Ex-champion boxer speaks of heartbreak after fiancée left him for Michael Flatley
The retired heavyweight, who dated the well-known model for most of the 90s, told how he could not compete with Flatley who was making 'a million pounds a week'
The legendary Irish boxer Joe Egan has recalled the heartbreak he endured when former love Lisa Murphy left him for dancing super star Michael Flatley.
The retired heavyweight, who dated the well-known model for most of the 90s, told how he could not compete with Flatley who was making 'a million pounds a week'.
'My ex-missus, you know I won't speak bad of her, she passed away last year God rest her, Lisa Murphy,' Egan said.
'But she left me for Michael Flatley who at the time was the biggest star in the world, the Irish dancer. He was earning a million pounds a week.
'I'd have nearly gone with him myself, to tell you the truth. I couldn't compete with him, in the money (stakes).
Lisa Murphy
News in 90 Seconds - June 17
'She left me, like I said, for the biggest star in the world and at the time it was very, very hard, to accept. But then, you meet another girl, and you're like, 'what was I moping over that one for?
'It just hurts, at the time, (but) you'll get another girl and a better girl.'
Following her split with Irish boxing legend Egan in 1999, Lisa began a romance with Riverdance icon Flatley.
She later dated celebrity lawyer Gerald Kean for ten years, between 2006 and 2016, but tragically died last year after a six-year battle against cancer at age 51.
Joe who was with Lisa until they split was heartbroken at her death, telling The Irish Sun: 'She fought so, so hard . . . the only positive is that she is at peace now.'
'I am absolutely heartbroken. I loved her, I will always love her. She was one of the kindest people you could ever possibly meet,' he said at the time.
Big Joe said the Dublin Wives star was one of the kindest people he'd ever met, adding that she 'never spoke a bad word about me, she never spoke a bad word about Michael Flatley, she never spoke a bad word about Gerald'.
Big Joe talking about Lisa
'Lisa was a credit to humanity,' he added. 'You will never find someone who had a bad thing to say about Lisa, she was just a shining light who loved her friends and family.'
In February of last year, Flatley broke down in tears at the funeral of his former fiancée in Dublin.
The famed dancer wept with uncontrollable grief when Lisa's coffin was carried shoulder high at the end of the service in Ballinteer in south Dublin.
Flatley was accompanied by his wife Niamh, and after the service he gave emotional hugs to several members of Lisa's family near the hearse.
Celebrity lawyer Kean was composed at the service, but he did put his arm around his daughter Kirsten at one stage after she became emotional during a sad hymn near the end.
About 400 mourners, many wearing pink due to Lisa's cancer battle, attended the service.
Among well-known faces at the mass in St John the Evangelist church were Lisa's fellow Dublin Wives star Roz Flanagan, Virgin Media presenter Martin King and his photographer wife Jenny King, boxer Jim Rock and former Dragon's Den star Niall O'Farrell.
The former model, TV star and salon owner was later laid to rest in Mount Venus cemetery, with many mourners attending the family-organised reception at the Goat pub in Goatstown.
Remembering Ms Murphy at her funeral, her brother Noel said she was 'the perfect child' and recalled how she helped her parents care for her late brother Paul, who had special needs.
"In my mum's own words, God love her, she always had to be good,' he said.
"In her 51 years, Lisa lived a life so full of love and energy, that was so vibrant that everyone who came in contact with her instantly fell in love with her.
"Lisa was born to be a mother, but although she wasn't blessed with her own children, she most definitely had six children in her nieces and nephews.
"They absolutely adored her beyond words. Lisa was always on hand to spoil them on every occasion, from beautiful designer baby clothes and gifts, but more importantly her undivided attention, advice, love and famous auntie Lisa hugs.'
Flatley revealed the week before that he was aware of Murphy's illness and had visited her in St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin.
'She was a lovely, caring person. I got the call from her father, Des, early this morning with the news. It's very, very sad. God rest her soul,' he said.
Murphy had worked as a model before becoming a TV personality on various reality programmes.
She had starred in fly-on-the-wall TV series Dublin Wives.
Gerald Kean was another who offered sympathy to the family and friends of his former fiancée.
'It's devastating news,' he said. 'She was a wonderful lady. She was a big part of my life and also in particular of my daughter's.'
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