, I had been shown some interest by the Petronelli brothers and Ray Leonard’s team and a few others. But I had seen what Mac had done with Troy (Wortham) and Tyrone Booze and Marlon (Starling). I mean if you grew up in the Hartford area, he was the guy, he was pretty legendary around here. And, he had done a good job with a lot of fighters, so he seemed a natural for me”, he said. 

While Scully appreciated what Mac did in their time together, he did have some frustrations with him that ultimately, like Starling, led to their relationship ending.

“Mac was very stubborn”, said Scully. “He was very old school, he believed in the original divisions in boxing, none of this ‘super’ this, or ‘junior’ that”, he said. “I had been having trouble making 165 for 2 years before I turned pro, but he insisted I fight at 160 or 175. I couldn’t really make 160, healthy any ways, and I was too small for 175, so we always had that weight issue between us. But, I will say this, he got me on TV on ESPN 9 months after I turned pro and in a one year span, 1989-90, got me 4 TV fights”, he said. “He was dialed in with Ronnie Katz and (Bob) Arum, he knew the guys who had pull, he could get things done. I had my opinions on him as a trainer, especially as I look back, but as a manger and promoter, he was as good as anyone out there; he was great”.

While Scully’s relationship was forged through boxing, he, like others, were more than aware of what a character Mac was.

“Oh man, the stories I could tell about him”. he said with a laugh. “This guy was really larger than life, in everything he did”, he said. “Everybody used to call him the ‘Perry Mason of Hartford’. When he disappeared, and believe me there were all sorts of rumors going around about where he was or what happened to him, he was on ‘America’s Most Wanted’ TV program. They had me on, I was on the show, I was interviewed”, he said with a chuckle. “I mean when I think back, I really just remember him as such a larger than life character, he loved the fight game, he loved everything about it and he also loved performing in court. The guy was a showman”.

Rest in Peace, Mac.