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It was May, 1989 and "The Clones Cyclone", Barry McGuigan, was approaching the fourth fight on a comeback trail that had begun just over a year earlier.
After a year long run as World Featherweight Champion the Irishman lost his title in the horrible heat of Las Vegas, Nevada in June, 1986 against late replacement Stevie Cruz.
Contractual difficulties would follow and many doubted that McGuigan would fight again after such a devastating defeat... Full Boxing Article here...
I was gutted, because I stil believed that Bazza had it in his locker to get back to what he was pre Cruz :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Saddo
I still can't believe that his team let him go ahead with a bout in that heat against an Texan Hispanic fighter, McGuigan should shoulder some of the blame but who knows what involvement he would have been given.
After this one with the management dispute and losing his father he never quite seemed the same, I don't think it was down to the loss but simply losing heart in the game.
Would loved to have seen him get it on with Nelson at the time.Nelson called him out loads calling him McWiggle and stuff and was really chasing it but at the time I remember reading a lot about Barry running scared. That I doubt, I imagine his management just didn't want him taking the chance in case he lost , ironically they then gave the title away !!
This is funny, about a week ago I watched the DVD of McGuigan-Cruz after ordering it from a mate. CRACKING fight, but yes very disappointing for Barry.
The McDonnell fight was stopped on cuts if I remember. Ring mag or KO or Boxing 89 had an article called when Irish Eyes Are Bleeding...
I also recently rewatched the Azumah Nelson-Pat Cowdell, and after brutally knocking out Cowdell in one round, Nelson calls out McGuigan and makes fun of him.
I'm glad Barry never got a fight with Nelson, coz Barry was good but at his peak Nelson was scary good.
I also thought he could come back after the Cruz defeat. Remember running back to watch the fight and it was over because of a cut. McDonell was an underrated fighter. He was beating Asumah IMO before being stopped and Brian Mitchell just nicked it but he was also an underrated fighter.