Barry McGuigan's night of glory and bringing Northern Ireland together
As you might imagine, it's been a busy week. That people are still willing to mark the greatest night of my career 40 years after I beat Eusebio Pedroza to lift the WBA featherweight title is incredible.
Thursday night in Bristol followed fantastic receptions in Monaghan in Ireland and Cannock. I have also contributed to a raft of TV and radio programmes commemorating the occasion.
It is clearly very nostalgic for people as much as it is for me with so many having stories to share. It was a moment in time that saw almost 19 million watching live on telly.
One woman called Valerie asked me to send her dad a note. He is 90. She was 11 when they travelled together on a bus from Bangor in Northern Ireland. When the celebrations were over, they got back on the bus and drove the whole way home. He said it was one of greatest nights of his life.
It was a terrifying time in Northern Ireland and I did something that none believed possible, bringing people together. Leave the fighting to McGuigan was the slogan of the day. I'm as proud of that as I was of winning the title, giving people a sense of relief and joy in the middle of all that turmoil.
Anthony Joshua warned to avoid one opponent for comeback - 'He'd be flattened'
Paddy Pimblett told only way to earn £20million is to quit UFC
I had supporters from the Falls (Catholics) and the Shankill (Protestants) travelling together at the height of the Troubles. The killings, the deaths, the hatred were all set aside for one amazing night. It showed the kind of support I had, and that is what I remember above all.
Of course I recall the details. The BBC had never done a live outside broadcast of that kind before. That's why it was at QPR. It was only 200 metres to run back to the studio if anything went wrong.
We had a weigh-in on the Tuesday at the Lonsdale shop in the middle of Soho on Beak Street. Pedroza shouted into the camera 'I kill you'.
The whole week was incredible. And fight night was amazing with 14,000 people over from Ireland.
A guy sent me a mock-up of the original poster. It featured the likes of Dave McAuley, Simon Eubank, Roy Webb, Gary Muir and David Irvine, now a WBC referee.
I'm still friendly with him. I have not seen Webb or Muir since. Eubank died a couple of years ago and I'm still here and in good health.
Honestly, I have had so much loss in my life, the overwhelming thought when I look back is sadness at losing my dad, my daughter, my brother and sister. But hopefully I'll still be around to celebrate the 50th, please God.
Follow Barry on X at @ClonesCyclone @mcguigan's_Gym.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
14 hours ago
- Metro
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition Switch 2 review
The most important third party release for the Nintendo Switch 2 is a port of Cyberpunk 2077 and its expansion Phantom Liberty, but how does it run on the new console? If you'd asked me before the Switch 2 was unveiled, what game I would want to put in my pocket and carry around all day, it would probably have been Cyberpunk 2077. If you'd asked me what I thought of Nintendo, I would have shrugged. PC and PlayStation have long been my bread and butter and Nintendo are usually only a secondary consideration. Like many fans, I've been following the game all the way from its first loud statement of a trailer in 2013, with my first playthrough being in 2020, after its disastrous launch on last gen hardware. Based on the 1988 tabletop game, which was in turn heavily inspired by the work of the writer William Gibson, there is an expansive universe of language, lore, and narrative in Cyberpunk 2077 that gives the game great weight and depth. I first entered the world of Night City to pilot my own chromed-up Valerie on the PS4 Pro, once some of the early patches had killed off the worst of the infamous last gen launch bugs. Even then, it was capped to 30fps and I found myself clipping through the world at regular intervals, the black void loading screens between some scenes stretching on for a full minute at a time. Night City itself, a vast neon-bathed techno sprawl, was largely empty. There was simply not enough processing power to allow for dense crowds and busy roads. For this review I revisited my PS4 Pro edition and played the first three hours, before diving into the Switch 2 version, and I can only conclude that the pure magic of the game itself is what kept so many of us sticking with it to the end, despite the poor performance. In a way, the nightmare launch was almost a blessing, as CD Projekt Red have not stopped repenting for it. We got a free upgrade to the PlayStation 5 edition – a rare snippet of altruism from a developer in today's gaming climate – and a wonderful Bond-esque slice of DLC in 2023's Phantom Liberty, that was criminally excluded from The Game Awards (the rules were later changed for Elden Ring's 2024 DLC). I should acknowledge that Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition on the Switch 2 occupies a weird space in terms of new releases. In an era of constant remakes and remasters, a port of a game that is now almost five years old, as a flagship third party launch title for the Switch 2, is an odd sell. