Barry McGuigan


Finbar Patrick "Barry" McGuigan [Order of the British Boxing Board of Control|British Empire|MBE] is an Irish boxing promoter and former professional boxer. Born in Clones, County Monaghan, McGuigan represented both Northern Ireland and Ireland as an amateur. Nicknamed The Clones Cyclone, he held the WBA and lineal featherweight titles from 1985 to 1986. At regional level, he also held the British and European featherweight titles between 1983 and 1985. In 1985, McGuigan became BBC Sports Personality of the Year. In 2005, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Background

Barry McGuigan was born in Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland. His father was singer Pat McGuigan. Pat McGuigan sang "Danny Boy" before several of his son's matches. This inspired the Hacienda Brothers' song "If Daddy Don't Sing Danny Boy", written by boxer and musician Chris Gaffney.
As an amateur, McGuigan represented Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games at Edmonton in 1978 and represented Ireland at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. He became a UK citizen so that he could compete for British titles.
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 in Belfast which he regularly filled to capacity. McGuigan is a Roman Catholic, and at a time when Catholics and Protestants were clashing during The Troubles, he married a Protestant, Sandra Mealiff. As of 2025, they remain married for over four decades.
McGuigan stated that the support he received from both Protestants and Catholics in Ireland was because:
" 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."
He and his wife have both been patrons for children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

Amateur career

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 the All Ireland Amateur Championship in 1976 having defeated Martin Brereton. Notable opponents during his teenage years included Dubliner James Coughlan, whom he defeated at the age of 15, and Gordon McNeil.
McGuigan represented Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games at Edmonton 1978 and represented Ireland at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

1980 Olympic results

Barry McGuigan competed at the 1980 Moscow Olympics as a featherweight; his record was:

Professional career

McGuigan began his professional boxing career on 10 May 1981, beating Selvin Bell by technical knockout in two rounds in Dublin. After another win, he suffered his first setback, losing a hotly disputed decision to Peter Eubank over eight rounds at Corn Exchange at the Brighton Dome. After his first loss, McGuigan notched up two more wins, including one over Terry Pizzarro, and then he was given a rematch with Eubank. The second time around, McGuigan prevailed, by a knockout in the eighth round.
In 1982, McGuigan won eight fights, seven by knockout, but one of these almost destroyed his career and his life. Fighting Young Ali, on 14 June 1982, McGuigan won by a knockout in six rounds; Ali fell into a coma and died two days later. According to the book The 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 defeated Paul Huggins and Angelo Licata during this period. In 1983, he won four fights, earning the British Title against Vernon Penprase. This period marked his first trip to fight outside Europe, before he got his first try at a European title.
On 16 November, Italy's Valerio Nati boxed McGuigan for the vacant European Featherweight title in Belfast. McGuigan won the crown with a knockout in the sixth round. He then became the number one featherweight challenger for the WBA. 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 contenders Paul DeVorce and Charm Chiteule, retained his British and European titles against Clyde Ruan and held on to the latter belt against Esteban Eguia to keep alive his chances of a world title fight.
In 1985, McGuigan met former world featherweight champion Juan Laporte and won by a decision after ten rounds. Following one more win, McGuigan finally earned a tilt at a world title. Long-reigning WBA featherweight champion, Eusebio Pedroza of Panama, put his title on the line at Loftus Road football stadium in London. 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 referee Stanley 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 named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, becoming the first person not born in the United Kingdom to win the award.
McGuigan made his first defences against American Bernard Taylor, who was stopped in the ninth round, and Danilo 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 to Las Vegas in June 1986, where he faced relatively unknown Steve Cruz from Texas as a late replacement for Ramon 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. 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.
After that fight McGuigan retired partly due to the death of his father in 1987. WIth his relationship with previous manager Barney Eastwood at an end, McGuigan returned to the ring between 1988 and 1989, under the management of Frank Warren. He beat former world title challengers Nicky Perez and Francisco Tomas da Cruz, and contender Julio César Miranda, before facing former EBU featherweight champ and future WBC and WBA super featherweight challenger Jim 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. He is also the founder and CEO of Cyclone Promotions.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
35Loss32–3Jim McDonnellTKO4, 1:4331 May 1989G-Mex Leisure Centre, Manchester, England
34Win32–2Julio César MirandaTKO8, 1:121 Dec 1988Pickett's Lock Stadium, London, England
33Win31–2Francisco Tomas da CruzTKO4, 1:4325 Jun 1988Kenilworth Road, Luton, England
32Win30–2Nicky PerezTKO4, 2:554 Apr 1988Alexandra Pavilion, London, England
31Loss29–2Steve CruzUD1523 Jun 1986Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, USLost WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
30Win29–1Danilo CabreraTKO14, 1:4015 Feb 1986The Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, IrelandRetained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
29Win28–1Bernard TaylorRTD8, 3:0028 Sep 1985King's Hall, Belfast, Northern IrelandRetained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
28Win27–1Eusebio Pedroza158 Jun 1985Loftus Road Stadium, London, EnglandWon WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
27Win26–1Farid GallouzeTKO2, 1:2026 Mar 1985Wembley Arena, London, EnglandRetained European featherweight title
26Win25–1Juan LaportePTS1023 Feb 1985King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
25Win24–1Clyde RuanKO4, 2:5019 Dec 1984Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern IrelandRetained British and European featherweight titles
24Win23–1Felipe OrozcoKO2, 2:1013 Oct 1984King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
23Win22–1Paul DeVorceTKO5, 1:3030 Jun 1984King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
22Win21–1Esteban EguiaKO3, 0:455 Jun 1984Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandRetained European featherweight title
21Win20–1Jose CabaTKO7 4 Apr 1984King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
20Win19–1Charm ChiteuleTKO10 25 Jan 1984King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
19Win18–1Valerio NatiKO6, 2:3316 Nov 1983King's Hall, Belfast, Northern IrelandWon vacant European featherweight title
18Win17–1Ruben Dario HerasmeKO2, 2:585 Oct 1983Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
17Win16–1Lavon McGowanKO1, 2:599 Jul 1983DiVinci Manoe, Chicago, Illinois, US
16Win15–1Samuel MeckTKO6, 2:5822 May 1983Navan Exhibition Centre, Navan, Ireland
15Win14–1Vernon PenpraseTKO2, 2:5012 Apr 1983Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern IrelandWon vacant British featherweight title
14Win13–1Paul HugginsTKO5 9 Nov 1982Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
13Win12–1Jimmy Duncan4 5 Oct 1982Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
12Win11–1Young AliKO6, 2:4714 June 1982World Sporting Club, London, England
Ali dies of injuries sustained in the fight
11Win10–1Gary Lucas1 22 Apr 1982Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
10Win9–1Angelo LicataTKO2, 2:4523 Mar 1982Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
9Win8–1Angel OliverTKO3, 2:1623 Feb 1982Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
8Win7–1Ian MurrayTKO3 8 Feb 1982World Sporting Club, London, England
7Win6–1Luis de la SagraPTS827 Jan 1982Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
6Win5–1Peter EubankTKO8, 2:408 Dec 1981Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
5Win4–1Terry PizzaroTKO4 26 Oct 1981Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
4Win3–1Jean-Marc RenardPTS83 Aug 1981Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
3Loss2–1Peter Eubank83 Aug 1981Corn Exchange, Brighton, England
2Win2–0Gary LucasTKO4, 1:2020 Jun 1981Empire Pool, London, England
1Win1–0Selvin Bell2 10 May 1981Dalymount Park, Dublin, Ireland

