Cyclone: My Story

Book excerpt: On a hot summers night, in June 1985, in one of the most emotionally charged fights of all time, Barry McGuigan beat Eusebio Pedroza to become the Featherweight champion of the World. An epic battle that lasted a full 15 rounds, it remains one of sports greatest moments - watched by 27,000 spectators ringside and by a further 20 million on television around the world.Raised in the border town of Clones, Co. Monaghan, at the height of the troubles, Barry McGuigan united people across sectarian and religious divides during a difficult time in the countrys political history. A Catholic, Barry married his Protestant childhood sweetheart, Sandra in 1981. An Irishman, he fought for the British Title, wearing boxing shorts in the colours of the United Nations Flag of Peace - and in place of a national anthem his musician father, Pat McGuigan would often sing a heartfelt rendition of Danny Boy before a fight.In his years outside the ring, McGuigan has demonstrated his talents as a boxing analyst and spokesman for the Professional Boxers Association. McGuigan also works as a boxing commentator and broadcaster, and in 2007 was crowned winner of ITV's Hell's Kitchen. Engaging and intelligent, McGuigan is a renowned and revered figure in the boxing world and beyond. In this, his first autobiography, The Clones Cyclone shares his stories of extraordinary professional triumph and devastating personal tragedy.