Ex-world champion Magee so broke he barely has bus fare
Posted: 11 Oct 2009, 10:30
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
“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
