Tyrone McCullagh (born 9 September 1990) is an Irish former professional boxer. As an amateur, he won bronze at the 2010 European Championships[1] and represented Northern Ireland at the 2010 Commonwealth Games where he reached the quarter-finals.[2]

Tyrone McCullagh
Born (1990-09-09) 9 September 1990 (age 33)
Derry, Northern Ireland
NationalityIrish
Other namesWhite Chocolate
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights16
Wins14
Wins by KO6
Losses2
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  Ireland
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Moscow Featherweight

Personal life edit

McCullagh was born in Derry.

Away from boxing, he works as a mental health nurse[3] and has acknowledged the work of the NHS on his fight shorts.[4]

An outspoken Irish nationalist, he has stated numerous times that he will not box for the British title despite being in a position to do so.[5]

Amateur career edit

An amateur with Illies GG in Donegal and then Holy Family GG in Belfast, he won the Irish title in 2010[6] and would go on to claim bronze at the European Championships in Moscow that summer. A runner-up at National level twice more, as well as spending time in Kazakhstan as part of the Astana Arlans World Series of Boxing team.

Professional career edit

Turning professional having been angered by the politics of the amateur side of the sport,[7] McCullagh made his professional debut on 25 July 2015, in Ellesmere Port, where he scored a second-round knockout (KO) of Tamas Laska.[8]

Following 10 wins, and a move down in weight to super-bantamweight, he secured a shot at the Celtic title versus Scottish champ Joe Ham. McCullagh defeated Ham in Belfast on 30 June 2018, surviving a knockdown in the third round to otherwise dominate the Glaswegian.[9]

McCullagh would then beat English champion Josh Kennedy on 5 October 2018[10] to add the WBO European title to his collection, a belt he would subsequently defend versus Spanish champion Alvaro Rodriguez.[11]

McCullagh returned to featherweight in his next fight to enter The Golden Contract competition and he would win his quarter-final bout on 4 October 2019 at the York Hall, London, versus late replacement Razaq Najib.[12][13] McCullagh was subsequently defeated by Ryan Walsh in the semi-finals at the same venue on 21 February 2020.[14]

Professional boxing record edit

15 fights 14 wins 1 loss
By knockout 6 0
By decision 7 1
By disqualification 1 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
15 Loss 14–1   Ryan Walsh UD 10 21 Feb 2020   York Hall, London, England The Golden Contract: Featherweight – semi-final
14 Win 14–0   Razaq Najib UD 10 4 Oct 2019   York Hall, London, England The Golden Contract: Featherweight – quarter-final
13 Win 13–0   Álvaro Rodríguez UD 10 3 May 2019   Eagles Community Arena, Newcastle, England Retained WBO European super-bantamweight title
12 Win 12–0   Josh Kennedy UD 10 5 Oct 2018   Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland Won vacant WBO European super-bantamweight title
11 Win 11–0   Joe Ham UD 10 30 June 2018   SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland Won vacant BBBofC Celtic super-bantamweight title
10 Win 10–0   Elvis Guillén TKO 3 (6), 2:10 21 Apr 2018   SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
9 Win 9–0   Tom Tran TKO 5 (8), 0:55 1 Dec 2017   Devenish Complex, Belfast, Northern Ireland
8 Win 8–0   Craig Derbyshire DQ 2 (?) 16 Sep 2017   Devenish Complex, Belfast, Northern Ireland
7 Win 7–0   José Aguilar PTS 4 10 Jun 2017   Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
6 Win 6–0   Michael Barnor PTS 4 3 Mar 2017   Devenish Complex, Belfast, Northern Ireland
5 Win 5–0   Edwin Téllez TKO 4 (6), 2:32 8 Oct 2016   Europa Hotel, Belfast, Northern Ireland
4 Win 4–0   Aleksandrs Birkenbergs PTS 4 25 Jun 2016   National Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
3 Win 3–0   Antons Zacests TKO 1 (4), 1:43 6 Feb 2016   Europa Hotel, Belfast, Northern Ireland
2 Win 2–0   Bence Sipos TKO 2 (4), 0:15 21 Nov 2015   York Hall, London, England
1 Win 1–0   Tamas Laska TKO 2 (4), 1:14 25 July 2015   Ellesmere Port Sports Village, Ellesmere Port, England

References edit

  1. ^ https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/tyrone-claims-euro-bronze-in-moscow-1-2146412 [dead link]
  2. ^ "NI guaranteed five boxing medals". 10 October 2010 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Tyrone McCullagh: My first defeat damaged my mental health but I have a new outlook now". Belfasttelegraph – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  4. ^ "Coronavirus: NHS mental health nurse and pro boxer on how to cope with life under lockdown". www.newsletter.co.uk.
  5. ^ "Boxing Insider Interview with Tyrone McCullagh: European Titlist with Eyes on a World". 23 November 2018.
  6. ^ "Irish Nationals - 2010". amateur-boxing.strefa.pl.
  7. ^ "McCullagh: I am glad to be leaving clowns running the Amateur game behind -". 20 April 2015.
  8. ^ McNulty, Chris (26 July 2015). "Tyrone McCullagh wins on professional debut".
  9. ^ Watters, Andy (2 July 2018). "Tyrone McCullough takes Celtic title and Carroll and Geragthy go to war in Belfast fight night". The Irish News.
  10. ^ "Tyrone McCullagh outclasses Josh Kennedy in Belfast BoxNation headliner -". 5 October 2018.
  11. ^ "McCullagh needs a real test after cruising to victory". Belfasttelegraph – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  12. ^ "Mexican ailment gives Najib Golden opportunity against Tyrone McCullagh -". 3 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Tyrone McCullagh books spot in semi-finals with win over Razaq Najib | Golden Contract Quarter-Final". YouTube.
  14. ^ "Ryan Walsh Drops, Outpoints Gutsy Tyrone McCullagh At York Hall". BoxingScene.com.

External links edit