WBO European super-bantamweight champion Tyrone McCullagh says he’s hungry for more titles.
By Chris McNulty at The Guildhall
The Glen Road man took the vacant WBO European strap last month when he defeated Josh Kennedy.
McCullagh’s win at the Titanic Exhibition Centre – via a unanimous decision after 12 rounds – moved him to 12-0 as a pro.
“I want more now,” McCullagh said tonight at a reception hosted by the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, John Boyle.
“Boxing is as much a business as it is a sport. Boxing is about selling tickets and people here came to support me in small halls and bars, travelled to Dublin and Belfast and that helped get me to winning these titles.
“Now I’ve won them, I want to keep on winning titles.”
Earlier in the year, McCullagh defeated Joe Ham to win the Celtic super-bantamweight title at the SSE Arena.
“This man could win far more – and that is my hope,” Mayor Boyle said.
“It is no mean feat to be WBO European champion.
“To see you achieve that goal and take that status in European boxing is brilliant and you are rising through the ranks now, 13th in the world.”
McCullagh followed in the footsteps of Charlie Nash in winning a European title.
It was here, in the Guildhall, that Nash recorded the last of his 25 pro wins, back in 1982 when he overcame Frank McCord.
Mayor Boyle said: “The last European champion from this city was Charlie Nash and I remember as a schoolboy having Charlie’s poster on my wall!”
