Barry McGuigan Barry McGuigan Finbar Patrick 'Barry' McGuigan MBE (born 28 February 1961) is an Irish retired professional boxer and current boxing promoter. Born in Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland, McGuigan was nicknamed "The Clones Cyclone" and became the WBA and lineal featherweight world champion. He was very popular with Irish and British audiences, representing neutrality and peace in a time when Ireland, where he lived, was affected by The Troubles. In 2005 he was inducted into the international boxing hall of fame. He founded, and is the current president of, the Professional Boxing Association (PBA). McGuigan is the founder and CEO of
Barry McGuigan also entertainment – people loved to forget the Troubles a while. The fact that I wouldn't wear green, white and gold or put on a sign that said this is who I represent was powerful. It was a very mature and dangerous thing to do. I wouldn't choose sides. People appreciated that."" As a non-sectarian sporting ambassador for Northern Ireland, he drew on the experience of Joey Dunlop and George Best. He and his wife have both been patrons for children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent. McGuigan began his juvenile boxing career at the Wattlebridge Amateur Boxing Club, County Fermanagh and