Danny "Little Mac" McDermott

Danny McDermott (Born Daniel Eugene McDermott, June 10, 1979) is an American professional boxer. Nicknamed "Little Mac," McDermott turned professional in 2005. He

held the WBU Super Lightweight world championship and the WBC Silver Super Lightweight Asia title from 2014 to 2016. He is noted as being the protégé of the late great hall of fame boxing champion Arturo "Thunder" Gatti.

McDermott is also a filmmaker and producer who co-founded the New Jersey-based film company Palisades Motion Pictures.

Early Life

Born June 10, 1979, the second child to parents John J. McDermott, a former U.S. Marine and a New York telephone company linesman and Susan McDermott (nee Bruno). Although born in Teaneck, New Jersey, the McDermott family lived in the Yorkville section of New York City at the time of Danny’s birth. McDermott’s grandmother, Marge Bruno, owned a popular tavern in the Eastside neighborhood called The Tumble Inn. McDermott has one older brother, John W. McDermott, and an older half-sister, Suann McCarty.

After McDermott’s parents divorced in 1982, McDermott and his brother lived with their father in Fairview, New Jersey. With a busy work schedule, McDermott’s father enlisted his younger sister, Maureen Antonietti (nee McDermott), to care for young Danny during the week. He would move in with her and her family in North Bergen, NJ. As a child, McDermott was described as a "Hell raiser" by one of the Catholic school nuns who was his teacher. At a young age, he disregarded his academics and school rules. However, he fit in as a standout athlete, playing recreation football and baseball in North Bergen. He attended Paramus Catholic High School and played junior varsity football his freshman year. He was kicked out at the end of his freshman year. That summer McDermott started boxing in the North Bergen PAL. He would attend and later graduate Cliffside Park High School.

During high school McDermott’s boxing trainer, Jimmy Archer helped him land a job as an usher on Broadway at the City Center Theatre in New York City. While working on Broadway, McDermott met celebrities Paul Newman, John Amos, Patrick Swayze, Paul Sorvino, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Sharon Stone, Barishnokov, Sarah Jessica Parker and more. During that time, McDermott befriended John Coonan, son of New York Irish gangster Jackie Coonan.

At 17, McDermott enlisted in the Army National Guard and attended basic training and AIT in Ft. Jackson South Carolina.

AMATUER BOXING CAREER

In 1995 McDermott started training at the North Bergen PAL under the tutelage of former welterweight contender "Irish" Pat Murphy. McDermott lost his first two amateur fights. That same year he would relocate to Jersey City’s Rocky Marciano Gym, which was owned by Rocky’s brother Lou Marciano and popular boxing manager Al Certo. McDermott met former welterweight contender from the 1950s and highly regarded boxing manager, Jimmy Archer. Archer, from the Bronx, NY, was a popular fighter in the 1950s and 60s and managed his younger brother Joey Archer’s career. Joey fought for the middleweight world championship twice, losing against Emile Griffeth. Joey beat the likes of Dick Tiger, Hurricane Carter, and Sugar Ray Robinson. Jimmy Archer was fond of McDermott and started training him at then 16 years-old. Under Archer’s watch, McDermott moved training headquarters to 112th street & 1st Avenue in East Harlem, NY, at the Thomas Jefferson Rec Centers Gladiators Gym. McDermott excelled under Archer’s guidance and starting winning and rising in the ranks in the New York and New Jersey amateur boxing circuit. McDermott competed in the New York Golden Gloves tournament three times (1997, 98' and 99') . He was a two-time finalist in the NJ Diamond Glove Tournament (1996 and 2001) and was a finalist in the NJ Golden Gloves in 2004. During his amateur career, McDermott was fortunate to be a sparring partner for some big names in boxing at that time, including Junior Jones, Joe Gatti, Freddie Curiel, Chelo Diaz, Larry Barnes, and Rick Fraizer. In 2004 McDermott made the National Team for New Jersey and competed in the Cheo Aponte International Tournament in Caguas, Puerto Rico, where he took home a Bronze Medal.

