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, having been led to believe he was there to attend an awards ceremony.

Barry, who was born in Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland, was hooked on boxing at school and boxed regularly in local amateur shows, winning the All-Ireland Amateur Championship when he was only 15. Nicknamed the Clones Cyclone, Barry won a gold medal representing Northern Ireland in the Bantamweight category at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and represented Ireland at the Summer Olympic Games in 1980.

He turned professional in 1981 and became a UK citizen to compete for British titles, winning the British and European Featherweight titles in 1983. Having won the WBA Featherweight World Championship in June 1985, he lost the title the following year and, following a break-up with his manager, 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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