Ex-world champion Magee so broke he barely has bus fare

[opticald]

Troubled boxing idol Eamonn Magee has admitted blowing hundreds of thousands of pounds at the bookies. The former WBU world welterweight champion says he has no idea how much cash he has lost but reckons it could be as much as £500,000.

“I've gambled all my life, I am a compulsive gambler,” Magee told Sunday Life.

“I've been going to the bookies since I was 16, I've bet big sums and lost big sums — that's the truth.”

Magee, 38, raked in a fortune from prime-time fights that included a 2002 clash with Ricky ‘The Hitman' Hatton, which was watched on Sky TV by an audience of millions.

But the Belfast boxer, who is considered by many as the best Irish fighter of his generation, is now jobless and on income support having gambled hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Magee, from the Ardoyne district in the north of the city, was charged last month with beating up his ex-girlfriend — an accusation he strongly denies.

As part of the 38-year-old's strict bail conditions he has to live with his brother in Newcastle, Co Down.

Magee, who was nicknamed ‘The Terminator', says he can hardly afford the bus fare to and from Breen's gym in Belfast where he works voluntarily as a trainer.

He raged: “I'm on income support, how am I supposed to get from Newcastle to the gym in Belfast each day?

“I've heard of people accused of murder who have been given better bail conditions.”

Magee says his gambling problems began as a teenager.

Close pals of the fighter told Sunday Life he has lost up to £500,000 and that his biggest single bet was £30,000.

Magee did not deny the claims, shrugging his shoulders as he added: “If that's what people say, let them say it.

“Everyone thinks I've made a mint from boxing and I'm rolling in it but I’ve lost an awful lot.”

Since retiring from the ring two years ago Magee has been training fighters. The boxers he has worked with include former Commonwealth Cruiserweight champion Martin Rogan.

Magee was in Rogan's corner when he lost his title to Sam Sexton at the Odyssey Arena in May.

After the fight Rogan ditched Breen and Magee as trainers amid rumours Magee had bet £7,000 on Sexton to win.

Magee admits he had a bet on the Rogan fight — but says his money was firmly on his man.

“I've heard rumours that I had money on Sexton, but that's total crap,” he said.

“I had £1,000 on Martin and that's the last time I’ll have money on any on my fighters in case I scud them and they get beat again.

“It's true that I haven't spoken to Martin since the fight, but as far as I am concerned there has been no fall out.”

Seven years ago Magee shocked the world when he floored hot favourite Ricky Hatton in the first round of their world title fight in Manchester.

The Belfast boxer had his opponent in major trouble again in the second round before taking his foot off the gas and eventually losing on points.

Within days of the clash it was rumoured Magee had thrown the fight because he had £10,000 riding on Hatton to win on points.

“I've heard the rumours about the Hatton fight too, but they are a load of crap,” fumed Magee.

“Actually they make me laugh — looking back I wish I had put money on Hatton to win on points.

“The only fight where I put money on myself was to beat Allan Vester in the King's Hall in 2005.

“I had £50 on myself at 10/1 to stop him in the third round and I did.”

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunda ... z0Tdc0ZaV1

[whicker]

“I had £50 on myself at 10/1 to stop him in the third round and I did.”

Is a boxer allowed to bet on his own method of victory? Seems a bit fishy, in a way.

Surely to a boxer can't bet on himself to lose, for very obvious reasons.

[WildWaylon]

Would the average bookie recognize Magee as long as he didnt bet locally, therefore betting on his own fights should have been fairly easy. Its very sad that he made a lot of money and blew the lot on gambling. Boxing is a very tough business and you want something to show for all the pain, the training and self denial, when your career ends.

[whicker]

Would the average bookie recognize Magee as long as he didnt bet locally, therefore betting on his own fights should have been fairly easy.

For sure, it's easy, but if there was an issue (a big win etc) they might refuse to pay.

[Old bones Ian]

How come he's on income support?
if he's ok to work then he should be on job seekers allowance, i can't see how he's to sick to work but ok to be a boxing trainer

[steve689]

Hope next time I'm in Breen's he doesn't ask to lend a tenner!

[gobbles]

Would the average bookie recognize Magee as long as he didnt bet locally, therefore betting on his own fights should have been fairly easy. Its very sad that he made a lot of money and blew the lot on gambling. Boxing is a very tough business and you want something to show for all the pain, the training and self denial, when your career ends.

I think most bookies in Northern Ireland would know Magee. Also, a bookie would be very unlikely to take a big bet on a fight from someone they didn't know.

[oliverfennell]

Don't know if Magee was betting on himself or not but regarding boxers doing so, there's nothing to stop them because gambling at the bookies is anonymous.

[lowersmiths]

But the Belfast boxer, who is considered by many as the best Irish fighter of his generation

all a matter of opinion of course, but damaen kelly would be my pick

[whicker]

Don't know if Magee was betting on himself or not but regarding boxers doing so, there's nothing to stop them because gambling at the bookies is anonymous.

True, but they could query it if they felt something was "off".

Its a tricky one, betting on yourself to win in round 3. Bookies could argue, with some justification, that the fighter could deliberaly lay off in round 2 (for example) in order to make his bet come true. Or if a fighter has bet on himself to win on points, he could deliberatly avoid KOing his opponent.

It would be a bit like a footballer deliberalty missing a late penatly that would take the game to 3-0, because he had a bet on it being 2-0.

However, it could be argued that it was up to the indivudal athlete to fight his fight however he chooses- unless he deliberalty loses, of course. (Not saying that anyone does that.)

