Wayne McCullough - MY STORY

Photos © Chris Curry

By Cheryl McCullough

08.05 - Wayne & I sat down a few weeks after his last brave effort to capture the World Title to have a chat. Wayne is the first fighter in Irish history to get 5 titles shots, and even though Wayne beat Yasuei Yakushiji (who was the best Bantamweight of the four Champions in his heyday) for the WBC Bantamweight Championship, on the road, in Japan in 1995, Wayne seems to be more well known for his courageous losses - but he has only lost to arguably some of the best fighters in the world.

Wayne is also recognized as the Best Chin in Boxing and continues to prove that to his fans!!! He is a warrior in the ring and a gentleman out of the ring.

He agreed to talk about his fight with Harrison, and this is what he had to say.

After the press and television coverage of my fight last month against WBO Champion, Scott Harrison, I would like to express my feelings in my own words. I believe I have left enough time to let things settle.

Following my bout with Harrison, I was taken to Southern General Hospital, where I was treated for dehydration and exhaustion. My ear, which was badly swollen, was drained and bandaged.

Throughout my stay in the Hospital, my wife, Cheryl, was by my bedside. My sister-in-law, Nicola, was there to take care of my darling daughter, Wynona, and my friend Brian, who is also a journalist, stayed too. My co-manager and his fiancee, who had come to Glasgow from the States, stopped by several times, interrupting their vacation, but I knew that everyone was concerned about me. The staff and doctors took great anxiety of all of us and for that I will always be thankful.

Wayne became quite enraged when he talked about criticism that has resulted from the fight. Many observers have judged Cheryl, not only this time, but for many years. While she is my manager, first and foremost she is my wife. People didn't see Cheryl sitting by my bedside on a chair, the first night,
with her head on the side of my bed, being awoken every time my blood pressure was taken - which happened every hour!! Nor did they see us cry when my daughter came into my room and asked, Daddy, is your ear sore?

While I act as manager to Wayne, I have a lot of responsibilities on top of that. I handle most of his PR and also run Pocket Rocket Inc. - Wayne's managerial business. Cheryl picked up the local newspapers while I was hospitalized. She read some of them to me, but tried to exclude the ones that she thought would upset me!! But after persuading her to let me see the reports, I never believed that I would watch the fight since most articles written stated I should have been stopped in the 8th round from the I had taken.

After being released from hospital, my brother-in-law, Ian, drove over to Glasgow, courtesy of P&O Ferries, to pick us up. When we got home, I watched part of the fight for the first time, just a few days after the bout had taken place. Sitting alone in my sister and brother-in-laws house in Belfast, I forwarded the tape straight to round 8 - thinking if I watched the worst part, then the rest of the fight couldn't be that bad.

Looking back, Wayne was shocked at what he saw. I was puzzled at first when I saw round 8. I was thinking back, trying to remember if I ever felt dizzy or out on my feet. I was never hit by more than 2 or 3 shots in a row and I know I never felt close to going down.

I may have been hit with big shots but my head was always clear. I remember after each round, sitting in my corner, I looked across the ring to where my wife was sitting ringside, beside Teresa and Johnny Tapia, and made eye contact with her. If she thought, for one minute, there was something wrong with me, she would have come to my corner but she knew I was fine. We have been in this business long enough to where she knows my reaction and she could see I was okay.

Still obviously disturbed at the faultfinding by the press toward his corner, Wayne added, My trainer, KC, was also criticized for not stopping the fight, but if a fighter is fighting back with strong legs - like I was, then there is no reason for the fight to be stopped. The referee has the closest view. He knew my eyes were clear, therefore he didn't deem it necessary to stop the fight. KC did not ask me if I wanted to stop, nor did he appear concerned about me during the fight because he could see I still had my senses. We were communicating well during rounds and everything was normal.

Commenting on the reports that he didn't have the punch to finish the fight, Wayne made an excellent point. I could not have won on the cards, but there are many other ways to win a fight. Anything could have happened. I got hit a lot of low blows - that might have resulted in a disqualification for him!! The fight could have been stopped on cuts, since Harrison was cutting up, and the fact that my ear was swollen due to an illegal shot from the cuff of Harrison's open glove, for which the referee warned him, could also have awarded me a win.

Wayne then went on to describe the discomfort from his injuries but in doing so, once again established himself as the bravest fighter in the world!! My ear started to swell early on, and by the end of the fight, after taking continuous shots on the same spot, my ear was sticking almost directly out from my head. The pain was excruciating and extremely uncomfortable but I tried to put it out of my mind and get on with the fight.

I don't make excuses when I lose - never have, never will. Nor do I expect anyone to make excuses for me. I lost, plain and simple. The truth is that Harrison was strong - stronger than anyone I have ever fought. I felt like I was fighting a welterweight. He was able to push me around the ring, something that no-one else has ever been able to do. I tried everything to get inside his punches, but I couldn't. He stopped me in my tracks every time. Even so, I would never give up and I fought right until the final bell.

After reading the reports that suggest he should retire, Wayne came up with another noteworthy point. Many world champions have lost worse than I did and they have come back stronger, sometimes getting bigger purses along the way!! No-one says they should retire. I put it down to old school thinking. These same people didn't seem to "care" about me when I was out of the ring for 2 years.

Seemingly irate at the insistence that he hang up his gloves he added, Almost everyone assumed that I was taken to hospital because of my cyst. The doctors first concern (with every fighter) is to check for brain trauma, but they checked my reaction and looked into my eyes when I was taken to hospital, and decided that I did not need an MRI. Many journalists reported that I collapsed, was unconscious and even close to having a heart attack - all of which are totally untrue!!

The BBBC acted totally professionally during my fight in Scotland. They had a doctor present and he was not called to the ring once - showing me that the commission were content with what was happening in the ring. Cheryl has since spoken to the General Secretary of the board and, after expressing his concern for my health, added that he would welcome me to a British boxing ring anytime in the future.

When asked about retiring he stressed, The thought of retiring has not crossed my mind, because, I think once you do, you might as well be retired.

When talking of his future after boxing, his eyes light up at the prospect of TV work. While I have no intention on giving boxing up just yet, in the past I have done, and hope to continue doing, TV work, journalism and commentary. Ultimately, I would love to host or present a TV show and appear in movies. Since my fight, I have been approached with numerous book offers and TV and film work. Most people want the story of what actually happened in the hospital that eventful weekend, but as they say, if the price is right .........

While TV and film work is something I definitely want to do - and I am still open to offers!! - I am considering all of the offers that were put before me and I hope to choose the right one for me.

Wayne hopes to be back in the ring by September but talked about figuring out where to go from here. Right now I am concentrating on getting myself back into fight shape. However, Wayne McCullough will retire on his own terms when he is good and ready. God has a reason for everything that happens in our lives so I am taking one day at a time leaving everything in his hands.

Reflecting on his hospital visit he said, While my first stay in hospital is not something I care to do in the near future, I do support the view that every fighter, who fights a hard fight, should go to hospital for a check up, even if it's only for rest, relaxation and rehydration, directly following their bout. So while I was there for longer than I ever expected, after passing me fit to fight, the doctors released me.

Looking tanned, happy and relaxed at home, while playing with our daughter throughout our chat, Wayne had a special message for those who have supported him. I want to thank all of my friends and family for their continued support. Also my fans, who have stood by me through thick and thin. Hopefully someday, when my career gets moving again, I will fulfill my dream of fighting in front of a sold out crowd in my hometown - beautiful Belfast!!

Visit Wayne's website on www.pocketrocketbox.com. To contact Wayne for personal appearances, training or TV/film offers, please e-mail details to pktrktinc@aol.com.