"I’m back in training and ready for my next fight!"
FightNews received the following statement from former WBC bantamweight champion Wayne McCullough:
Contrary to press reports, I haven’t officially announced my retirement although lately many journalists have felt the need to hang up my gloves for me. One of my problems is that I wear my heart on my sleeve and tend to say what’s on my mind. Sometimes that gets me in trouble. And that’s what happened on June 20th following my withdrawal from a fight that I was winning against Juan Ruiz in the Cayman Islands. After the bout I was being very hard on myself and told the crowd in attendance that “This might be my last fight.” Unfortunately everyone assumed that meant I was retiring but I never intended to retire that night. I have always said I would think long and hard about that decision before I made any formal announcement. However for the past week I’ve been reading career eulogies on every website and in every newspaper you can imagine. I’m extremely grateful that journalists (many of whom are my dear friends) have felt the need to write such moving tributes to me but please wait until I make the official announcement. I’m back in training and ready for my next fight. I want to let you all know that the Pocket Rocket could be back in the ring soon!
Aslong as he knows his level, then I don't see this as a hugely bad move. As long as its at Super Bantam. I did think Ruiz was a tad over ambitions after such a long layoff and was surpised to hear he was doing as well as he did.
Let's be honest, though, Ruiz was a only a notch above a clubfighter. He was nothing special and would not even be good enough to challenge for a world title, let alone win one. McCullough pulls out half way through a fight with Ruiz and now this? It's crazy. Simple as that. Beforehand, McCullough said he'd call it a day if the Ruiz fight revealed some home truths - his engine wasn't there, he didn't have it in his legs, he couldn't get started. Guess what? Those home truths revealed themselves and McCullough did the right thing - accepted defeat and pulled out. It wasn't satisfactory, but it was a wise move.
He's a great champion, but now's the time to leave it. What good can actually come from continuing, beside the obvious (money)?
What do you guys think of a fight with dunne it would be a very big name on dunnes resume. It would be the biggest domestic fight I can remember anyway. Do you think it is of any value?
metropol wrote:What do you guys think of a fight with dunne it would be a very big name on dunnes resume. It would be the biggest domestic fight I can remember anyway. Do you think it is of any value?
I think this is what Wayne was aiming for. Maybe a big Irish fight, one last pay day.
I dont comprehend how he could quit on his stool, when technically ahead on the cards - or so I read - siting the loss of his mojo and then about turn the next week and expect fans to be anything other than bemused and bewildered.
McCullough will probably be able to compete at a decent level until he's 83 given his chin and dedication but he cannot regain the status or momentum he had, its a bitter pill to swallow but its the harsh reality - and this from someone who has given him more latitude with his plans than most.
37 at 122 pounds is roughly Larry Holmes age at Heavyweight.
