Khaleel Majid pushing on under influential Buddy McGirt, tips from Callum Smith
Jan 14, 2026
3 min read
After injury and inactivity, junior welterweight hopeful Khaleel Majid tells The Ring he believes 2026 is finally the year he takes a long-awaited leap aged 28, courtesy of influential trainer Buddy McGirt as well as tips from former world super middle...
On the first floor of an old mill on the outskirts of Bolton sits Elite Boxing.
The gym - run by former professional and boxing aficionado, Alex Matvienko - may not be as famous as others around Greater Manchester but it is a hub of activity.
It is also a regular home to Hall of Famer Buddy McGirt.
The former two-weight world champion has been overseeing the progress of unbeaten junior welterweight hopeful Khaleel Majid for almost three years.
McGirt isn't a permanent fixture at the gym but his influence lingers. Majid still remembers the very first detail McGirt taught him when they began working together.
"The jab," Majid (16-0, 4 KOs) told The Ring.
"It was nothing fancy, that's what surprised me the most. It was just basic boxing.
"Sometimes you can get lost on the flashy padwork and stuff like that but it was just basic punches. I remember for the first five or six weeks, we did nothing but just throw the jab. Then the jab and a one-two."
Whilst McGirt is away, the rangy Majid and Matvienko spend their time perfecting the basics but he also benefits from spending time with another of the American's British fighters.
The Ring’s No. 3-ranked light heavyweight Callum Smith has been working with McGirt at his Liverpool base for years.
Smith stands well over six feet tall but is possibly even more effective at close quarters than he is at distance.
Majid is currently focused on utilising his physical advantages but also spends as much time as he can learning from the former super middleweight champion.
"Sometimes I get to the gym early just to watch him shadow box," Majid said.
"I always ask him, 'How do you throw this kind of shot?' It's always good to take bits and pieces off him.
"I think he's perfect for me to watch and study from because, as crazy as it is, Callum doesn't like keeping it long. He's a very good inside fighter. I just watch him every day. Every time he throws a shot, his range, his footwork, his distance.
"I just like watching him and keep adding it to my arsenal."
A fighter never stops learning but Majid is now 28 years old and the time has come to start putting his gym work into practice.
Back in 2023 - just a few months after linking up with McGirt - he took apart the experienced Tom Farrell inside seven rounds.
Injury and inactivity prevented him from capitalising on that win but last year, he got his foot back in the door and notched a 10-round win over the previously-undefeated Alex Murphy on the Joe Joyce-Filip Hrgovic undercard on April 5.
Despite spending most of his time on small hall shows, Majid has managed to build a large fan base and that - coupled with his ability and connections - will guarantee he gets the opportunity to really make his mark on the junior welterweight division.
"In 2023 after I beat Farrell, there were things that obviously were meant to materialise and unfortunately didn’t," he said.
"I had to rebuild. No disrespect but Alex Murphy, everyone keeps saying it was a win. I knew I was gonna beat him but you know when you have that fear factor that makes you perform? I wanted that and couldn't get it.
"When you've been inactive for a while, it plays a part while you're training. Any fighter will tell you being active is a big, crucial thing in this sport but I've had that win and I'm pushing on now."
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