PROFESSIONAL BOXING CAREER

In 2003, at the age of 23 years old, McDermott made the definitive decision that he wanted to turn professional. His trainer Jimmy Archer took ill a few years before, and McDermott had to find a new trainer and manager. He enlisted an old friend, Michael Skowronski, Arturo Gatti's 2nd Assistant trainer. At the time, Arturo Gatti was the most successful New Jersey fighter in boxing. McDermott became friendly with Skowronski in 1996 back at the Marciano boxing gym. Skowronski introduced a young McDermott to Gatti around that time. McDermott asked Skowronski to manage and train him for the pros. Skowronski had developed a year plan for McDermott before they made the jump to the professional ranks. After a successful amateur comeback, McDermott was ready. Skowronski sent McDermott to Vero Beach, Florida to meet and train with 2x world champion and trainer Buddy McGirt. McGirt agreed to train McDermott. He became Gatti's sparring partner and the two quickly became friends. Shortly after Gatti became his advisor.

UPCOMING PROSPECT

On January 29, 2005, McDermott made his professional debut in Atlantic City at the famed Boardwalk Hall on the Arturo Gatti vs. Jesse James Leija card. Before the fight, McDermott was billed as Gatti's protégé. Sportswriters showed up early to see McDermott in action. In Gatti-like fashion, McDermott got cut in the second round but dominated the action for four rounds and won a unanimous decision. Later that night Gatti would knockout Leija in the 6th round in the main event. The next day McDermott received favorable press. Mike Indri of thesweetscience.com described McDermott’s performance as "one of the most entertaining fights of the night" and described McDermott’s style as "truly crowd-pleasing." Five months later, on June 11, 2005, McDermott was back in the ring, this time at the most famous arena in all of sports, Madison Square Garden. He was on the undercard of junior welterweight world champion Miguel Cotto vs. Muhammad Abdullaev. McDermott had another bloody but successful night. McDermott got a nasty cut from a clash of heads in the second round. This made the Garden crowd alive with excitement. Seasoned cutman, Miguel Diaz stopped the excessive bleeding, and McDermott won another four-round unanimous decision. Again the favorable publicity came with it. Eastsideboxing.com wrote, "McDermott, bleeding heavily from the opening round seems to be following in the footsteps of another popular Main Events promoted fighter during his early days! I’m talking about boxing’s pound-4-pound "most exciting" fighter, Arturo Gatti." From there, McDermott built up his record to 7-1-1; his only loss at the time was in his sixth fight, a controversial decision in Reading, Pennsylvania, in what was later voted "The Pennsylvania Fight of the Year" in 2007 by fightnews.com. He would win his next four bouts, including a huge second-round knockout victory of Italian lightweight and former IBF Mediterranean lightweight champion, Folriano Pagliara (9-2,7kos) in 2009. He seemed to be well on his way to the top. He lived in a condo in Ft. Lee, NJ with his fiancé and newborn son Daniel Jr.

HIATUS FROM BOXING

Two months after McDermott’s victory, on July 11, 2009, Arturo Gatti was found dead in Ipojuca, Brazil. This devastated McDermott and his next scheduled fight was canceled. Later that month, McDermott’s uncle Larry Antionetti who helped raise McDermott died suddenly from a heart attack. McDermott went on hiatus from boxing for the rest of the year. WBF AMERICAS TITLE Seven months after the death of his mentor Gatti and his uncle, McDermott would continue where he left off after the Pagliara fight. He had a shot at the vacant WBF Americas lightweight championship against undefeated New York State lightweight champion Brian Miller. Some in McDermott’s camp thought he should have taken an easier fight coming back after a 10-month layoff. Still, McDermott insisted he was ready for the challenge. The match was held on March 25, 2010, in McDermott’s hometown in North Bergen, NJ, at the Schuetzen Park Ballroom. From the opening bell to the final bell, it was an all-out war. It was a very close competitive fight. In the end, Brian Miller walked away the WBF Americas champion after two of the three judges voted for Miller to earn a split decision victory. Respected sportswriter for the Bergen Record, Keith Idec, saw McDermott winning the fight by a round. With the disappointing loss McDermott left boxing again. By the end of 2010, the McDermott vs. Miller fight was awarded "The Garden State Fight of the Year" by fightnews.com and several other boxing publications. People wanted to see more of the exciting boxer from North Bergen nicknamed "Little Mac."

