BoxRec

Not particularly the "best" Irish boxers, but certainly the toughest...

1) Oisin Fagan
2) Steve Collins
3) Wayne McCullough
4) Eamon Magee
5) Michael Gomez

Although, I think McCullough and Collins might deserve a joint-first with Fagan, perhaps. Macklin gets an honorable mention, as does Duddy and James Moore.

Magee and McCullough probably the top two although it's purely subjective.

Michael Carruth anyone?

samIam wrote:Not particularly the "best" Irish boxers, but certainly the toughest...

1) Oisin Fagan
2) Steve Collins
3) Wayne McCullough
4) Eamon Magee
5) Michael Gomez

Although, I think McCullough and Collins might deserve a joint-first with Fagan, perhaps. Macklin gets an honorable mention, as does Duddy and James Moore.

How on Earth can you put a 22-5 fighter like Fagan who's never mixed in world-class ahead of the likes of Collins and McCullough, both of whom have proven their toughness against the best fighters in the world in their respective weight divisions and eras? Absolutely comical....

Why are we having a top 5 and top 10 Irish fighters list every other week?!

They don't get any better, and I agree with Deserter.

James Moore?! And you can't start counting the likes of Michael Gomez ffs.

what about mark delaney

1. McCullough
2. Collins
3. Duddy

Deserter wrote:

samIam wrote:Not particularly the "best" Irish boxers, but certainly the toughest...

1) Oisin Fagan
2) Steve Collins
3) Wayne McCullough
4) Eamon Magee
5) Michael Gomez

Although, I think McCullough and Collins might deserve a joint-first with Fagan, perhaps. Macklin gets an honorable mention, as does Duddy and James Moore.

How on Earth can you put a 22-5 fighter like Fagan who's never mixed in world-class ahead of the likes of Collins and McCullough, both of whom have proven their toughness against the best fighters in the world in their respective weight divisions and eras? Absolutely comical....

You're comical pal. Just cause you haven't seen much of him doesn't make him less tough. I've seen him fight. You can only go on what you see. Like I said in the current forum...

I saw Fagan's head caved in one night in Tulsa. They found out later on that he had 5 broken bones in his face and he was still calling his opponent on. It was incredible. I've never seen toughness like it. McCullough and Collins, to me may have been as tough, but just because Fagan hasn't money behind him or had regular spots on the TV, doesn't mean he's less tough than the rest. I still stand by my choice. I think McCullough has had adversity like that against Harrison, but even still, he didn't have 5 broken bones in his face.

samIam wrote:

Deserter wrote:

samIam wrote:Not particularly the "best" Irish boxers, but certainly the toughest...

1) Oisin Fagan
2) Steve Collins
3) Wayne McCullough
4) Eamon Magee
5) Michael Gomez

Although, I think McCullough and Collins might deserve a joint-first with Fagan, perhaps. Macklin gets an honorable mention, as does Duddy and James Moore.

How on Earth can you put a 22-5 fighter like Fagan who's never mixed in world-class ahead of the likes of Collins and McCullough, both of whom have proven their toughness against the best fighters in the world in their respective weight divisions and eras? Absolutely comical....

You're comical pal. Just cause you haven't seen much of him doesn't make him less tough. I've seen him fight. You can only go on what you see. Like I said in the current forum...

I saw Fagan's head caved in one night in Tulsa. They found out later on that he had 5 broken bones in his face and he was still calling his opponent on. It was incredible. I've never seen toughness like it. McCullough and Collins, to me may have been as tough, but just because Fagan hasn't money behind him or had regular spots on the TV, doesn't mean he's less tough than the rest. I still stand by my choice. I think McCullough has had adversity like that against Harrison, but even still, he didn't have 5 broken bones in his face.

It's nothing to do with seeing much of him. It's generally recognised by everyone (bar you of course) that the most definitive measure of a fighter's toughness is their ability to operate at the highest possible level and still be in a situation where people can't put a dent in them.
The reality is that if Fagin tried to mix it with the likes of Manny Pac and Edwin Valero he'd get brutalised and then where would he be in your toughness rankings?
It's clear that because you've witnessed at first hand a true act of bravery from Fagin, you're allowing it to completely colour your perception - I would imagine the man himself would be the first to accept he doesn't belong above the likes of the Pocket Rocket and the Celtic Warrior.

Captain Hook wrote:And you can't start counting the likes of Michael Gomez ffs.

Well you can considering he was born in Ireland to two Irish parents, but I wouldn't.
He'll always be a Mac with an Irish background to me.

As for Fagan fighting with 5 broken bones in his face, still doesn't compare to McCullough against Scott Harrison.
McCullough could of died that nightt, and not from the punches(which were having one hell of an effect too)
Harrison was a genuine World Class fighter to go with it.

Which Fagan fight was that btw ?, not trying to bring Fagan down btw. He is an extremely tough guy and has shown plenty of heart and guts in his career.

samIam wrote:

Deserter wrote:

samIam wrote:Not particularly the "best" Irish boxers, but certainly the toughest...

1) Oisin Fagan
2) Steve Collins
3) Wayne McCullough
4) Eamon Magee
5) Michael Gomez

Although, I think McCullough and Collins might deserve a joint-first with Fagan, perhaps. Macklin gets an honorable mention, as does Duddy and James Moore.

