McCullough suspended

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 18 Jul 2005, 14:45

Doctor calls time on 'Pocket Rocket'
By Bob Mee in Las Vegas
(Filed: 18/07/2005)

Wayne McCullough's gruelling, sometimes splendid career is almost certainly over.

The Irishman has been placed on an indefinite medical suspension after Dr Margaret Goodman stopped his world title challenge here against Oscar Larios.

Goodman got up from her ringside chair the moment the 10th round ended, climbed through the ropes and told McCullough, 35, she would not allow him to take any more punches.

Then she turned and signalled to referee Richard Steele, who used to run the Las Vegas gym where McCullough, the 'Pocket Rocket', trained for much of his career, that the fight was over.

Back in her seat, as McCullough was on the brink of tears just a few feet above her, she reflected sadly on the fact that in 2001 she oversaw the medical investigations as the boxer fought to continue his career.

In Britain, he had been denied a licence because of a cyst on the brain. When he returned to his American home, Goodman sent him to a Californian specialist and led the assessments of the case in Nevada.

Now, if McCullough wants to box on, he will need to pass substantial medical tests. "I've placed him on an indefinite suspension - it's a long road back from here," she said.

The former World Boxing Council bantamweight champion knew Goodman was right.

"I felt the doctor made the right call," he said, as his wife and manager, Cheryl, and seven-year-old daughter Winona stood alongside him in the ring. "I'm very disappointed. He never really hurt me, but I felt sluggish. I'm going home to take a rest."

Larios, who was defending the WBC super-bantamweight title, had controversially beaten McCullough on points in February.

This time, the Mexican dominated and won every round on one of the judge's scorecards. The boxers threw more than 1,100 punches each in the 10 rounds.

Nobody who boxed the man from Belfast, a silver medallist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and a world champion 10 years ago, ever had an easy night.

"How did he stay up after all those punches he was taking?" Larios said. "It was really amazing."

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 18 Jul 2005, 14:47

Although dissapointed it looks like Wayne knows that the doctor was doing the right thing, hopefully he will hang up the gloves now.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 18 Jul 2005, 14:48

I hope so too, it needed someone like Goodman to step in and make the decision, it was clear Roach and Steele both wanted to do it.

Manos de Oro · Post by **Manos de Oro** » 18 Jul 2005, 16:40

Best thing for him. Remember Jerry Quarry.

ArtOfWar · Post by **ArtOfWar** » 18 Jul 2005, 16:52

Good luck to Wayne.

DAVE2005 · Post by **DAVE2005** » 18 Jul 2005, 17:44

its always sad when a boxers career ends like this.Rember the good time Wayne good luck in the future

Coconut · Post by **Coconut** » 19 Jul 2005, 03:26

He'll be a good coach, I reckon, and I'd also enjoy hearing him as a colour commentator. He understands and respects the sport.

Foggy · Post by **Foggy** » 19 Jul 2005, 07:33

Could be a blessing for Wayne to be honest i'd rather him get out of the sport now with his health in tack rather than carry on and get seriously hurt

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 19 Jul 2005, 12:21

I really hope Wayne doesn't fight again, he's got so much to offer outside the ring as a commentator or trainer it'd be really tragic if he had too many fights and ended up not 100%.

punchers chance · Post by **punchers chance** » 20 Jul 2005, 05:31

Wayne is the bravest of the brave with his granite chin and never give up attitude, but no man can take that volume of power punches and not suffer some lasting damage.
He should have quit after the Harrison fight.
I really hope he listens to the people around him and calls it a day now.