Former world champion’s journey from hopelessness to hall of fame
From 3A
same day after I had buried her I got a phone call telling me they got me the world title fight but I had to return to Australia right away. I flew back and I trained my butt off.”
He fought for the world title in Johannesburg, South Africa against South African Cassius Boloyi who had held the IBF and IBO titles for a while. “The night I fought for the world title, it didn’t matter who was in front of me. I had to win. I will never forget this, in the 12th round, Johnny Lewis said, ‘Son, you see that little light in the ceiling? That is your mom looking down on you.’ I got in the ring and man that was it. At the end of the fight, I heard what every fighter wants to hear, ‘and the new…’ (laughter). It was the most joyful and the happiest moment in my life. I had the Guyana flag on one leg and the Australian flag on the other as a sign of respect for the opportunity that country gave me. I wasn’t an Australian citizen.”
The fight in South Africa, St Clair said, was only for one reason. “They wanted me to lose, to get beaten because Boloyi was unbeaten. I had only one shot. There was no second chance. I did what I had to do.”
Biggest
disappointment
After winning the world titles, St Clair and his girlfriend joined Lewis for coffee and biscuits then went to bed.
“There was no celebration. No one from Guyana telephoned to say congratulations or anything. If anyone had said, ‘I want you to come home,’ I would have jumped on a plane. I represented Guyana. My parents and grandparents are all Guyanese and to know where I born and grow, I wasn’t even recognised. Before winning the world titles I medalled and represented Guyana as best as I could. Listen, I love my country but it is a ruthless, disappointing place, man. I always thought that when I became world champion there was going to be a big change in my life. The biggest disappointment for me was never getting any recognition from the Guyana government after winning the world championships. They gave other boxers house and land. I got nothing.”
After winning the world titles, St Clair was given Australian citizenship and with it the benefits of becoming an Australian,
including an Australian passport. “All I did was
sign. They took me into this country and made me who I am. I get more love in this country than my own and they treat me like a god. In Guyana nobody gives a crap about me.”
His disappointment did not stop him from helping others in Guyana. “I helped other boxers to come to Australia. They find their feet and the majority migrate to America. I love my country Guyana. In Guyana you could have all the talent in the world but without the support it means crap. There are a lot of talented children in Guyana. The one that has support and looks good gets the chance. The one who is really good and has no support falls by the wayside. I was one without support but I refused to be, a wannabe. I begged and I borrowed so much I can’t even say who helped me. I think I begged everybody I knew in Guyana and that is why I never forget where I came from. I send stuff home for the guys at the gym, not for publicity but because I want to help.”
After winning the world titles, he married his girlfriend but the marriage lasted only four months. She went to the US and stayed there. “I was heartbroken,” he recalled. He eventually met someone else and that relationship ended after 15 years and three children. He has eight children.
After his first heartbreak, with no money and nothing going for him, St Clair found himself in the Australian social welfare system where apart from receiving handouts he was enrolled in a night school programme to learn to read, write and get other literacy skills. “It was hard at first but slowly I learned how to read and write at 25 years.”
After losing the IBF and IBO titles, he became depressed and started drinking. With encouragement from friends and reflecting on his life, he stopped and has not drank any alcohol for 15 years. “Since I stopped drinking my life has been better. I opened my own gym, Gairy St Clair Boxing Fitness Gym and I have been in business for the past six years.”