Wayne McCullough's retirement imminent

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 06 Jan 2004, 14:27

Rumours emanating from Las Vegas suggest that Wayne McCullough might well have fought for the last time. The Nevada based Belfastman had signalled his intention to continue in the sport following an unsuccessful bid for Scott Harrison's WBO featherweight title last March but a source close to the McCullough camp admitted last night that McCullough may now have hung up his gloves for good.
The 33-year-old has been kept busy with out of the ring activities in the last year and it's thought that this combined with his split from promoter allegedly has convinced McCullough to pursue opportunities outside of the ring. Neither McCullough nor his wife and manager Cheryl were available for comment on the speculation. It's believed they have taken a few days away from their Las Vegas home.
Since the defeat to Harrison, the former WBC bantamweight champ has kept busy taking part in the revived Superstars series on the BBC and presenting a documentary on his native Belfast that also aired on the BBC. Back in Las Vegas McCullough has started working with young fighters as he looks to pass on the immense knowledge gained from sharing a ring with world champions Joel Casamayor, Victor Rabanales, Fabrice Benichou, Yasuei Yakushiji, Johnny Bredahl, Jose Luis Bueno, Daniel Zaragoza, Naseem Hamed, Erik Morales and Scott Harrison.
The split with Warren, although amicable is said to have disappointed McCullough, who had planned on finishing his career back in UK under the Sports Network promotional banner. Although Warren delivered on his promise of showcasing McCullough back in front of his home town fans the 1992 Olympic silver medallist was also desperate to fight in Dublin.
After the promotional ties with Warren were severed McCullough declared his intention to resume his career Stateside. The oft-mooted clash with Texan Paulie Ayala was mentioned once more with both camps saying they would be interested in the fight. Once again though it appears that there wasn't enough money on the table for the two fighters who are shrewd enough to know that despite recent defeats they are both still big draws on US TV.
McCullough has always relished big fights, and marking time bouts at this point in his career don't appear to be of any interest. Only last month McCullough reiterated that he was in fighting shape and had received a clean bill of health following his bout with Harrison. Wife and manager Cheryl had been negotiating with a number of the leading US promoters in the hope of landing McCullough a chance at securing a second world title. However television executives have been cutting their boxing budgets to fit the current economic circumstances and it's believed that the offers on the table for McCullough simply weren't lucrative enough.
While there has of yet been no official confirmation from McCullough the rumours persist that the "Pocket Rocket's" career may be at an end. Those who called for McCullough to retire after the Harrison fight may yet have their wish granted. If that is indeed the case then I'm sure all boxing fans will wish him well and always remember the legendary heart and chin of the "Shankhill Warrior".

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 06 Jan 2004, 14:35

Even though is always sad when a popular fighter calls time it is sometimes the right decision, in this case i think it is. Thanks for the memories Wayne, you will always somehow be a nearly man for me but a true warrior and champion none the less.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 06 Jan 2004, 18:51

Didn't McCulloch start out with Eddie Futch, or am I thinking of someone else, oh hang on, I'm thinking of McCallum, easy mistake, both jockos.

celticwarrior · Post by **celticwarrior** » 07 Jan 2004, 05:44

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Didn't McCulloch start out with Eddie Futch, or am I thinking of someone else, oh hang on, I'm thinking of McCallum, easy mistake, both jockos.

Yes he did start out with Futch. He was one of Eddie's last World Champions. (Montell Griffin was probably the last.)

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 07 Jan 2004, 07:36

Good news as he needs to be saved from his wife/manager, who seems to like watching him get repeatedly clobbered.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 07 Jan 2004, 07:50

Makes you wonder whether he has a tiddly cock, or maybe he knocked her about at home? She had the most poker-faced look all the way through the Harrison beating, she must be a very hard-nosed woman.

Hardhitters11 · Post by **Hardhitters11** » 07 Jan 2004, 07:50

I think this is for the best...He still has enough to rule domestic and European but he would never be happy at that level and will only end up getting hurt at world level.

He has had a good career so all the best to him.

HH

thepocketrocket · Post by **thepocketrocket** » 07 Jan 2004, 08:49

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Makes you wonder whether he has a tiddly cock, or maybe he knocked her about at home? She had the most poker-faced look all the way through the Harrison beating, she must be a very hard-nosed woman.

Isnt that slightly disrespectful to the family???? Will that be the basis of your next article?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 07 Jan 2004, 08:52

Yes, I'm working on it already.

It will be entitled 'Wayne McCulloch, no rocket in the pocket?'