Tyrone McCullagh explained

Tyrone McCullagh
Nickname:White Chocolate
Height:5 ft 6 in
Weight:
Birth Date:1990 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Derry, Northern Ireland
Nationality:Irish
Style:Southpaw
Total:16
Wins:14
Ko:6
Losses:2

Tyrone McCullagh (born 9 September 1990) is an Irish former professional boxer. As an amateur, he won bronze at the 2010 European Championships[1] and represented Northern Ireland at the 2010 Commonwealth Games where he reached the quarter-finals.[2]

Personal life

McCullagh was born in Derry.

Away from boxing, he works as a mental health nurse[3] and has acknowledged the work of the NHS on his fight shorts.[4]

An outspoken Irish nationalist, he has stated numerous times that he will not box for the British title despite being in a position to do so.[5]

Amateur career

An amateur with Illies GG in Donegal and then Holy Family GG in Belfast, he won the Irish title in 2010[6] and would go on to claim bronze at the European Championships in Moscow that summer. A runner-up at National level twice more, as well as spending time in Kazakhstan as part of the Astana Arlans World Series of Boxing team.

Professional career

Turning professional having been angered by the politics of the amateur side of the sport,[7] McCullagh made his professional debut on 25 July 2015, in Ellesmere Port, where he scored a second-round knockout (KO) of Tamas Laska.[8]

Following 10 wins, and a move down in weight to super-bantamweight, he secured a shot at the Celtic title versus Scottish champ Joe Ham. McCullagh defeated Ham in Belfast on 30 June 2018, surviving a knockdown in the third round to otherwise dominate the Glaswegian.[9]

McCullagh would then beat English champion Josh Kennedy on 5 October 2018[10] to add the WBO European title to his collection, a belt he would subsequently defend versus Spanish champion Alvaro Rodriguez.[11]

McCullagh returned to featherweight in his next fight to enter The Golden Contract competition and he would win his quarter-final bout on 4 October 2019 at the York Hall, London, versus late replacement Razaq Najib.[12] [13] McCullagh was subsequently defeated by Ryan Walsh in the semi-finals at the same venue on 21 February 2020.[14]

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
15Loss14–1 Ryan WalshUD1021 Feb 2020
14Win14–0 Razaq NajibUD104 Oct 2019
13Win13–0 Álvaro RodríguezUD103 May 2019
12Win12–0 Josh KennedyUD105 Oct 2018
11Win11–0 Joe Ham1030 June 2018
10Win10–0 Elvis GuillénTKO3 (6), 21 Apr 2018
9Win9–0 Tom TranTKO5 (8), 1 Dec 2017
8Win8–0 Craig Derbyshire2 (?)16 Sep 2017
7Win7–0 José AguilarPTS410 Jun 2017
6Win6–0 Michael BarnorPTS43 Mar 2017
5Win5–0 Edwin TéllezTKO4 (6), 8 Oct 2016
4Win4–0 Aleksandrs Birkenbergs425 Jun 2016
3Win3–0 Antons ZacestsTKO1 (4), 6 Feb 2016
2Win2–0 Bence SiposTKO2 (4), 21 Nov 2015
1Win1–0 Tamas Laska2 (4), 25 July 2015

Notes and References

  1. https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/tyrone-claims-euro-bronze-in-moscow-1-2146412
  2. News: NI guaranteed five boxing medals. October 10, 2010. news.bbc.co.uk.
  3. News: Tyrone McCullagh: My first defeat damaged my mental health but I have a new outlook now. Belfasttelegraph. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  4. Web site: Coronavirus: NHS mental health nurse and pro boxer on how to cope with life under lockdown. www.newsletter.co.uk.
  5. Web site: Boxing Insider Interview with Tyrone McCullagh: European Titlist with Eyes on a World. November 23, 2018.
  6. Web site: Irish Nationals - 2010. amateur-boxing.strefa.pl.
  7. Web site: McCullagh: I am glad to be leaving clowns running the Amateur game behind -. April 20, 2015.
  8. Web site: Tyrone McCullagh wins on professional debut. Chris. McNulty. July 26, 2015.
  9. Web site: Tyrone McCullough takes Celtic title and Carroll and Geragthy go to war in Belfast fight night. Andy. Watters. July 2, 2018. The Irish News.
  10. Web site: Tyrone McCullagh outclasses Josh Kennedy in Belfast BoxNation headliner -. October 5, 2018.
  11. News: McCullagh needs a real test after cruising to victory. Belfasttelegraph. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  12. Web site: Mexican ailment gives Najib Golden opportunity against Tyrone McCullagh -. October 3, 2019.
  13. Web site: Tyrone McCullagh books spot in semi-finals with win over Razaq Najib | Golden Contract Quarter-Final. YouTube.
  14. Web site: Ryan Walsh Drops, Outpoints Gutsy Tyrone McCullagh At York Hall. BoxingScene.com.