Barry McGuigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barry McGuigan |
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McGuigan in 2015
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| Real name | Finbar Patrick McGuigan | |||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | The Clones Cyclone | |||||||||||||
| Rated at | Featherweight | |||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | |||||||||||||
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm) | |||||||||||||
| Born | 28 February 1961 Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland |
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| Stance | Orthodox | |||||||||||||
| Boxing record | ||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 35 | |||||||||||||
| Wins | 32 | |||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 28 | |||||||||||||
| Losses | 3 | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Finbar Patrick "Barry" McGuigan is an Irish boxing promoter and a former professional boxer. He was born on February 28, 1961, in Clones, Ireland. People called him The Clones Cyclone because of his speed and power.
Barry McGuigan was a world champion in the featherweight division. He held the WBA and lineal featherweight titles from 1985 to 1986. Before that, he won British and European featherweight titles. In 1985, he was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He was also added to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005.
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Barry McGuigan's Early Life
Barry McGuigan grew up in Clones, Ireland. His father, Pat McGuigan, was a singer. Pat would often sing "Danny Boy" before Barry's boxing matches. This became a special tradition for them.
Barry started boxing as a young boy. He trained at local boxing clubs in County Fermanagh and County Monaghan. He quickly showed great talent in the sport.
Amateur Boxing Career
As an amateur boxer, Barry McGuigan represented Northern Ireland at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. He won a gold medal there. He also represented Ireland at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
To compete for British boxing titles, Barry became a UK citizen. This allowed him to fight in more competitions.
1980 Olympic Games
At the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Barry McGuigan competed as a featherweight. He won his first fight against Issack Mabushi from Tanzania. However, he lost his next fight to Winfred Kabunda from Zambia.
Becoming a Professional Boxer
Barry McGuigan started his professional boxing career on May 10, 1981. His first fight was in Dublin, where he won by a technical knockout (TKO). After a few more fights, he faced a tough challenge. He lost a close fight to Peter Eubank. But in their rematch, Barry won by knockout.
In 1982, Barry won many fights. One of these fights was against Young Ali. Barry won by knockout, but sadly, Ali later passed away from his injuries. This event deeply affected Barry, and he thought about quitting boxing. However, he decided to continue his career.
Winning Titles
In 1983, Barry McGuigan won the British Featherweight Title. He then fought for the European Featherweight title against Valerio Nati from Italy. Barry won this fight with a knockout in the sixth round. This made him the top challenger for the WBA world title.
In 1984, Barry continued to win, mostly by knockout. He defended his British and European titles. These wins prepared him for a world championship fight.
World Champion Status
In 1985, Barry McGuigan fought Juan Laporte, a former world champion. Barry won that fight. Then, he finally got his chance to fight for the world title. He faced Eusebio Pedroza of Panama, who had been the WBA featherweight champion for a long time.
The championship fight took place on June 8, 1985, at Loftus Road stadium in London. Barry McGuigan won the fight by a unanimous decision after fifteen rounds. He became the new WBA and The Ring featherweight champion.
After his big win, Barry and his wife, Sandra, were celebrated in Belfast. Hundreds of thousands of people came out to cheer for him. Later that year, he was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Defending the Title
Barry McGuigan successfully defended his world title twice. He beat American boxer Bernard Taylor and then Danilo Cabrera. His fight against Cabrera was stopped in the fourteenth round.
In June 1986, Barry went to Las Vegas for his next title defense. He fought Steve Cruz from Texas. The fight was very tough, taking place in extreme heat. Barry was knocked down twice and eventually lost his world title in a close decision. He never won a world title again.
Life After Boxing
After losing his title, Barry McGuigan retired from boxing for a short time. He returned to the ring in 1988 and 1989, winning several fights. However, a cut over his eye forced him to stop his last fight against Jim McDonnell. After this, Barry retired permanently from boxing. His final record was 32 wins and 3 losses, with 28 wins by knockout.
Barry McGuigan is now a boxing promoter and manager. He founded Cyclone Promotions. He also works as a boxing expert for Sky TV.
Barry McGuigan's Boxing Record Summary
| 35 fights | 32 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 28 | 1 |
| By decision | 4 | 2 |
Beyond the Boxing Ring
After his boxing career, Barry McGuigan explored other interests.
Motor Racing Adventures
In 1987, Barry tried motor racing. He drove in the MG Metro Turbo Challenge. He also took part in a Ford Escort Celebrity race, finishing fifth. In the early 1990s, he competed in rallycross and rally events.
Helping Boxers and Other Work
Barry McGuigan has always wanted to help other boxers. He founded the Professional Boxing Association (PBA). This group aims to protect boxers' rights and teach them about education.
Barry has also appeared on television. He won the British TV show Hell's Kitchen in 2007. He was also in the film Malicious Intent and is credited in the 2023 film One Night in Millstreet. In November 2024, he was a contestant on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.
Barry McGuigan is a patron for the children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent. He lives near Whitstable, Kent, with his wife, Sandra.
Awards and Recognition
Barry McGuigan has received many honors for his boxing career. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005. His 1986 fight against Steve Cruz was named Ring Magazine's Fight of the Year.
He was also the main character in an old computer game called Barry McGuigan World Championship Boxing. Several songs have been written about him, including "Clones Cyclone" and "Jonny Boxer." In 1994, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). Barry is a citizen of both Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Images for kids
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Barry McGuigan in 2015
See also
In Spanish: Barry McGuigan para niños
