Barry McGuigan, in Retrospect

Good fighter but caught Pedroza at the perfect time.

Not really HOF worthy but was very popular so hes in.

 

Loved taping fights that way.

 

Not HOF worthy?


He was perfect. A popular Irishman who had fans in a big American market. I suspect he made the Hall of Fame a penny or two when he joined. He is their ideal pick I would suggest...

 

I thought he was British?

 

The cut affected Barry quite a bit v McDonnell also.

 

He always seemed quite personable to me.

 

He’s Irish but he did register to be able to compete for British titles. He was from near the border of North and South. He did move to England and has lived there for years.

 

You can be both and I believe McGuigan identified as both.

 

But unlike the Miranda fight, he did not seem to have the fire to battle through it. Possibly because, unlike the Miranda fight, he did not believe he could win anyway.

 

Why is that?

 

Like many more recent British champs Barry burned out way too soon. I feel it is simply the case that as we are a small island when an exciting fighter comes along they become celebrities almost overnight. The list of brilliant UK fighters who seemed set for lengthy careers but then never fully fulfilled their potential include John Conteh, Naseem Hamed, Tyson Fury, Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan, Lloyd Honeyghan, Colin McMillan, Kirkland Laing, Herol Graham, Frank Bruno, Anthony Joshua. While it can be argued that all but the first two basically found their level on the world stage, only John and Naseem had it in them to be ATGs IMO, they were famous and making decent money far quicker than if they had been US fighters. I think complacency, followed by management problems and general "too much too soon" syndrome affects Brit fighters very quickly if they are on TV early in their career and have a sudden taste of stardom.

It puts in perspective how focused and disciplined Eubank, Benn, Calzaghe and McKenzie were to sustain such long careers at the top.

 

Very good pressure fighter,with heavy hands.
As is often the case he got his chance against an aging Champ who was past his best. Barry was a fine come forward fighter but not effective when put on the back foot,I only saw him live once against an overmatched Spaniard,Barry's left hooks to the short ribs were crippling.
The Cruz fight was a mistake,but his manager knew jack **** about boxing and relied on Mickey Duff's knowledge and matchmaking,

When Eastwood started making decent money with Barry he dropped Duff,and thought he could do as good a job,he couldn't.

 

Oh yeah, he was a huge deal, immensely popular. My family are of Liverpool Irish stock and we all watched his fights on TV, even my mum who hates boxing.
I rooted for him even more in his comeback, I liked his busy style too.
In the 80s there was a Barry McGuigan boxing computer game as well which I played on my beloved ZX Spectrum….now that makes me feel like a relic lol

 

Great left hook to the body which was amazing how he got so much leverage on.
Good defense as well always moving his head.
Very strong for his weight.

Barry in my opinion beats Eusebio anytime which I know is not a popular opinion.
Eusebio LOST to Lockridge the first time and I don't care what anyone says. I have a mint copy of that fight and during the in between rounds you can actually hear the commentators saying how Eusebio was losing.
The Laporte fight Eusebio FOULED Laporte MANY times and should have been easily disqualified.
Now today people call it being "crafty".
The Bernard Taylor fight was just plain awful and Taylor held him to a DRAW.
Barry beat Laporte without fouling him and a YEAR latter Laporte was giving Chavez hell.
Barry STOPPED Taylor in 8 rounds. And NOBODY at that time really wanted to fight Taylor who was a difficult fighter to face.
Lockridge who was a very good boxer basically beat Eusebio the first time and got robbed.
Barry who is STRONGER then Lockridge and hit harder not to mention his great hook to the body somehow couldn't beat Eusebio????

 

Bite your tongue, lad.