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. But I see Nintendo's logic. Cyberpunk 2077 has long been a benchmark for graphic performance. Indeed, the new 50 series Nvidia GPUs had Cyberpunk running front and centre in their marketing for achievements in, albeit controversial, AI-boosted graphical fidelity and frame rates. So Nintendo, or rather CD Projekt, pulling off a passable version of Cyberpunk 2077 on the Switch 2 is a perfectly braggable achievement. So, to address the sceptical gamer's key question: is it a buggy, unplayable mess, à la 2020? Well, no. In fact, it's really good. I'll admit I was nervous playing the preview at the Switch 2 Experience – how on earth would a 40fps cap, at 720p in handheld mode, handle intense gunfights, when I'm used to 100+ fps on my gaming rig? But this thing is a technical marvel, surgically jammed into less than 64GB by CD Projekt Red's own ripper doctors (AAA studios, take note). Visually, Nintendo's DLSS and ray tracing capabilities are doing a lot of heavy lifting. The lighting is seriously impressive and feels current gen. The graphics sit comfortably well above the nine-year-old PS4 Pro, and a little below the hefty PlayStation 5. In handheld mode you'll get around two- and a-bit hours of gameplay. Make of that what you will, but you won't find the console burning up in your hands, which is impressive. The unit feels only a little warm to the touch after several hours. Crucially though, I've been playing happily and willingly every day since launch and have yet to encounter any serious crashes. Do frames drop a bit when you're trying to kill 20 of the most chromed-up 6th Street Gang members you've ever seen, in a bustling Night City in handheld mode? Yes, of course. There's some stutter in areas of the map and whilst driving, but it's just not enough to throw you out – especially when you recall the PS4 Pro's capped 30fps and frame stutter. Anecdotally, the main issue I've encountered in combat is actually that it is far too easy to hit the grenade button (R) on the Joy-Con in handheld mode. When you're jamming the shoot bumper (ZR) right next to it as much as I do, bad things are bound to happen. And that bad thing is panic-dropping a grenade at V's feet mid-combat. Ouch. The Pro Controller or third party controller is therefore a recommended addition to your playthrough, trust me on this. What's also impressive is that CD Projekt Red have utilised absolutely every bell and whistle Nintendo has to offer with the Switch 2. The user Interface and menu system is fully touchscreen, whilst narrowly side-stepping naff iPad accusations. You can also, hilariously, use the Joy-Cons like a Wii remote. I highly recommend running around with mantis blades and pulling punches during the street-fighting side quest, it's hugely satisfying and I've never felt more cyberpunk. The best part is that none of this feels like a forced, obnoxious gimmick. It's just cool and it's there if you fancy it. CD Projekt Red may well spend the rest of Cyberpunk's lifespan, and all future titles, repenting for the launch day disaster. But in repenting we've gotten a solid and complete game that pulls out all of the stops, with nothing spared. Putting the game on a physical, 64GB cartridge, that doesn't require you to download most of it, also feels like a direct nod to the consumer – as unlike most other third party titles this doesn't come on a Game-Key Card. But what about other handhelds? It offers a hell of a lot more flexibility than the Steam Deck's offering, whilst certainly being far more reliable and stable. There is the Xbox handheld just around the corner, but it's widely predicted to cost more than the Switch 2, as the two year old ROG Ally series goes for £450-£800 across all variants. So the Switch 2 version not only performs better than other handheld options but it's overall cheaper too. More Trending Of course, if you've never played the game before, perhaps because the Switch 1 was your last gen console, then this is an easy sell. It's not the best version of the game but it's a classy port that works well in both handheld and TV mode, with very few compromises. Update 2.3, due out on June 26, is set to be the last one for the game, so the question is: when that's released will I be logging in on my high-spec gaming PC, my PlayStation 5, or the Switch 2? Much like the chromed-up street rats that roam Night City, I am a creature of convenience. So, getting to play the game in an unbroken state wherever I want is a very tempting prospect. Although the cross-platform save support means that if you're enough of an insane gonk to own multiple copies, you don't actually need to make that choice. Formats: Nintendo Switch 2 (reviewed), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PCPrice: £59.99Publisher: CD ProjektDeveloper: CD Projekt RedRelease Date: 5th June 2025 Age Rating: 3 Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Where to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 in the UK right now MORE: Yakuza 0 Director's Cut review – Kiryu on the Nintendo Switch 2 MORE: Games Inbox: Is Nintendo the best video game company ever?
