Indo Sport podcast: The Wayne McCullough Interview | 30 years on, a world title journey of glory and despair

Former Olympic silver medalist and world champion Wayne McCullough

30 years ago this month, Wayne McCullough took the road less travelled, and took home the world title. The Belfast native dethroned Nagoya’s local champion Yasuei Yakushiji in front of a partisan Japanese crowd, capturing the feted WBC belt he’d spent a childhood dreaming of during The Troubles.

That win in July ’95 came off the back of a decorated amateur career which spanned two Olympics. Indeed, after what proved to be his much-publicised decision to carry the Irish tricolour in Seoul, he secured a stunning silver medal at the Barcelona games.

By the end of that decade, he was in the midst of a run of box-office world title fights as a pro, headlining shows either side of the Atlantic. Wayne was in with the best, on the biggest stages.

Around the height of his career, however, he suffered a serious mental health crisis, at one point attempting to take his own life. Later in this podcast, he speaks with great candour about difficulties he faced at that time, the descriptions of which may not be suitable for some listeners.

For anyone affected, the Samaritans’ freephone number is 116 123; they are contactable day and night.

Ultimately though, and as you’ll hear, Wayne’s is a most unique story of triumph through adversity, and one which we mark on today’s episode of Indo Sport.

The next edition of Indo Sport LIVE takes place on August 6, head over to Ticketmaster for information on how you can join us at Vicar Street.

If you’d like to get in touch with the show, email us at indosportpodcast@independent.ie

You can subscribe to our dedicated Indo Sport YouTube page here

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