Quick Info
| Profession | Former Professional Boxer |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Irish, British |
| Date of Birth | 28/02/1961 |
| Age | 65 years |
| Birthplace | Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland |
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Bio/Wiki
| Earned Name | The Clones Cyclone |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Finbar Patrick "Barry" McGuigan |
| Boxing Debut | Barry Vs Selvin Bell (two technical knockout (TKO) rounds) in Dublin on 10 May 1981 |
| Total Fights | 35 |
| Wins | 32 |
| Wins by KO | 28 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Medal & Award |
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| Notable Achievements |
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Physical Stats & More
| Height | 5' 6" (168 cm) |
|---|---|
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Hair Color | Grey (semi-bald) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
Personal Life
| Religion | Christianity (Roman Catholic) |
|---|---|
| Food Habit | Non-vegetarian |
| Hobbies |
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Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Married |
|---|---|
| Marriage Date | 14/12/1981 |
Family
| Father | Pat Mc |
|---|---|
| Mother | Kate Mc |
| Siblings |
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| Spouse | Sandra Mealiff |
| Children |
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Career
| Overview | Barry McGuigan began boxing as an amateur, progressing to professional boxing in 1981. His early career was marked by notable wins, including the British Featherweight title and the European Featherweight title. He reached the pinnacle of his career in 1985 when he defeated Eusebio Pedroza to win the WBA Featherweight championship at Queen's Park Rangers Stadium in London before a crowd of nearly 26,000. He successfully defended his title twice before losing to Steve Cruz in 1986 in extreme heat at Caesars Palace. After retiring in 1989 with a 32-3 record, he transitioned into a successful career as a television commentator, boxing correspondent, and boxing promoter. He was instrumental in founding the Professional Boxers Association between 1987 and 1990 and served as its president. |
|---|---|
| Post-Retirement | Television commentator, boxing correspondent, boxing promoter, founding Chairman of the Professional Boxing Association |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Barry's father often sang 'Danny Boy' prior to his matches, which inspired the song 'If Daddy Don’t Sing Danny Boy.' | |
| 2. He won the All-Ireland Amateur Championship in 1976 by beating Martin Brereton. | |
| 3. McGuigan represented Northern Ireland in the 1978 Commonwealth Games. | |
| 4. He became a UK citizen to qualify for British titles in boxing. | |
| 5. Barry began his boxing career at Wattlebridge Amateur Boxing Club and trained under Danny McEntee and Frank Mulligan. | |
| 6. He faced emotional turmoil after a fighter he competed against fell into a coma and died after their match. | |
| 7. Barry was the first person not born in the UK to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 1985. | |
| 8. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005. | |
| 9. After retiring, he has taken an active role as a boxing expert and commentator. | |
| 10. During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, McGuigan's fights united the divided nation, with the popular saying of the day being 'Leave the fighting to McGuigan.' | |
| 11. He won Hell's Kitchen after his boxing retirement. | |
| 12. He continues to train young fighters and support boxers' education and career transitions. |