Back in the days when Barry McGuigan was the leading light of Irish boxing, the country had a sporting hero, somebody the nation loved and admired.
McGuigan wore the crown well and was, to many, the ultimate professional. Winning the world title, at Loftus Road, gave the Clones Cyclone tremendous pleasure and a great sense of achievement but, last night, I reckon McGuigan felt those same feelings as his charge grabbed that IBF super-bantamweight title off of the rugged and hard hitting Spaniard, Kiko Martinez.
For a long time, Barry has been telling everybody just how good Carl Frampton is and just what he can go on to achieve in the world of boxing. McGuigan has been by his side ever since his early professional days and bringing Martinez to Belfast was a costly exercise that needed his fighter to triumph to make it all worthwhile.
Well triumph he did in the splendid specially built arena and afterwards you could feel the sense of pride emanating from Barry McGuigan as he spoke to the media, remarking,
‘I love him like a son – he’s a part of me and I know how talented he is.?
‘He showed us his bravery tonight and he certainly showed the skills he’s got. He’s really got a tremendous future ahead of him.’
He certainly has and but now is the time to take a break, re-charge those batteries, plot the way forward and unify the super-bantamweight title.
One Very Proud Manager!
