.jpg) McGuigan in 2015 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
Nickname | The Clones Cyclone |
| Born | Finbar Patrick McGuigan (1961-02-28)28 February 1961 (age 64) Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Weight | Featherweight |
| Boxing career | |
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 35 |
| Wins | 32 |
| Win by KO | 28 |
| Losses | 3 |
Medal record | |
Finbar Patrick "Barry" McGuiganMBE (born 28 February 1961) is an Irish boxing promoter and formerprofessional boxer. Born inClones,County Monaghan, McGuigan represented bothNorthern Ireland andIreland as an amateur. NicknamedThe Clones Cyclone, he held theWBA andlinealfeatherweight titles from 1985 to 1986. At regional level, he also held theBritish andEuropean featherweight titles between 1983 and 1985. In 1985, McGuigan becameBBC Sports Personality of the Year. In 2005, he was inducted into theInternational Boxing Hall of Fame.
Barry McGuigan was born inClones,County Monaghan, Ireland. His father was singerPat McGuigan (died 1987). Pat McGuigan sang "Danny Boy" before several of his son's matches. This inspired theHacienda Brothers' song "If Daddy Don't Sing Danny Boy", written by boxer and musicianChris Gaffney.[1]
As an amateur, McGuigan representedNorthern Ireland in theCommonwealth Games atEdmonton in 1978 and represented Ireland at the1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. He became aUK citizen so that he could compete for British titles.[2][3]
During his professional career, McGuigan fought at a number of venues in Ireland and Britain. He attracted an enormous following in the mid-1980s, particularly to the King's Hall inBelfast which he regularly filled to capacity. McGuigan is aRoman Catholic, and at a time when Catholics andProtestants were clashing duringThe Troubles, he married a Protestant, Sandra Mealiff.[4][5] As of 2025, they remain married for over four decades.[6][7]
McGuigan stated that the support he received from both Protestants and Catholics in Ireland was because:
"[the] shadows ran deep. And my fights felt a little like sunshine. Both sides would say: 'Leave the fighting to McGuigan.' You see, it was also entertainment – people loved to forget the Troubles a while. The fact that I wouldn't wear green, white and gold or put on a sign that said this is who I represent was powerful. It was a very mature and dangerous thing to do. I wouldn't choose sides. People appreciated that."[8]
He and his wife have both been patrons for children's cancer charityCLIC Sargent.
McGuigan began his juvenile boxing career at the Wattlebridge Amateur Boxing Club,County Fermanagh, and later moved to the Smithborough Amateur Boxing Club,County Monaghan. He won theAll Ireland Amateur Championship in 1976 having defeatedMartin Brereton. Notable opponents during his teenage years included DublinerJames Coughlan, whom he defeated at the age of 15, andGordon McNeil (of Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne).[citation needed]
McGuigan representedNorthern Ireland in theCommonwealth Games atEdmonton 1978 and represented Ireland at the1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
Barry McGuigan competed at the 1980 Moscow Olympics as a featherweight; his record was:
McGuigan began his professional boxing career on 10 May 1981, beatingSelvin Bell bytechnical knockout (TKO) in two rounds inDublin. After another win, he suffered his first setback, losing a hotly disputed decision toPeter Eubank (brother ofChris Eubank) over eight rounds atCorn Exchange at theBrighton Dome.[9] After his first loss, McGuigan notched up two more wins, including one overTerry Pizzarro, and then he was given a rematch with Eubank. The second time around, McGuigan prevailed, by a knockout in the eighth round.[10]
