McCullough desperate for Dunne dust-up
15 December 2009 – By Cormac Campbell
Irish ring legend Wayne McCulloughs New Years resolution is to secure a domestic clash with Bernard Dunne.
However, the former WBC bantamweight champion has told irish-boxing.com that securing any meaningful contests never mind one with Dunne – is proving difficult.
“My wife – who is also my manager – has contacted every promoter she can think of but I can’t get anyone to help me get back into the ring,” he said.
“I am praying every day that I get a fight. Keep on keeping on! It would seem that no-one wants to fight me and the young guys don’t want to take a chance against me. People have forgotten what I did for boxing and certain promoters have also forgotten what I did for them.”
McCullough, 39, has not fought since June 2008 when he was defeated by Juan Ruiz in the Cayman Islands, but despite such a lengthy layoff, the Pocket Rocket believes he is ready for a fight with former World and European super-bantamweight champion Dunne.
“A fight between me and Bernard would be a great one for the whole country,” he said.
“The fans that have contacted me are really hoping it will happen. They know that Bernard needs me more than I need him because he’s been knocked out in a couple of his fights whereas I’ve fought the best in the world win or lose. But Brian Peters is coming up with all sorts of ridiculous excuses about why the fight isn’t going to happen. I honestly believe that Bernard is scared!”
In the past, Dunnes promoter Brian Peters has said that McCullough needs to get active, get winning and get ranked before he would consider making such a contest.
“He hasnt won a fight since 2004 so he really would need to put together a few good wins including a win over a ranked contender before it could be considered a viable fight,” Peters said earlier this year.
For his part McCullough, who works for the UFC as a PR Associate, is looking forward to the festive season fight or no fight.
“We have a traditional family gathering and keep Christ in Christmas,” he said about his plans.
“Last year we got snow which was unusual but nice to see in the desert! At New Years we watch the fireworks that are set off from the hotels on The Strip. It’s a pretty cool thing to see.”