Tyrone McKenna on retirement: “Now I don’t have to get punched in the face for a living, I’ll be able to laugh for a living!”

One of boxing’s largest crowd-pleasers Tyrone McKenna, 23-4-1 (6), formally retired from the sport on December 3, 2023. The announcement got here the day after his final combat, an all-Belfast conflict towards Lewis Crocker. McKenna, who additionally co-hosts the podcast Whiskey & White with Tommy McCarthy, spoke to Boxing News about his choice to retire, the highs and lows in his profession, and what the future now holds for him.

Interview by Shaun Brown

BN: Why have you retired?

TM: I suppose it’s the proper time. I’ve given a lot to my profession and the sport. I’ve had some superb nights. With my sort of fashion, I can’t actually take extra punishment. I need to maintain the final remaining mind cells that I have. I suppose it’s smart to hold up the gloves. I love the sport; I love preventing however I’ve been away from my household sufficient. I’ve missed a lot for boxing, sacrificed a lot for boxing, now it’s time to chill with my household and revel in life.

BN: Did you realize you have been going to retire earlier than preventing Crocker?

TM: I’ve identified for a whereas. I stated to myself, “Next defeat is when I’m gonna hang up the gloves.” It’s a robust combat to exit on as a result of I don’t know if I obtained to showcase my talent. It was a laborious combat. But to exit in entrance of my followers in a Battle of Belfast, in a huge combat… Even thought it wasn’t the largest combat, name-wise, it was in all probability my largest combat that had the metropolis buzzing. It was a huge day for Belfast.

BN: What was it like preventing him?

TM: Not good! I felt the distinction in weight class. Welterweight isn’t my weight; light-welter is. I felt a large distinction. My punching wasn’t doing a lot to him and he’s a heavy-handed welterweight. His punches have been taking their toll on me, and I couldn’t do what I needed to in the ring. He was able to do what he needed, mainly.

BN: How far can he go?

TM: I suppose he’ll be a world champion. I’ve been in with world-class fighters and world champions and he’s proper up there. He hits laborious, he’s quick, he’s excellent. He’s significantly better than I thought he was. During his profession he didn’t put in what he wanted to in coaching. Sometimes he appeared a bit off and a bit unfit, however he had a large alternative there and he give it his all and you would see how good he really can be. He may go all the approach if that retains up.

BN: Have you began to really feel any results out of your profession?

TM: I’ve definitely seen it. I’ve began slurring my phrases, however aside from that I don’t really feel like I was shedding my talent or getting outdated that approach – or that the punches have been slowing. I nonetheless thought I was the finest that I may be. Health’s the wealth and I’d had too many wars – and I can’t put my household by means of that rather more. It solely takes one punch for one thing actually unhealthy to occur. I suppose I’ve completed what I may with my profession. I don’t suppose it might get any higher than what it has so I suppose that’s a good time to see it out.

BN: Since you made your choice have you had a likelihood to look again on all of it?

TM: I have been. It is gloomy to hold up the gloves and I have so many good reminiscences. I’ve been throughout the world, I’ve had huge nights, I’ve fought a few of the finest, and I have the finest fanbase in the world. I love my followers. It’s unhappy to hold up the gloves however I have had a nice profession; a profession I didn’t suppose I would ever have. When I was in Philadelphia, in the event you’d have advised me that is what my profession was going to be, I would’ve laughed. I didn’t suppose I’d get so far as I did or have the large nights that I did. I’m pleased with my profession.

BN: If I was to ask you for one standout second in your profession, what would pop into your head?

TM: One of them was my first defeat towards Jack Catterall. I completely cherished that although I obtained beat. It was kinda my breakthrough second. No-one actually knew me beforehand, and no-one anticipated me to do something with Catterall. I obtained dropped twice and misplaced a one-point choice (on two of the playing cards). I suppose I obtained a lot of followers off the again of that efficiency and I confirmed I’m a warrior. That was the begin of the profession of being the hardest man in Ireland. I suppose that combat and the combat at Falls Park towards Jose Felix was perhaps my favorite win. Obviously, he’s a huge puncher. It was the first occasion after Covid with followers. Eight thousand in there packed, 5 minutes from my home, and it was an unbelievable combat to watch. I additionally picked up the WBO Inter-Continental [belt]. Them two moments have been in all probability the highlights of my profession.