[forcefraser]

Don't know if Magee was betting on himself or not but regarding boxers doing so, there's nothing to stop them because gambling at the bookies is anonymous.

True, but they could query it if they felt something was "off".

Its a tricky one, betting on yourself to win in round 3. Bookies could argue, with some justification, that the fighter could deliberaly lay off in round 2 (for example) in order to make his bet come true. Or if a fighter has bet on himself to win on points, he could deliberatly avoid KOing his opponent.

It would be a bit like a footballer deliberalty missing a late penatly that would take the game to 3-0, because he had a bet on it being 2-0.

Most gambling is done online these days anyway. Poor sod, I know what it`s like to be caught up in gambling problems. Still, he should have looked for help earlier, rtahre than piss his future security down the drain.

However, it could be argued that it was up to the indivudal athlete to fight his fight however he chooses- unless he deliberalty loses, of course. (Not saying that anyone does that.)

[Autobarn]

one thing, he wasn't a world champion.

[iwz678]

exactly Autobarn he was WBU champion and nobody really counts that as a world title.

Magee was a really tough fighter but I suppose he can only blame himself here.

[dondada]

I went over to Belfast to see Magee a couple of years ago - I had an offer on the table from a publisher to ghost his autobiography.

One of the many reasons I decided not, at that time, to go ahead with it was when he said he wanted a very large advance. Why, I asked?

"Well, I'll need to fly a lot of my friends over and get them pissed. I don't remember a lot of it but they will when the drink starts flowing."

[dbf]

Whilst he is more well known for dropping Hatton, he did fight in European class dropping Otkay Urkal in a European title bid. He may not have been a genuine World Champion, but a good operator none the less.

[Chambers2]

It's sad to read about the financial mess he's got himself in, but his life seems ideal for a film/biography.

As a sidenote - does anyone know what's happening with the film about Michael Gomez's life, that's been coming out for the last 6 years

[Wales]

Also, a bookie would be very unlikely to take a big bet on a fight from someone they didn't know.

T'was only £50.

[Wales]

I went over to Belfast to see Magee a couple of years ago - I had an offer on the table from a publisher to ghost his autobiography.

One of the many reasons I decided not, at that time, to go ahead with it was when he said he wanted a very large advance. Why, I asked?

"Well, I'll need to fly a lot of my friends over and get them pissed. I don't remember a lot of it but they will when the drink starts flowing."

met him with terry D in Dublin following the Dunne MArtinez fight, he's scary.

[Counter-puncher]

I went over to Belfast to see Magee a couple of years ago - I had an offer on the table from a publisher to ghost his autobiography.

One of the many reasons I decided not, at that time, to go ahead with it was when he said he wanted a very large advance. Why, I asked?

"Well, I'll need to fly a lot of my friends over and get them pissed. I don't remember a lot of it but they will when the drink starts flowing."

[WildWaylon]

exactly Autobarn he was WBU champion and nobody really counts that as a world title.

Magee was a really tough fighter but I suppose he can only blame himself here.

True, win the WBU title and then step up to challenge for an area title LOL.

[thepocketrocket]

The fighter makes the belt! When Hatton was the IBO champ he was the divisions number one!!

Magee was class!

[Spud]

In an ironic sort of way I find Magee's plight quite sad - for those that understand the world of an addicted gambler - they will understand its almost an illness.

[Carbo]

Magee was a quality operator who achieved much but had the talent to achieve more. His lifestyle left a great deal to be desired. He might have beaten Hatton if he'd been fitter. And Urkal was stylistically all wrong for him.

Whether it's just me and in fact I've got completely the wrong end of the stick, Magee always struck me as a nasty piece of work. Not in an awful immoral way, but just in a way that I'd never be able to feel completely comfortable in his company in case I cracked a joke and he killed me, and in a way that I suspect he was a bit of a local hard man and got involved in all kinds of nasty petty criminal violence.

Just an impression.

[slapbangwhallop]

Magee was a quality operator who achieved much but had the talent to achieve more. His lifestyle left a great deal to be desired. He might have beaten Hatton if he'd been fitter. And Urkal was stylistically all wrong for him.

Whether it's just me and in fact I've got completely the wrong end of the stick, Magee always struck me as a nasty piece of work. Not in an awful immoral way, but just in a way that I'd never be able to feel completely comfortable in his company in case I cracked a joke and he killed me, and in a way that I suspect he was a bit of a local hard man and got involved in all kinds of nasty petty criminal violence.

Just an impression.

as usual Carbo talks sense. You couldnt relax around Eamonn - you'd make some innoxious jape and the next thing is your arse would be on the screed.

Julian reckon Kelly was a better fighter than Magee, yes Kelly was classier but without a dig - Eamonn had it all except the will power to knock the sauce on the head. I have heard off a few people that he was on the booze for the whole week leading up to the Hatton fight - possibly a exaggeration but probably some truth to it. There certainly are pictures of him with a can of Mangers in his paw AFTER the Hatton fight - this was before Magners was readily available in Britain so where did it come from?

Anyway I remember his fight against Urkal being one of the most entertaining fights I've ever seen - and would love if anyone could send me a copy of it if they have it.

[forcefraser]

In an ironic sort of way I find Magee's plight quite sad - for those that understand the world of an addicted gambler - they will understand its almost an illness.

It is an illness. In the same way as Alcoholism. If not addressed and treated properly a gamlaholic will deteriorate in much the same way as an alcoholic ie: a progressive illness.

Gamblaholics are people with addictive personalities and alcoholism is often a contributing factor.