In 1982, McGuigan won eight fights, seven by knockout, but one of these almost destroyed his career and his life. FightingYoung Ali, on 14 June 1982, McGuigan won by a knockout in six rounds; Ali fell into a coma and died two days later.[11] According to the bookThe Ring: Boxing The 20th Century. Ali's death affected McGuigan so much that he was not sure he wanted to carry on as a boxer. He also defeatedPaul Huggins andAngelo Licata during this period. In 1983, he won four fights, earning the British Title againstVernon Penprase. This period marked his first trip to fight outside Europe (when he beatLavon McGowan by a knockout in the first round in Chicago), before he got his first try at a European title.[12]
On 16 November, Italy'sValerio Nati boxed McGuigan for the vacant European Featherweight title inBelfast. McGuigan won the crown with a knockout in the sixth round. He then became the number one featherweight challenger for theWBA. In 1984, he won six bouts, all by knockout. Among the fighters he beat were former world title challengers Jose Caba and Felipe Orozco. McGuigan also overcame contendersPaul DeVorce andCharm Chiteule, retained his British and European titles againstClyde Ruan and held on to the latter belt againstEsteban Eguia to keep alive his chances of a world title fight.[13]
In 1985, McGuigan met former worldfeatherweight championJuan Laporte and won by a decision after ten rounds.[14] Following one more win (a defence of his European title against Farid Gallouze), McGuigan finally earned a tilt at a world title. Long-reigningWBA featherweight champion,Eusebio Pedroza ofPanama, put his title on the line atLoftus Road football stadium in London.[15] The Irishman became champion by dropping Pedroza in round seven and winning a unanimous fifteen-round decision in a fight refereed by hall of fame refereeStanley Christodoulou. McGuigan and his wife were feted in a public reception through the streets of Belfast that attracted hundreds of thousands of well-wishers. Later that year, he was namedBBC Sports Personality of the Year, becoming the first person not born in the United Kingdom to win the award.[16]
McGuigan made his first defences against AmericanBernard Taylor, who was stopped in the ninth round, andDanilo Cabrera, who was knocked out in fourteen rounds. This proved to be a controversial stoppage: the fight was ended when the challenger bent over to pick up his mouthpiece after losing it, a practice that is allowed in many countries but not in Ireland. Cabrera was not aware of this rule and the fight was stopped. Although Cabrera's corner protested the outcome, McGuigan remained the winner by a knockout. For his next defence, he went toLas Vegas in June 1986, where he faced relatively unknownSteve Cruz fromTexas as a late replacement forRamon Fernando Sosa who pulled out for having two detached retinas. It proved to be a gruelling fifteen-round title bout under a blazing late-afternoon sun and 110-degree heat in the ring.[17] McGuigan held the lead halfway through, but suffered dehydration because of the extreme heat and wilted near the end, being knocked down in rounds ten and fifteen. He eventually lost a close decision and his world belt, which he was never to reclaim. After the fight, McGuigan required hospitalisation because of his dehydrated state.[18]
After that fight McGuigan retired partly due to the death of his father in 1987. WIth his relationship with previous managerBarney Eastwood at an end, McGuigan returned to the ring between 1988 and 1989, under the management ofFrank Warren. He beat former world title challengersNicky Perez andFrancisco Tomas da Cruz, and contenderJulio César Miranda, before facing formerEBU featherweight champ and futureWBC andWBA super featherweight challengerJim McDonnell. McGuigan lost by TKO when a gash over his right eye, caused by a McDonnell left hook in the second round, forced the referee to stop the fight in the fourth. McGuigan then retired permanently from boxing. His record was 32 wins and 3 losses, with 28 victories by knockout.
McGuigan is the founder and president of the Professional Boxing Association (PBA).[19] He is also the founder and CEO of Cyclone Promotions.
