Reluctant retirement – Paddy Gallagher believes he will have to hang them up soon

Paddy Gallagher can’t quite bring himself to officially say it’s time but does suggest retirement may be immenent.

‘The Pat Man’ hasn’t fought since his controversial Falls Park defeat to Chris Jenkins in August of 2019 and has hinted he may never fight again.

At just 32, Gallagher wouldn’t be considered too old to fight on, his entertaining style and standing mean he would still remain relevant, but he feels a return to the ring is unlikely.

“In theory, I’d love to fight on, in reality it’s very unlikely,” Gallagher told Irish-boxing.com.

The reason? Well he has a few. The time out, the fact he hasn’t been ticking over, fear of his wife and the pandemic.

“I’ve been out for almost 2 years since I last fought. On top of that, I’m old, I’m heavy and I’ve got a lot of other things going for me that fighting could hinder,” he continues before saying he is under orders to call it a day.

“Then the missus is having none of it!.”

The popular and always entertaining welterweight’s career was intially slowed down by Covid but looks destined to come to a halt now.

The Commonwealth Games medal winner BUI and BBBofC Celtic titlist claims the desire to trade leather will always be there but claims he would bow out happy.

“It’s hard to get fights now and at that COVID could ruin it on the day of the fight as we seen last week.

“Plus I’m happier than I’ve been in years, so I imagine I’ll announce retirement soon. There’s always that burning desire to fight again. Like others, I’ll just have to deal with it and pass my knowledge and experience onto others to help them. Maybe that’ll help me too? Help them to fulfill and achieve what I didn’t.”