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Forty-fied Wine Peter McDonagh makes retirement pledge ahead of Singleton clash


Peter McDonagh [27(3)-28(2)-1] has promised to retire if he doesn’t win on Saturday night – but the veteran Galway welterweight is like a fine wine and has no plans on letting his advancing years stop him.

The three-weight Irish champion is a full 39 years old, but has arguably the biggest fights of his career this weekend.

McDonagh faces former English champion and recent British title challenger Shayne Singleton in one of the main bouts on the Joseph Parker v Hughie Fury WBO heavyweight title undercard at the Manchester Arena, live on YouTube pay-per-view,

The Connemara boxer has gone from journeyman to Cinderella man in recent years, going on a ten-fight unbeaten run and claiming two Irish titles.

The Peter Fury-trained McDonagh doesn’t plan on letting this unbeaten run end anytime soon – as it would end his career with it.

“If I lose on Saturday night I’m retiring, I’m not an idiot, I’m not stupid,” he said before expressing his confidence.

“They say life starts at 40 and I turn 40 in December, I’ve still got a big future ahead of me and I’ve got MTK behind me. I’m in great shape and ready to go.”

“Training has gone well, I’m just ready to fight now.”

In Singleton [23(8)-2(1)-1] he faces a tough task, but McDonagh believes he has the essential ingredients to defeat the younger man.

McDonagh outlined how “I’ve watched a lot of Shayne, and I respect him as a fighter. I’ve found, when I watched the Skeete fight and when I watched the Eggington fight, he seems to lose heart as the rounds go on.”

“If anyone’s a heartbreaker, it’s me, and I’m going to break his heart come the 21st of September.”

Addressing his upcoming opponent, McDonagh stated “I’m thirteen years older than you, you’re thirteen years dumber, and you’ll find that out on Saturday night.”

“Cauliflower arse, you can’t punch, you can’t move your head, and you’re going to get smashed to pieces come Saturday night.”

Photo Credit: Aneel Ahmad (@aneelahmad)

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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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