| 35 fights | 32 wins | 3 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 28 | 1 |
| By decision | 4 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Loss | 32–3 | Jim McDonnell | TKO | 4 (10),1:43 | 31 May 1989 | G-Mex Leisure Centre,Manchester, England | |
| 34 | Win | 32–2 | Julio César Miranda | TKO | 8 (10),1:12 | 1 Dec 1988 | Pickett's Lock Stadium, London, England | |
| 33 | Win | 31–2 | Francisco Tomas da Cruz | TKO | 4 (10),1:43 | 25 Jun 1988 | Kenilworth Road,Luton, England | |
| 32 | Win | 30–2 | Nicky Perez | TKO | 4 (10),2:55 | 4 Apr 1988 | Alexandra Pavilion, London, England | |
| 31 | Loss | 29–2 | Steve Cruz | UD | 15 | 23 Jun 1986 | Caesars Palace,Paradise, Nevada, US | Lost WBA andThe Ring featherweight titles |
| 30 | Win | 29–1 | Danilo Cabrera | TKO | 14 (15),1:40 | 15 Feb 1986 | The Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, Ireland | Retained WBA andThe Ring featherweight titles |
| 29 | Win | 28–1 | Bernard Taylor | RTD | 8 (15),3:00 | 28 Sep 1985 | King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | Retained WBA andThe Ring featherweight titles |
| 28 | Win | 27–1 | Eusebio Pedroza | UD | 15 | 8 Jun 1985 | Loftus Road Stadium, London, England | WonWBA andThe Ring featherweight titles |
| 27 | Win | 26–1 | Farid Gallouze | TKO | 2 (12),1:20 | 26 Mar 1985 | Wembley Arena, London, England | Retained European featherweight title |
| 26 | Win | 25–1 | Juan Laporte | PTS | 10 | 23 Feb 1985 | King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 25 | Win | 24–1 | Clyde Ruan | KO | 4 (12),2:50 | 19 Dec 1984 | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | Retained British and European featherweight titles |
| 24 | Win | 23–1 | Felipe Orozco | KO | 2 (10),2:10 | 13 Oct 1984 | King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 23 | Win | 22–1 | Paul DeVorce | TKO | 5 (10),1:30 | 30 Jun 1984 | King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 22 | Win | 21–1 | Esteban Eguia | KO | 3 (12),0:45 | 5 Jun 1984 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | Retained European featherweight title |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Jose Caba | TKO | 7 (10) | 4 Apr 1984 | King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Charm Chiteule | TKO | 10 (10) | 25 Jan 1984 | King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Valerio Nati | KO | 6 (12),2:33 | 16 Nov 1983 | King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | Won vacantEuropean featherweight title |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Ruben Dario Herasme | KO | 2 (10),2:58 | 5 Oct 1983 | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Lavon McGowan | KO | 1 (10),2:59 | 9 Jul 1983 | DiVinci Manoe,Chicago, Illinois, US | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Samuel Meck | TKO | 6 (10),2:58 | 22 May 1983 | Navan Exhibition Centre,Navan, Ireland | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Vernon Penprase | TKO | 2 (12),2:50 | 12 Apr 1983 | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | Won vacantBritish featherweight title |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Paul Huggins | TKO | 5 (12) | 9 Nov 1982 | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Jimmy Duncan | RTD | 4 (10) | 5 Oct 1982 | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Young Ali | KO | 6 (8),2:47 | 14 June 1982 | World Sporting Club, London, England | Ali dies of injuries sustained in the fight |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Gary Lucas | KO | 1 (8) | 22 Apr 1982 | Lakeland Forum,Enniskillen, Northern Ireland | |
| 10 | Win | 9–1 | Angelo Licata | TKO | 2 (8),2:45 | 23 Mar 1982 | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 9 | Win | 8–1 | Angel Oliver | TKO | 3 (8),2:16 | 23 Feb 1982 | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 8 | Win | 7–1 | Ian Murray | TKO | 3 (8) | 8 Feb 1982 | World Sporting Club, London, England | |
| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Luis de la Sagra | PTS | 8 | 27 Jan 1982 | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Peter Eubank | TKO | 8 (8),2:40 | 8 Dec 1981 | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Terry Pizzaro | TKO | 4 (8) | 26 Oct 1981 | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 4 | Win | 3–1 | Jean-Marc Renard | PTS | 8 | 3 Aug 1981 | Ulster Hall,Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 3 | Loss | 2–1 | Peter Eubank | PTS | 8 | 3 Aug 1981 | Corn Exchange,Brighton, England | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Gary Lucas | TKO | 4 (6),1:20 | 20 Jun 1981 | Empire Pool,London, England | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Selvin Bell | TKO | 2 (6) | 10 May 1981 | Dalymount Park,Dublin, Ireland |
