Al Gavin, universally recognized as one of top cut men in boxing, died last Thursday at Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. Gavin, a former resident of Woodside, suffered a stroke on June 29 in his Bethpage home and had not been responding to tests during
Before making his name mending the cuts of some of the best fighters in boxing, Gavin worked as a landscaper for the Parks Department. He fought as an amateur, and cut his teeth as a trainer and cut man hanging out at Stillman’s Gym and the Gramercy Gym in Manhattan.
As a cut man, Gavin worked with former heavyweight champion, Lennox Lewis, Oscar De La Hoya and Mickey ward. As a trainer, he guided Eric Harding to a title fight with Roy Jones Jr. Gavin, always noted for his compassion, stopped the bout before the 11th round because Harding tore a muscle in his left bicep.
