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Low Blows: Eamonn ‘The Terminator’ Magee

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We have a very special Low Blows today from a bona fide Irish boxing legend – Eamonn ‘The Terminator’ Magee.

The hugely talented Belfast boxer has led a colourful life, during which he claimed the Irish and Commonwealth light welterweight titles, as well as challenging for the European belt and becoming the first man to knock down Ricky Hatton as a pro.

One of the biggest characters in boxing, Magee gave an insight into the legendary Irish team of the early 1990s.

Q: Hardest Trainer?
A: Easy one. Wayne McCullough. He was always totally dedicated to boxing from day one. I remember Nicolas Cruz offering all the boys on the Irish team a tenner if we could keep up with Wayne on the morning run. We told him to stick his tenner up his hole.

Q: Biggest Moaner?
A: Paul Douglas. By a distance. Never stopped complaining. We used to buy get well soon cards and stick them on his door.

Q: Funniest?
A: Paul Griffin and Michael Roche. I travelled the world with those boys on the Irish squad and it was always great craic. No matter what, they could make me smile.

Q: Biggest Ladies’ Man?
A: Big Stephen Kirk always fancied himself with the ladies.

Q: Most Intelligent?
A: Neil Gough always seemed a very intelligent man. As far as I know he had O Levels and A Levels, everything but a spirit level.

Q: Least Intelligent?
A: A wee flyweight from Ballyclare called Johnston Todd. He may have started off smart but he like to use his face to block punches. Never seen someone take so many direct hits but he was one tough bastard.

Q: Hardest Puncher?
A: I can honestly say that no one ever landed a clean shot on me in the ring, I was too cute. But Neil Sinclair in sparring in Breen’s Gym could certainly bang.

Q: Most Naturally Talented?
A: Myself, and I’m not even slagging. If I can’t say that then Paul Griffin was a very intelligent fighter.

Q: Cheapest?
A: Another easy one. Paul McCloskey. In all the years I knew him, he never once bought me a pint

Q: Worst Dancer?
A: Paul Buttimer. Embarrassingly bad.

Q: Worst Dress Sense?
A: McCloskey again. He wore some crazy gear. Probably still does. I presume he thinks he’s a trend-setter or something but I used to be embarrassed walking down the road alongside him.

Q: Biggest Messer?
A: That’s a team effort. Griffin, Roche, Buttimer and myself. We had some craic on our travels with the Irish team. Plenty of beers and women and sneaking in and out of hotel windows. Our coach got pulled over in the US for us mooning people as we passed through towns. And I remember us pissing off the back of a float cruising through New York during the St Paddy’s day parade when we could hold it in no longer. But we were just kids having a laugh and all the messing is what created the spirit in the squad. Great times.

Follow Eamonn on Twitter – @TerminatorMagee

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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