By Jonny Stapleton
The press had him all but retired and out of boxing after his last fight, but Wayne McCullough is eyeing up a historical Irish comeback in October.
The Irish boxing legend had sparked rumours he had eventually decided to hang up his gloves when, after retiring on his stool after six rounds against Juan Ruiz, he addressed the crowd and said. “I think this is my last fight and I want to thank you all for coming. I’m disappointed with the way things went but I just felt I couldn’t go on.”
The Olympic Silver medalist and former world super-bantamweight champion has since refuted reports he was ready to pick up his pension and it appears he will prove the doubters wrong if he steps into the ring in Dublin next month.
The American based pugilist has attempted an Irish return in recent years but both scheduled bouts were cancelled, including a fight with Spainard Kiko Martinez last December, but it appears McCullough could return home in style this October.
According to Ireland’s newest promoter, Tommy Egan, who ran his inaugural show in July, the McCullough camp has contacted him about a possible American title bout in Dublin. Egan claims the Pocket Rocket wants to fight inside Dublin’s National Basketball Stadium – a venue he sold out in 1995 when Prince Naseem Hamed was on his undercard.
“I can confirm I am in negotiations with Wayne McCullough regarding a possible American title fight in Ireland for around October for a rematch against Juan Ruiz,” Egan explained.
“Wayne’s wife Cheryl contacted me and asked me about putting on the fight and obviously I am very excited about the prospect. If it comes off it will make history as it will be the first American title fight to be staged outside the States. The rules regarding American title fights are they can be contested anywhere in the world once both fighters are American nationals. So we can go ahead with the bout and Cheryl told me Wayne wants the fight to be held in the National Basketball Arena. He has found memories of his last fight there,” added Egan.