In 1987, McGuigan tried his luck as a racing driver in theMG Metro Turbo Challenge.[20] AtSilverstone in early-July, following the recent death of his father, he vacated his car (#16) and future F1 World ChampionDamon Hill took his place.[21] In October that year, he took part in aFord Escort Celebrity race atBrands Hatch and finished 5th, sharing withPaul Warwick.[citation needed]
In 1989, McGuigan entered the Standard Production Car Class inBritish Rallycross, driving a Saab.[22]
In 1990 and 1991, he continued in Rallycross, competing in theVauxhall Nova Challenge.[23]
In 1992 and 1993, he contested several Rally events, mostly in a Vauxhall Nova, but he did make a single appearance in a 4 wheel driveFord Sierra RS Cosworth.[24]
McGuigan attempted to establish an association to protect the rights of boxers against what he, and others, considered omnipotent managers and promoters. In this regard, McGuigan maintains he had had a difficult time during his own career. A previously very close relationship with his manager,Barney Eastwood, deteriorated badly over time and led to a successful libel case against him by Eastwood several years later.[25] He participated inThe Grand Knockout Tournament 1987 charity eventtelevision special.[citation needed]
McGuigan lives nearWhitstable, Kent, with his wife. McGuigan's daughter,Nika, died in 2019 aged 33.[26]
He currently works as a boxing pundit forSky TV. Two biographies of McGuigan have been written. He is currently a boxing manager and promoter throughCyclone Promotions.[27] McGuigan's relationship with world champion,Carl Frampton, whom he managed and promoted, ended in 2017. The matter was finally settled out of court in November 2020.[28]
McGuigan is the Chairman of theProfessional Boxing Association, an organisation he wanted to set up for over a decade, with the intention of teaching boxers the importance of education.[19]
McGuigan appeared in the filmMalicious Intent in 2000.[citation needed] He appeared in the third series ofITV'sHell's Kitchen in September 2007, where he was eventually crowned the winner after winning the public vote.[29] In August 2009, he co-presentedCharity Lords of the Ring withLucy Kennedy.[30]
On 3 January 2024, Cyclone Promotions Ltd and McGuigan's Gym Ltd, of which McGuigan was a director, passed into liquidation.[31]
McGuigan is credited as appearing in the filmOne Night in Millstreet.[citation needed]
In November 2024, McGuigan appeared as a contestant on thetwenty-fourth series ofI'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and was the fifth contestant to be eliminated, finishing in eighth place.[32][33]
In 2025, McGuigan endorsedHeather Humphreys' campaign inthat year's Irish presidential election.
McGuigan was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000 andInternational Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005.[34] He also fought inRing Magazine's 1986Fight of the Year, and was a title character in the 8-bit computer game,Barry McGuigan World Championship Boxing. McGuigan was honoured in an Irish ballad song released in 1984, "Clones Cyclone", written byJohnny McCauley and sung byBig Tom.[35] The German musician and composerUdo Lindenberg also dedicated his song "Jonny Boxer" to McGuigan in 1986. TheBournemouth-based band The Worry Dolls named a track "Barry McGuigan" on their album,The Man That Time Forgot.[citation needed]
McGuigan was the subject of a comedy record byDermot Morgan, 'Thank You Very Much Mr Eastwood', in which Morgan impersonated him and his habit of thanking his manager and family in post-fight interviews. The record reached number one in the Irish singles charts in December 1985.[36]
He was appointed a Member of theOrder of the British Empire (MBE) in 1994. McGuigan is adual citizen of both Ireland and the United Kingdom.
| Sporting positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional boxing titles | ||||
| Vacant Title last held by Loris Stecca | Europeanfeatherweight champion 16 November 1983 – 8 June 1985 | Vacant Title next held by Jim McDonnell | ||
| World boxing titles | ||||
| Preceded by | WBA Featherweight Champion 8 June 1985 – 23 June 1986 | Succeeded by | ||
| The Ring featherweight champion 8 June 1985 – 23 June 1986 | ||||
| Awards | ||||
| Preceded by | BBC Sports Personality of the Year 1985 | Succeeded by | ||
| Previous: Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns | The Ring Fight of the Year vs. Steve Cruz 1986 | Next: Marvin Hagler vs. Sugar Ray Leonard | ||
| Previous: Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns Round 1 | The Ring Round of the Year vs. Steve Cruz Round 15 1986 | Next: Kelvin Seabrooks vs.Thierry Jacob Round 1 | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
