Man Friday - The Boxer
Friday, 16 November 2007
Our Man Friday is a sporting legend and he's here to knock us into shape.
Barry McGuigan MBE(1994)
Born Finbar Patrick McGuigan on 28th February 1961, Barry hails from the small Irish town of Clones, Monaghan. Barry has lived in Kent, England for nearly 20 years, with his wife and their 4 children.
Winner of WBA World Featherweight Champion (Beating Eusebio Pedroza at Queen's Park Rangers Ground) 1985 -viewed by 19 million people!
Broadcaster / commentator on ITV and sports writer with the Daily Mirror.
Charity man with CLIC Sergent charity for children with Leukemia.
Coach to the future boxers in England and also a man who loves to drive a fast car!
Amateur Boxing Career
Barry started boxing at the age of 12 in the Wattlebridge ABC. Six months later he joined the Smithborough ABC and quickly began winning titles, including:
1977 Ulster and Irish Juvenile Titles
1978 Irish Under 19 Champion
Irish Senior Champion
Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist
Multi-nation Gold Medallist, Holland
1979 Multi-nation Gold Medallist, Romania
Irish Senior Title
1980 Captained the Irish Olympic Boxing team, Moscow
Professional Boxing Career
Barry's professional career began in 1981 and lasted nearly a decade, until he retired in 1990.
1983 British Title
European Title
Awarded Ulster Sports Personality of the Year
1984 Awarded Ulster Sports Personality of the Year
Awarded British Boxing Board of Control's Boxer of the Year
1985 WBA World Featherweight Champion (Beating Eusebio Pedroza at Queen's Park Rangers Ground)
Defended Title against Bernard Taylor in King's Hall, Belfast
Awarded British Boxing Board of Control's Fight of the Year for the McGuigan / Pedroza fight
Awarded BBC Sports Personality of the Year
Awarded Ulster Sports Personality of the Year
Awarded RTE Sports Personality of the Year
Awarded Irish Times BMW Sports Person
Awarded Lord Lonsdale Award
Awarded WBA Fighter of the Year
1986 Awarded Ring Magazine Fight of the Year
Defended Title against Danielo Caberra in Dublin
Lost the WBA World Featherweight Title to Steve Cruz in Las Vegas
1988 Returned to the ring working with Frank Warren, retired after 4 fights
1993 Founder and President of the Professional Boxer's Association
1994 Barry is awarded an MBE for his services to the boxing sport
2000 Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame
2005 Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
Awarded British Boxing Board of Control Lifetime Achievement Award
Awarded RTE Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement
2007 Awarded Variety Club Lifetime Contribution to Boxing Award
Broadcasting
. Since retiring from boxing, Barry has commentated throughout the world; in the USA for Prime Network, in Asia for Star TV, in Europe with Euro Sport and in the UK for BBC, Sky, Screen Sport, Wire TV and currently for ITV and Setanta.
. Barry has written for numerous British newspapers over the years and currently writes a weekly boxing column, exclusively for the Daily Mirror.
. A regular contributor to TV quiz and panel shows such as BBC's 'A Question of Sport' and winner of this year's ITV reality show 'Hell's Kitchen'.
. A highly acclaimed public speaker, Barry makes regular addresses at charity functions and is frequently booked to make after dinner speeches at private and corporate events.
. Barry has much experience in motivational speaking; previous clients have included Royal Bank of Scotland, Ernest and Young, Masterfoods and Orange.
Charity work
Barry gives a great deal of time and energy to a range of charity organisations, but is especially dedicated to CLIC Sargent, a children's cancer and leukaemia charity, whose nurses specialise in providing care to children and their families who are living with the disease. Barry experienced their work first hand when his daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia in 1997.
Interests
. President and founder of the Professional Boxer's Association
. Ambassador for the Conforto Group, a financial management company
. Patron of Integrated Education in Northern Ireland
. A keen motorsport enthusiast, Barry has competed in the British Saloon Car Racing Championships, as well as the Ulster Rally and RAC Rally.