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The ressurection of Billy Irwin
He had lost his Commonwealth Lightweight Championship to David Tetteh. He had lost two consecutive fights to unknown journeymen, Gerald Gray and Ahmed Santos. He was dismissed by fans and writers. He had reached that lonely time when a fighter must ask himself if he should continue with his profession, or find some other, safer source of income.
He chose to fight.
"I never thought of it as a comeback," said Irwin, "I hate the word comeback."
A handful of victories and six consecutive knockouts later, Irwin has indeed comeback, not only ressurecting his once sagging career, but setting himself up for an April title shot against reigning IBF Lightweight Champion, Paul Spadafora. All he has to do is keep on winning.
On Friday night at the Blue Horizon in Philadelphia PA, Irwin takes on Mexican lightweight Augusto Gamez. It's an important fight for Irwin. A must win if he hopes to fight for the title. So, for Irwin, 31, this fight is no different than the handful that preceeded it.
It's do or die.
In the harsh world of professional prizefighting, it's very rare that a fighter gets a second chance. Most of the time, a mere loss or two sends a contender swirling down a toilet bowl of has-beens, straight into the sewers of obscurity.
Billy "The Kid" Irwin was riding the momentum of that lonely downward spiral.
Then he came home.
Irwin's troubled time in the ring came after he left his hometown of Niagara Falls, Ontario in 1996 and moved into Toronto to train. It was a new environment for Irwin, one he didn't particularily feel at home in.
"I wasn't happy in Toronto," said Irwin, "I wasn't happy where I lived. I wasn't comfortable and it showed in my training and in my fights."
Irwin moved back home to Niagara Falls after losing to Ahmed Santos in May of 98, and was reunited with life-long trainer Pat Kelly Sr., and with the help of co-trainer and inspirational adviser Jack Villella, they started from scratch.
"They were considering retiring him and throwing in the towel," said Villella. "I watched him train and I told him, 'you're not through'.
Still, the reality of Irwin's fragile situation lies dangerously close to the surface, "If he loses anything now, the chance is gone," said Villella.
His opponent on Friday night, Augusto Gomez, is what trainer Jack Villella calls, "A tough Mexican." Not a world class opponent, but a tough, honest competitor.
" He comes to fight," said Villella, " but he's tailor made to get knocked out."
Irwin claims he knows little about Gamez, "I don't know much about the guy but it is a great opportunity for him," he said, "He's got a chance to knock off this blond kid from Canada. I can't let it happen."
According to Villella, Irwin is in the best shape of his life and he won't let anything stand in his way, "He's ready. He's worked his whole life. His whole life will come down to fighting for the title and winning it."
Billy "The Kid" Irwin knows that a boxers life is an unpredictable one. Your on top of the world one day and the next day your in the sewers.
"Like my trainer Pat Kelly always tells me," said Irwin, "If you lose...your yesterday's news. "I've got to win. I'll win""
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