This Is Your Life: Barry McGuigan

Barry MCGUIGAN (1961-)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Barry McGuigan, boxer, was surprised by Michael Aspel - with the help of commentator Reg Gutteridge - at Thames Television's Teddington Studios, where he had been led to believe he was attending an awards ceremony.

Barry, who was born in Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland, was hooked on boxing from his early schoolboy days, and boxed regularly in local amateur shows, winning the All Ireland Amateur Championship when he was only 15. As an amateur, and nicknamed the Clones Cyclone, Barry represented Northern Ireland in the 1978 Commonwealth Games, winning a gold medal in the Bantamweight category, and the 1980 Olympic Games.

Barry turned professional in 1981 and became a UK citizen in order to compete for British titles. He won the British and European featherweight titles in 1983 and in June 1985 he defeated Panamanian Eusebio Pedroza to become the WBA Featherweight World Champion. He lost the title in June 1986 and following a break up with his manager, he became a TV chat show host and a recording star. After a stint at motor racing, he returned to the ring, and his latest fight drew 19 million television viewers - the largest audience ever for a boxing match.

"You got me absolutely!"

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