Veteran trainer Aroz ‘Terrific’ Gist passes at 54
Aroz “Terrific” Gist, one of New Jersey’s leading pro trainers over the past two decades, passed away this weekend at the age of 54.
The news was confirmed by several boxing figures in the area, including New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame President Henry Hascup, telling NJBoxingNews, “He always loved working with the fighters, and they loved him as well. He will be missed in so many ways.”
A short but aggressive southpaw in the style of Joe Frazier, Gist began boxing out of Paterson’s Silk City Boxing Club in 1984, traveling the country as an amateur and competing in national tournaments such as the Ohio State Fair and the Iowa State Boxing Tournament, as well as cards in Puerto Rico. His greatest achievement in the adult ranks came in April of 1988, when he stopped Jesse Chavers in the second round to win the 139-pound open New Jersey Golden Gloves title. Gist competed in about 140 bouts, in divisions as high as 178 pounds.
“He was a good, little fighter, tough as nails,” Paterson trainer Joe Grier told the Herald-News of Gist in a 2007 story. “He was a puncher, but he was kind of slick. He could move around. He probably would’ve been one of the best pros to come out of our area.”
A graduate of Paterson’s Kennedy High School, Gist set aside his pro dreams after working his first amateur corner as a trainer in 2000 at the suggestion of veteran coach Diego Rosario. Gist recalled in the aforementioned Herald-News article how training an amateur named Troy Perry was the turning point in his career.
“Once I did it, I really had a passion for it. I’m like, ‘I could do this, man,’” recalled Gist. “I was like, ‘Wow! This is what I want to do.’”
His greatest success would come while working with professionals, most notably Kendall Holt. Holt, a talented amateur and budding pro who often disagreed with coaches, began working with Gist in 2002. Though the two often voiced their disagreements in the gym, Gist was able to get the most out of Holt’s ability, leading him to the WBO junior welterweight title in 2008 with a first-round KO of Ricardo Torres. Holt made one successful defense before losing a competitive unification bout against Tim Bradley Jr. the following year.
“Terrific was the glue that held me and my career together,” Holt told NJBoxingNews. “He was more than a trainer; he was like an older brother to me. I don’t think I would have been champion of the world without him believing in me and pushing me every day. He will be missed.”
Though Gist was an understated, Xs and Os type of coach, not the type to make headlines with his words, his performances earned praise from those in the community. After Holt’s 2008 title retaining win over Demetrius Hopkins, Hall of Fame manager Lou Duva, who knew what goes into being a good cornerman, told the Herald-News, “I thought ‘Terrific’ did a great job in the corner. He understands that most of this is mental. You have to get guys to have confidence in what you’re telling them.”
Among the other boxers he worked with were Ossie Duran (who is now head trainer at Ike and Randy’s), Richard Pierson, Shaun George, Maureen Shea, Vivian Harris, Elise Soto, John Magda, Patrick Farrell, Michael Angelo Perez and Nicky Vitone, plus Polish fighters Mariusz Wach and Pawel Wolak during a stint as head trainer at North Bergen’s Global Boxing Gym.
His last world champion was Paterson’s Shadasia Green, and Gist was in her corner last month when she lost her IBF and WBO super middleweight titles to Lani Daniels at Madison Square Garden.
Other fighters he had been working with at the time of his passing were Kahshad Elliot and Kirc Bargamento.
George said Gist’s influence would continue through the fighters and trainers he mentored.
“He was genuine, he loved the sport of boxing. Things that I’ve learned from him will go on,” said George, whom Gist helped train as a pro and remained close with after George followed his path into training.
“We would always talk over text messages after every single one of our fights that we had. We were always going back and forth on text, critiquing and giving advice. He’s gonna be missed.”