ROUGH YEARS

2010 to 2013 proved to be tough years for McDermott. Not only did he split with Skowronski and the rest of his original team, but he also split up with the mother of his two children and moved into a friend’s apartment in the Bronx NY. His boxing record since the loss to Miller was a lowly 1-2-1. During these years, he suffered more losses that drove him into a dark depression. In May of 2011, McDermott lost his aunt, Maureen Antonietti. In October of 2012, his mother Susan Bruno died, and in September of 2013, McDermott’s father passed away from liver cancer. McDermott’s boxing record was 9-4-2, and his career stood at a standstill. McDermott had a falling out with promoter Sal Alessi of Bayonne NJ. Alessi refused to let McDermott out of his contract and refused to get him a fight aswell. After a meeting with Hell’s Kitchen business associates of McDermott, John Coonan, and Sean Cummiskey, Alessi released McDermott from his contract.

COMEBACK

In 2014, refocused and rededicated, he took the reigns as his own manager. He hired longtime boxing manager and trainer Tommy Gallagher and best friend John Coonan as advisers. He enlisted Mike "Mikey Rod" Rodriguez as his head trainer. He went to a training camp in Coconut Creek, Florida, at the American Top Team training facility. In July 2014, McDermott traveled to General Santos City, Philippines to battle against Jesar Ancajas, brother of world champion Jerwin Ancajas. McDermott won the fight in the first round due to a disqualification. Ancajas deliberately head-butted McDermott twice in the first two minutes of the round, causing two bad cuts over the left eye. McDermott was awarded the victory. WBU WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP & WBC SILVER TITLE BOUT In September 2014, McDermott was invited back to the Philippines by promoter JC Manangquil and SanMan Promotions to fight as the co-main event on the card billed the "Battle of the Pentagon." McDermott would fight for the WBU Light Welterweight world title and WBC Silver Super Lightweight Asia title against former Manny Pacquiao sparring partner Ronnell Esparass. McDermott had longtime assistant trainer of Pacquiao, Restituto "Buboy" Fernandez working his corner along with the late New Jersey cutman, Alessandro Paterno. McDermott would win the fight with a 6th round knockout. Esparass was floored four times throughout the fight. With the win, McDermott became the first U.S. citizen to win a world championship on Filipino soil. He also became the first world champion from North Bergen NJ since James J. Braddock. He added his name to the list of WBU Light Welterweight Champions that include "Irish" Mickey Ward, Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton and Joey Gamache.

BOXING PROMOTER

In March of 2015, McDermott promoted the first professional show at the Jersey City Armory in 18 years, aptly named "Fists of the Fighting Irish." He was initially the main event on the card, but he tore his rotator cuff while training weeks berore the event. FIGHT IN IRELAND McDermott fought at middleweight in December of 2015 in Newtonards, Northern Ireland, against journeyman Dmitrijs Ovsjannikovs of Latvia. He dominated every round on the scorecards and won a unanimous decision. This was McDermott’s final fight. He re-injured his shoulder a few months later and has since unofficially retired. JAMES J.BRADDOCK STATUE In 2016, McDermott and architect, David Sepulveda created a 12-page detailed plan to erect a statue of James J. Braddock in the Hudson County Park that was named after the former champion, along with a Braddock Museum. The plan was delivered to North Bergen Freeholder, Anthony Vaineiri. In September of 2018 the James J. Braddock statue was unveiled in the park.