How on Earth can you put a 22-5 fighter like Fagan who's never mixed in world-class ahead of the likes of Collins and McCullough, both of whom have proven their toughness against the best fighters in the world in their respective weight divisions and eras? Absolutely comical....

You're comical pal. Just cause you haven't seen much of him doesn't make him less tough. I've seen him fight. You can only go on what you see. Like I said in the current forum...

I saw Fagan's head caved in one night in Tulsa. They found out later on that he had 5 broken bones in his face and he was still calling his opponent on. It was incredible. I've never seen toughness like it. McCullough and Collins, to me may have been as tough, but just because Fagan hasn't money behind him or had regular spots on the TV, doesn't mean he's less tough than the rest. I still stand by my choice. I think McCullough has had adversity like that against Harrison, but even still, he didn't have 5 broken bones in his face.

I was at that fight too. He was incredibly brave that night. As for toughness, I kinda agree with both of you. I don't think you'd find much tougher than Fagan where ever you go, but I guess he has to mix it with the tops to be at the top. Having said that, Sam, you have a point- anyone with 5 broken bones in their face and is still calling the guy on is tough, whether it's Pacman throwing the punches or a frickin roadsweeper. Broken bones are broken bones. I heard it was 4 bones btw :) In the Mendosa fight- when Medosa had over 100 amatuer fights to Fagans 3. Crazy!

Eamonn Magee is one tough bastard, both and in and out of the ropes.

steve689 wrote:Eamonn Magee is one tough bastard, both and in and out of the ropes.

LOL your just scared of him lol, that why you can never find our hotel after the shows lol.

Magee is a tough guy in the ring, Fagan show great heart but I don't think can be classed with the Top 5 Toughest Irish Fighters.

My Top 5 would be -

1 - Collins
2 - McCullough
3 - Magee
4 - Delaney
5 - Russell (mainly for fighting on after his battering from Larmour)

Fagan is one hell of a gutsy fighter but if your going for top 5 you have to look at the guys that have fought at higher levels, maybe in a few years Fagan can join the list.

As for the broken bones, I would say thats fuckin stupid corner men letting him fight on like that wether he wanted to or not , but thats a personal opinion.

Gareth wrote:

steve689 wrote:LOL your just scared of him lol, that why you can never find our hotel after the shows lol

You're bloody right

P.S. Letterkenny can be difficult to negotiate your way around in the dark and rain with those funny Irish signposts

"Funny Irish Sign posts" LOL

Spot the Englishman lol

Nah that was a terrible night to try and find anything, even the taxi's where saying it was a stinking night.

If you'd have come back to the Hotel after the Hyland show in Dublin you could have had Eammons room lol, they drove back to Belfast after they had some grub and gave us the keys to their rooms as they were already paid for.

Sailor Tom Sharkey was pretty rugged back in the day

Not very fond of Fagan's politics, but I can't doubt he'd be up there in the top of the toughest. I think maybe my # 3- I think McCullough was the toughest. Collins a close second.

McCullough
Collins
Fagan
Tom Sharkey
Sean Mannion
E Magee
McGuigan

what about mick leahy he beat suger ray robinson

Wayne McCulloch and Barry McGuigan are both DEFINITELY up there...

Eamonn Magee is a possibility (so it Brian Magee)... How about the old boys?

Ike Weir?
Rinty Monaghan?
Freddie Gilroy?
Billy Turkington?
Henry Turkington?
Lee Cowan?

dave mccauley was extremely brave and pretty tough.

danny mcallinden wasnt.

rinty was tough as old boots

Check this out- it's another Top 5 Irish, but this time it's been discussed in an article by that boxing nut, Dan Horgan, a journalist who I've heard lately as being likened to, as "the next Al Bernstein". Personally, I'd turn that list on it's head, but put Lee on top, just above McCloskey. He has Fagan in at #3. I'd put Fagan # 5, but everything is subjective. Fagan must be doing something right though- even independent boxing journalists have great things to say about him.

Dan Horgan is obviously not swayed by the money-makers by putting Fagan in there (no offense Stacy, but as much as I know you support Fagan, you can't compete, financially, with Brian Peters in Dublin, or The McLaughlins in NYC or whoever Lee is with- is it Top Rank?) Seems like your fighter is making a name for himself on sheer bravery, even though he's not been in the major public eye just yet.

http://www.boxingherald.com/news/117/AR ... 08-18.html

1 McCullough
2 Collins
3 B McGuigan
4 O Fagan
5 J Doyle

Have we forgotten 'Derek Roche' ? he was knocked over alot,but got off his arse to retain his british title + win a lonsdale belt

samIam wrote:

Deserter wrote:

samIam wrote:Not particularly the "best" Irish boxers, but certainly the toughest...

1) Oisin Fagan
2) Steve Collins
3) Wayne McCullough
4) Eamon Magee
5) Michael Gomez

Although, I think McCullough and Collins might deserve a joint-first with Fagan, perhaps. Macklin gets an honorable mention, as does Duddy and James Moore.

How on Earth can you put a 22-5 fighter like Fagan who's never mixed in world-class ahead of the likes of Collins and McCullough, both of whom have proven their toughness against the best fighters in the world in their respective weight divisions and eras? Absolutely comical....

You're comical pal.

Who's comical now 'pal'?