Chatting with the champ - Canada's Ian MacKillop

He was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, earned his stripes, and built his reputation, fighting in the United States, travelled the world over to take on some of boxing’s best and now resides in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. His passport is well used, he was a tough, talented and entertaining fighter and he has a career he should look back on with great pride.

Former super welterweight Ian MacKillop turned pro in 2000 and by the time he hung up the gloves a decade later would boast a resume that read 25-12-3 (14 KO’s) over 40-bouts and a had a earned a reputation as a rugged and talented brawler who would, and did, face some very good fighters.

Turning pro in the warm climes of Phoenix, Arizona, in 2000, MacKillop, based out of Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, he would run off 21 fights between 2000 and 2004 going an impressive 18-3. After relocating back to Canada in 2004, he would fight 19 more times facing some of Canada’s best talent.

MacKillop would face the likes of world title challenger Sebastian Demers, along with Stephane Desormiers, with whom he would draw with in a bid for the Canadian super welterweight title and battle Canadian champion Bryon Mackie.

During this run of his career, he also made 3 international trips including facing future world champion Daniel Geale in Australia, BBB of C welterweight champion Adnan Amar in England and a stoppage win over local hero, and former would title challenger, Shannon Taylor in Australia.

After his last fight in New Brunswick, Canada in 2010, MacKillop had decided it was time to move to the safe side of the ropes and he retired. Since retiring, he has opened up the Donnybrook Gym in Montreal, where he is working with some of Canada’s best prospects.

As friendly and engaging out of the ring, as he was tough and talented in it, Maxboxing had a chance to catch up with MacKillop for a quick chat to look back on his career.

Bill Tibbs: Hi Ian, how are you? Thanks for taking a minute to chat.

Ian MacKillop: Hey Bill, no problem. How are you doing?

BT: Good, thanks. So, tell me about your amateur career.

IM: I reached a pretty high level as an amateur; did pretty well. I won a bronze at the 1996 nationals. I enjoyed the amateurs but by the end I was done with the amateurs.

BT: Were you thinking of going pro after?

IM: No, not at all. I applied for the police force and went through the training almost to the end and then I said, ‘this isn’t for me”. I left and ended up working down in Tucson, Arizona. It was down there where I found a gym, started working out, and thought maybe I’ll have a pro fight. I got connected to a guy named Scott Mailing who handled a lot of my career and he helped me out with a pro fight and I just went from there.

BT: So, you turn pro in 2000 and you are off and running? Was Mailing able to help you get fights?

IM: You know Bill, looking back he really was great to me and he got me great fights on great cards. He was very connected, and he really did a lot for me. I mean in my second fight I’m fighting for promoters America Presents, The Goosens; future world champion Mauricio Pastrana in the main event. This is my second fight. Then I’m 5-0 and I’m fighting on the undercard of Shane Mosley against Shannon Taylor at Caesars palace in Las Vegas. A few fights later, I’m fighting at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on the Kostya Tszyu versus Zab Judah undercard. I had always dreamed of going to a fight at the MGM Grand, and here I am now fighting there; it was quite surreal. My manager was very connected, and he helped me a great deal.

BT: You connect with Freddie Roach at the Wildcard and he becomes your trainer.

IM: Yes. I got sort of like an audition with him. He puts me in with a rough guy named, I think it was Pat Dominguez; tough, solid guy. Anyway, I’m doing ok, but not great. I can kind of sneak a look at Freddie a few times and he sems like he is losing interest, not really paying attention. Anyway, as the sparring goes on, I land some solid shots and he sees I have some power. Anyway, we spoke after. He liked my guts and power and said there were lots of things to work on, but he agreed to train me.

BT: How was your Wildcard experience?

IM: Well, it was great in many ways. I mean Freddie isn’t the guy he is today, he wasn’t as well known then as a star trainer, he was very well known but not to the level he is now. But he was good to me, he taught me a lot, helped me out with equipment in the beginning when I was just starting out. Manny Pacquiao was just starting out around that same time. He and I used to train everyday right beside each other, I used to see him every day. Manny wasn’t the superstar he later became; he was just a quiet guy training in the corner (chuckles).

BT: You must see, and learn, a lot just being in that atmosphere.

IM: Lots of good fighters were there all the time, guys Freddie was training; James Toney was there, Juan Lazcano, lots of very good fighters. You remember Lazcano?

BT: Of course, one of boxing’s great nicknames – ‘The Hispanic Causing Panic’. You look back on your career and you really fought some very good fighters. You fought Kermit Cintron in 2003.

IM: Very strong, tough guy. Good fighter. We became friends. He is one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet, and he has done very well in real estate away from boxing; a smarty guy.

BT: After 23 fights, 4-years living in California, you drop a bout to Manuel Gomez in Texas. He was no slouch by the way, he fought for the world title 3 fights later. Anyway, you decide to head back to Canada.

IM: Yes, I decide it’s time. In all honesty, I was probably done physically, and somewhat mentally, at that time but I liked boxing and I still wanted to continue.

BT: Who was training you back home?

IM: Howard Grant was training me.

BT: Well, you have some great fights in Canada at that time. And, during this stretch you slip in a win over former world title challenger Shannon Taylor in Australia.

IM: Yeah, I had some good trips and some good fights. I got Taylor at the right time. He was on the downside of his career, so it was good time for me to fight him.

BT: Nice trip back to Sydney, Australia to fight future world champion Daniel Geale.

IM: Yeah, you know those last few fights I really wasn’t even in the gym, but I love to travel, and the money was pretty good, so I jumped at the chance.

BT: Any regrets?

IM: You know looking back, I don’t have a lot. I got to do what I wanted to do, I got to meet some great people, I got to go on some great trips around the world and I love to travel so what a better way to do it. I wish I had listened to Freddie a bit more about the sparring. He said, “you are sparring too much”. I was in camp week after week with Vernon Forrest, Kermit Cintron, lots of top guys and it took its toll. Freddie isn’t a guy to say a lot, he says something once and if you choose to listen, then fine, otherwise he won’t be mentioning it again. He said to me, “a fighter’s legs are the first thing to go” and I can see it now, but I didn’t see it then. I could feel it but I wanted to keep fighting so I chose to ignore it I guess.

BT: In terms of the wear and tear on you from boxing, do you think it was the fights that caught up with you or the sparring?

IM: No question, it was the sparring.

BT: Hardest puncher you ever aced?

IM: Vernon Forrest. Sparring with him, I have never ever been hit that hard. His right hand was really something.

BT: Best fighter you ever faced?

IM: For me it was probably Shannon Taylor. I got him at the right time and beat him, but he would have been the best fighter, maybe for pure talent, that I faced.

BT: How is your gym (The Donnybrook Gym) in Montreal?

IM: We have some very good prospects, some real good fighters both pro and amateur. It’s going well. As I have gotten older, I love boxing more because I understand it so much better now. I understand the game now so much better than I used to. I still love boxing, so I love what I am doing.

BT: Ian, you had a great career, you really did. I could talk for hours and hear your stories. But, thanks so much for taking the time to chat; it was great catching up.

IM: For sure Bill, we’ll go for a beer next time we see each other.