FILM CAREER

In 1998, When McDermott returned from his Army training, he started to become interested in acting, screenwriting and filmmaking. McDermott’s cousin is actor and screenwriter Paul Diomede. He attended the New York Film Academy for a year under his cousin’s advice. His first acting job was in 1999 on the Comedy Central series Upright Citizens Brigade, where he shared the screen with SNL star Amy Poehler. After he graduated NYFA in 2001, he worked as a 2nd Assistant Director on the Alex Shaoul film End of the Line, which starred Mark Margolis, Vinny Vella, David Lynch and Geoff Wigdor. In 2009 McDermott had roles in various short films such as Lion, which was nominated for best short at the NoHu Film Festival and was in Ricardo Lorenzo's 2010 noir short film Hudson, where he played Private Detective, Jack Winter. In 2010, McDermott had a small role in the Allen Cognata feature Putt Putt Syndrome, which starred Jason London, David Chokachi and Robert Maschio. In 2014, McDermott directed a short film called All Points West, which starred Luis Vaniera from A Bronx Tale fame. In 2016 McDermott teamed up with Danny Provenzano, appearing in the series Manhattan Kansas. In 2019, McDermott was in another Provenzano production called The Final Tour, in which McDermott played a police detective. McDermott's two children, Danny Jr. and Kain, made their acting debuts in this film. He is currently producing the forthcoming animated series Wise Guys & Whackjobs, another Provenzano production. PALISADES MOTION PICTURES In 2014 McDermott formed Palisades Motion Pictures Film Company with his brother John McDermott and filmmaker Dean Luis Chuqie. Their first production was a YouTube music series called The Carriage House. In 2020 the company produced the foreign film Every Color But Green, a film that was shot all on location in Peru. It was directed by Chuqie and was written by McDermott.

AWARDS

2005 "Prospect of the Year"- awarded by brickcityboxing.com 2007 "Pennsylvania Fight of the Year"- awarded by gardenstatefightnews.com 2009 "NJ Knockout of the Year"- awarded by gardenstatefightnews.com 2010 "NJ Fight of the Year"- awarded by boxrec.com & gardenstatefightnews.com 2014 "Fighter of the Year"- World Boxing Union 2014 "Joe Louis Award"- awarded by the Joe Louis Foundation 2014 "Rocky of the Year"- awarded by NY Ring 8 Foundation 2014 "Knockout of the Year"- World Boxing Union 2014 Proclamation by the Township of North Bergen for his achievements in Professional Boxing 2015 Resolution by the Hudson County Board of Free Holders for achievements in Professional boxing

PERSONAL LIFE

In 2002, McDermott became a member of the McManus Democratic Club , the oldest Democratic club and the last of the Tammany era. In 2007, McDermott briefly dated Brazilian supermodel Pamela Dos Santos. In 2008, McDermott began dating Anette Rutkiewicz, an aspiring actress at the time. The two dated for four years and had two children, Daniel Jr. and Kain McDermott. They split up in 2012. In 2014, McDermott briefly dated African model Sani Binta after he became world champion. In 2016 McDermott co-owned the Emerald Isle Industrial Piping Company, in Queens NY, with John Coonan and Damjan Stanivukovic. In July of 2019, McDermott opened the first "Little Mac Boxing" Gym in North Bergen, NJ. In 2020 McDermott opened Speak Easy Sound Studio and co-founded "Speakeasy Music Productions" with partner Yancy Martinez.

ANCESTRY

McDermott’s heritage consists of Irish and Italian ancestors who settled in America during the 19th and 20th centuries. His family lineage dates back to the ruling dynasty of Molyurg. This kingdom existed in Connacht (present-day Roscommon, Ireland) from the 10th to 16th century and is a direct descendent of the last ruling king Tadhg MacDiarmada. McDermott’s paternal grandfather, Bernard "Barney" McDermott, born in Donegal Ireland, became a prominent Chicago speakeasy owner during the prohibition era after a childhood as an orphan and early life as an indentured servant. During the 1920s, he purchased liquor through Bugs Moran and Al Capone. McDermott is related to Henry McCarty, the wild west outlaw known as "Billy The Kid" through his half-sister, Suann McCarty. McDermott is related to former Illinois Senator, DL "Whitey" Cronin, through marriage to his second cousin James McDermott. James McDermott was roommates with General Colin Powell in the Army in the 1960s. McDermott is also related to Philadelphia Mob boss Angelo Bruno (4th cousin once removed) through his maternal grandfather William Bruno.

References

Beck, Ph.D., George. "Featured Interview - World Champion Boxer Danny McDermott". Blue Magazine.

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