BARRY STILL PULLS A CROWD
BARRY STILL PULLS A CROWD
NOTHING has changed. If a champion's wealth can be measured by his personality or popularity, Barry McGuigan must be a millionaire.
It's over 12 years since the Clones Cyclone sat on the titled throne of world boxing, yet, retired or not, he might still be one of the ten most watchable men in Ireland.
They mobbed him in Omagh this week. Hounded by photographers and autograph-hunters, he never once retreated, patiently obliging everybody until his smile ached.
Only when Frank Bruno finally reached the VIP lounge did Barry begin to look lonely.
"Show me your fist, Cyclone," grinned a deep-throated Frank in his best cotton-choppin' accent. Then turning to a silver-haired fan at his elbow, the only British heavyweight to have fought (and lost) twice to Mike Tyson, chuckled happily: "Hi, Harry boy. Nice to see you."
It was Harry Doherty of Holy Family fame; not Harry Carpenter!
McGuigan, now 37, hung up his gloves nearly ten years ago.
Most great fighters stubbornly deny the threat of decline until ugly proof is beaten into their heads. Not Barry, however. He saw the writing on the wall after losing for only the third time in a glamorous career of 35 profights, and wisely called it a day.
It had been three years almost to the month since he sagged in the heat of Las Vegas like one of Dali's melting timepieces.
Unlike cheese and wine, he would say, fighters don't improve with age, and Sandra, his wife, was happy to see him slip into comfortable and dignified retirement.
There are certain moments that are forever linked with the fighter who created them.
Like Gene Tunney's long count in a shock victory over Dempsey; like Henry Cooper's left hook that floored Ali; like Dave McAuley's gallant failure first time up against Bassa at the King's Hall, not forgetting McGuigan's wicked right hand in round seven at Loftus Road, the punch that changed the course of a great world title fight with Pedroza.
His strike for glory that night had been made.
McGuigan, for sure, gave the sport a new and captive audience, but it was Barney Eastwood who took the Cyclone to the stars and back.
From both, boxing's tired old blood got an invigorating tonic.
Until Barry's defeat by Cruz, the pair were like peaches and cream, the best fighter-manager partnership in the game. Then somebody began shaking the ladder.
When eventually they parted, Dave McAuley had a hard act to follow, and did the job with courage and a run of six IBF title wins before weight problems brought his downfall in Spain. He retired officially three Christmas' ago and was soon to follow McGuigan into the dinner-jacket world of television.
Clearly, Ireland's boxing landscape has been a lot duller without promoter Eastwood, who likened his years with McGuigan to a good marriage. When it ended, it was like divorcing somebody you were still fond of he confessed later.
What a joy it was to welcome so many great names in the game to Omagh.
It was standing-room only for this Leisure Centre spectacular, which was as much about lifting spirits in the town as raising funds for the victims of the bomb atrocity that appalled us all three months ago.
Some old timers will remember Gunboat Smith and Jimmy Warnock topping a Town Hall bill there under a Jim Rice baton 60 years ago, and maybe even Jackie Hughes and Ranger Harkin. too. All as popular in their day, perhaps, as Bruno and Collins, or Gilroy and the Kelly's.
Steve Collins had motored up from Dublin especially for the Omagh show, while McAuley made a 180-mile round-trip from Lame to keep a promise to the pair who put it all together, Paddy McMahon and schoolmaster Ronnie McLernon.
Frank Maloney flew in from London to be there, and imagine what a hornet's nest of memories must have been revived when Gilroy got tongue-wagging with the Derry pair, Billy Kelly and Charlie Nash.
Darren Corbett took a bow from the ring, too, I'm happy to say, in company with Ray Close, Glenn McCrory and Sam Storey.
What a pity this posse of boxing legends couldn't have been photographed together, all in the ring. It will be a long time, I'm sure, before so many sporting heroes and celebrities again share the same umbrella!
NOTHING has changed. If a champion's wealth can be measured by his personality or popularity, Barry McGuigan must be a millionaire.
It's over 12 years since the Clones Cyclone sat on the titled throne of world boxing, yet, retired or not, he might still be one of the ten most watchable men in Ireland.
They mobbed him in Omagh this week. Hounded by photographers and autograph-hunters, he never once retreated, patiently obliging everybody until his smile ached.
Only when Frank Bruno finally reached the VIP lounge did Barry begin to look lonely.
"Show me your fist, Cyclone," grinned a deep-throated Frank in his best cotton-choppin' accent. Then turning to a silver-haired fan at his elbow, the only British heavyweight to have fought (and lost) twice to Mike Tyson, chuckled happily: "Hi, Harry boy. Nice to see you."
It was Harry Doherty of Holy Family fame; not Harry Carpenter!
McGuigan, now 37, hung up his gloves nearly ten years ago.
Most great fighters stubbornly deny the threat of decline until ugly proof is beaten into their heads. Not Barry, however. He saw the writing on the wall after losing for only the third time in a glamorous career of 35 profights, and wisely called it a day.
It had been three years almost to the month since he sagged in the heat of Las Vegas like one of Dali's melting timepieces.
Unlike cheese and wine, he would say, fighters don't improve with age, and Sandra, his wife, was happy to see him slip into comfortable and dignified retirement.
There are certain moments that are forever linked with the fighter who created them.
Like Gene Tunney's long count in a shock victory over Dempsey; like Henry Cooper's left hook that floored Ali; like Dave McAuley's gallant failure first time up against Bassa at the King's Hall, not forgetting McGuigan's wicked right hand in round seven at Loftus Road, the punch that changed the course of a great world title fight with Pedroza.
His strike for glory that night had been made.
McGuigan, for sure, gave the sport a new and captive audience, but it was Barney Eastwood who took the Cyclone to the stars and back.
From both, boxing's tired old blood got an invigorating tonic.
Until Barry's defeat by Cruz, the pair were like peaches and cream, the best fighter-manager partnership in the game. Then somebody began shaking the ladder.
When eventually they parted, Dave McAuley had a hard act to follow, and did the job with courage and a run of six IBF title wins before weight problems brought his downfall in Spain. He retired officially three Christmas' ago and was soon to follow McGuigan into the dinner-jacket world of television.
Clearly, Ireland's boxing landscape has been a lot duller without promoter Eastwood, who likened his years with McGuigan to a good marriage. When it ended, it was like divorcing somebody you were still fond of he confessed later.
What a joy it was to welcome so many great names in the game to Omagh.
It was standing-room only for this Leisure Centre spectacular, which was as much about lifting spirits in the town as raising funds for the victims of the bomb atrocity that appalled us all three months ago.
Some old timers will remember Gunboat Smith and Jimmy Warnock topping a Town Hall bill there under a Jim Rice baton 60 years ago, and maybe even Jackie Hughes and Ranger Harkin. too. All as popular in their day, perhaps, as Bruno and Collins, or Gilroy and the Kelly's.
Steve Collins had motored up from Dublin especially for the Omagh show, while McAuley made a 180-mile round-trip from Lame to keep a promise to the pair who put it all together, Paddy McMahon and schoolmaster Ronnie McLernon.
Frank Maloney flew in from London to be there, and imagine what a hornet's nest of memories must have been revived when Gilroy got tongue-wagging with the Derry pair, Billy Kelly and Charlie Nash.
Darren Corbett took a bow from the ring, too, I'm happy to say, in company with Ray Close, Glenn McCrory and Sam Storey.
What a pity this posse of boxing legends couldn't have been photographed together, all in the ring. It will be a long time, I'm sure, before so many sporting heroes and celebrities again share the same umbrella!
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0678
Published Date: 21-Nov-98
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