Daily Mirror
17 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Barry McGuigan's night of glory and bringing Northern Ireland together
As you might imagine, it's been a busy week. That people are still willing to mark the greatest night of my career 40 years after I beat Eusebio Pedroza to lift the WBA featherweight title is incredible. Thursday night in Bristol followed fantastic receptions in Monaghan in Ireland and Cannock. I have also contributed to a raft of TV and radio programmes commemorating the occasion. It is clearly very nostalgic for people as much as it is for me with so many having stories to share. It was a moment in time that saw almost 19 million watching live on telly. One woman called Valerie asked me to send her dad a note. He is 90. She was 11 when they travelled together on a bus from Bangor in Northern Ireland. When the celebrations were over, they got back on the bus and drove the whole way home. He said it was one of greatest nights of his life. It was a terrifying time in Northern Ireland and I did something that none believed possible, bringing people together. Leave the fighting to McGuigan was the slogan of the day. I'm as proud of that as I was of winning the title, giving people a sense of relief and joy in the middle of all that turmoil. Anthony Joshua warned to avoid one opponent for comeback - 'He'd be flattened' Paddy Pimblett told only way to earn £20million is to quit UFC I had supporters from the Falls (Catholics) and the Shankill (Protestants) travelling together at the height of the Troubles. The killings, the deaths, the hatred were all set aside for one amazing night. It showed the kind of support I had, and that is what I remember above all. Of course I recall the details. The BBC had never done a live outside broadcast of that kind before. That's why it was at QPR. It was only 200 metres to run back to the studio if anything went wrong. We had a weigh-in on the Tuesday at the Lonsdale shop in the middle of Soho on Beak Street. Pedroza shouted into the camera 'I kill you'. The whole week was incredible. And fight night was amazing with 14,000 people over from Ireland. A guy sent me a mock-up of the original poster. It featured the likes of Dave McAuley, Simon Eubank, Roy Webb, Gary Muir and David Irvine, now a WBC referee. I'm still friendly with him. I have not seen Webb or Muir since. Eubank died a couple of years ago and I'm still here and in good health. Honestly, I have had so much loss in my life, the overwhelming thought when I look back is sadness at losing my dad, my daughter, my brother and sister. But hopefully I'll still be around to celebrate the 50th, please God. Follow Barry on X at @ClonesCyclone @mcguigan's_Gym.
Scottish Sun
19 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Jake Paul ranks cruiserweight world champions and reveals he is in talks with TWO for shock title fight
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JAKE PAUL says he is in talks to fight TWO of the cruiserweight world champions - having ranked the title holders. The YouTuber-turned-boxer - who only debuted as a professional in 2020 - has set his sights on challenging for 200lb gold after just 12 fights. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Jake Paul says he is in talks to fight for the cruiserweight world title Credit: Getty 6 WBA and WBO chamo Gilberto Ramirez fights on Jake Paul's undercard Credit: Splash 6 WBC champ Badou Jack is open to a fight with Jake Paul Credit: Getty 6 IBF champ Jai Opetaia has no interest in Jake Paul Credit: EPA Current WBA and WBO unified champ Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez returns on Paul's June 28 undercard and WBC boss Badou Jack is also on his radar. Australia's pound-for-pound star and IBF holder Jai Opetaia is considered the best of the bunch - and Paul is in agreement. He said: "Zurdo and Jai are probably tied for No1 and I would say Badou is No2. "But all formidable opponents and we're in conversations with Zurdo and also Badou as as potential fights for next year." READ MORE IN boxing WHISKEY BUSINESS Jake Paul admits proposing was harder than any fight and he needed whiskey Ramirez, 33, faces Cuban Yuniel Dorticos, 39, the night Paul returns against former middleweight world champ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. And promoter Oscar de la Hoya has talked up a shock bout between Ramirez and Paul in the future. Meanwhile Jack, 41, opened the door to defending his green and gold belt against the former Disney Channel actor, sparking behind-the-scenes conversations. But Opetaia, 29, has refused to even entertain a fight with Paul as he looks to cement himself as a legitimate great with his eyes on the heavyweight division. 6 CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS And Paul was probed on why the Aussie phenomenon was not joined by Ramirez and Jack on his list of potential title fights. But he said: "It might line up but at the end of the day, there's 100 people that want to fight me. Jake Paul admits heavyweight body transformation was 'brutal' and left him 'too fat' "I got Canelo, Gervonta (Davis), Anthony Joshua, Badou, Zurdo, Tommy Fury, KSI, the list keeps on going. "So it's just about what makes sense and we'll see when the negotiations come but I would for sure entertain a fight with him." Paul drops back down to the 14st 4lb cruiserweight limit of 200lbs after bulking up TWO STONE to fight at heavyweight against Mike Tyson. But he admitted to getting "too fat" at 227lb (16st 2lb) for his points win over Tyson - who controversially returned at aged 58. "It was just too much and my body wasn't made for it," he said. "And even when I got into the ring I just felt too fat. So cruiserweight is definitely the perfect weight for me." Paul was close to agreeing a blockbuster May 3 bout in Las Vegas against Canelo Alvarez, 34, until the Mexican walked away from the deal. So Paul turned his attention to an exhibition bout against WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis - despite their FIVE STONE difference. But Davis is now set to rematch Lamont Roach in August after their controversial New York draw in March. Paul, 28, finally called upon ex-middleweight world champ Chavez Jr, 39, back down at his natural and more comfortable weight. He said ahead of the June 28 DAZN PPV: "I wanted the hardest and the biggest fights, which was first Canelo then Gervonta fell through. "And then at any given point in time we're negotiating or talking with five to six fighters to see who's down and ready to fight and making a date happen. "And after Canelo and Gervonta, we were talking to multiple people and Chavez was the one to step up, that made sense for me to stay active and get a fight in June. "So really it's just the long line and I just need more time but I'm gonna get to all of these names when the stars aligned."