BN: What are you able to keep in mind of August 18, 2012, your professional debut in Atlantic City?

TM: I was the opponent in the debut. I wasn’t even supposed to win. I was over in America, working away, needed to flip skilled and was provided a combat towards a Philadelphia man (Anthony Morrison). He was the prospect at the time. I was the journeyman for the day. I was getting my medicals completed with the journeymen. No-one was anticipating me to win. They all thought I was going in there to get beat. They didn’t really know if I was good or unhealthy; they thought I was there as a journeyman. I went in there and obtained the win and I suppose I upset a lot of individuals (laughs). That was the begin of my profession, and it was a nice time.

BN: How do you look again on your expertise in America?

TM: Over in the States I stop-started my profession. I wasn’t getting sufficient fights. I wasn’t getting pushed and wasn’t energetic sufficient. But I wouldn’t change it. I cherished it. I cherished coaching with Jaron Ennis’s father Bozy. There was a lot to be taught in the States. It was nice.

BN: What are your reminiscences of successful your first title, the BUI light-welterweight, towards Sean Creagh?

TM: That was my first time feeling the stress of preventing somebody from the identical nation as you. It was my first time I ever had beef on social media slagging one another. I keep in mind having a lot of nerves and stress. I knew I was going to beat this man. I knew I was higher than him however there was nonetheless a doubt in my thoughts – what if this man does beat me? I simply keep in mind feeling a lot of stress in that combat after which going out. It was a very fulfilling night time. I boxed brilliantly and it was on TV as effectively. I stopped him in the fifth. There was a lot of aid after that combat.

BN: Who is the finest man you’ve confronted?

TM: [Regis] Prograis. He’s a completely different stage. See when I obtained in there with him, he hit me with a jab in the first spherical and also you see my face going: “What? I’d hate to feel his backhand.” And in the second spherical he did. I awoke on the canvas. Compared to each single particular person [I’ve fought], he’s simply completely different stage. You really feel how relaxed he was in the ring; how briskly and highly effective and good. He had completely every little thing. He is by far the finest.

BN: What was the most satisfying win you had in your profession?

TM: Probably the one towards [Mohamed] Mimoune. Obviously, that was a very shut combat. I’ve watched it again a few instances and I do genuinely suppose I received, however I can see why folks suppose I obtained beat. It was a robust combat; a continuous gruelling battle. He was hitting me; I was hitting him. One half of the crowd at York Hall was French and the different half was Irish and so they have been going at one another throughout the combat. The entire week of that combat was good. An ideal combat. I suppose the win obtained ruined due to the controversy. I didn’t get to take pleasure in it afterwards. But that combat was unbelievable. One of my favorite fights simply because it was backwards and forwards, so shut, fulfilling. Once I heard my title getting referred to as [as winner] I’ve by no means been happier.

BN: What was the lowest level of your profession?

TM: The defeat towards Ohara Davies would be the most miserable time I had. There was a lot build-up. Me and him have been going at it for years and years. I type of boxed the excellent recreation plan. There was no crowd, so I didn’t fall into the entice of entering into a battle for the crowd. I listened to my nook, and I boxed. I thought I received the combat helpful sufficient. To get beat was soul destroying; I was gutted. I felt a lot using on it. It may have propelled my profession. I keep in mind going out in the eighth spherical and (coach) Pete [Taylor] stated, “This could be level, so you need to win these last two rounds.” I fought the finest two rounds of my profession. I don’t suppose a punch landed on me in these rounds and people rounds price me the combat. It was irritating. After that I determined I’m by no means going to field once more. I’m simply going to go to battle each time.

BN: Any regrets?

TM: I wouldn’t say regrets. I suppose I may have been smarter and brought simpler fights typically, however I wouldn’t name it a remorse. I’ve at all times stated I combat for my followers, and I love my followers, and I’m going to give them the very best nights they may have from the fights I may get. That’s what I did. It may have been my downfall typically, however I’ve had a nice profession, and I wouldn’t have modified something for it.

BN: What occurs now?

TM: I develop into a podcast king (laughs). All my focus will be on the podcast. It’s doing effectively. Now I’m out of boxing I can actually focus on it extra. Hopefully, it grows and grows. Now I don’t have to get punched in the face for a residing, I’ll be able to laugh for a residing.