After boxing

Motor racing

In 1987, McGuigan tried his luck as a racing driver in the MG Metro Turbo Challenge. At Silverstone in early-July, following the recent death of his father, he vacated his car and future F1 World Champion Damon Hill took his place. In October that year, he took part in a Ford Escort Celebrity race at Brands Hatch and finished 5th, sharing with Paul Warwick.
In 1989, McGuigan entered the Standard Production Car Class in British Rallycross, driving a Saab.
In 1990 and 1991, he continued in Rallycross, competing in the Vauxhall Nova Challenge.
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 drive Ford Sierra RS Cosworth.

Other

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. He participated in The Grand Knockout Tournament 1987 charity event television special.
McGuigan lives near Whitstable, Kent, with his wife. McGuigan's daughter, Nika, died in 2019 aged 33.
He currently works as a boxing pundit for Sky TV. Two biographies of McGuigan have been written. He is currently a boxing manager and promoter through Cyclone Promotions. 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.
McGuigan is the Chairman of the Professional Boxing Association, an organisation he wanted to set up for over a decade, with the intention of teaching boxers the importance of education.
McGuigan appeared in the film Malicious Intent in 2000. He appeared in the third series of ITV's Hell's Kitchen in September 2007, where he was eventually crowned the winner after winning the public vote. In August 2009, he co-presented Charity Lords of the Ring with Lucy Kennedy.
On 3 January 2024, Cyclone Promotions Ltd and McGuigan's Gym Ltd, of which McGuigan was a director, passed into liquidation.
McGuigan is credited as appearing in the film One Night in Millstreet.
In November 2024, McGuigan appeared as a contestant on the twenty-fourth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and was the fifth contestant to be eliminated, finishing in eighth place.
In 2025, McGuigan endorsed Heather Humphreys' campaign in that year's Irish presidential election.

Other recognition

McGuigan was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000 and International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005. He also fought in Ring Magazine's 1986 Fight 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 by Johnny McCauley and sung by Big Tom. The German musician and composer Udo Lindenberg also dedicated his song "Jonny Boxer" to McGuigan in 1986. The Bournemouth-based band The Worry Dolls named a track "Barry McGuigan" on their album, The Man That Time Forgot.
McGuigan was the subject of a comedy record by Dermot 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.
He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1994. McGuigan is a dual citizen of both Ireland and the United Kingdom.