Tommy McCarthy (boxer)

Last updated

Tommy McCarthy
Born (1990-11-04) 4 November 1990 (age 34)
London, England
NationalityIrish [1]
Statistics
Weight(s) Cruiserweight
Height6 ft 2+12 in (189 cm)
Reach75+12 in (192 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights28
Wins21
Wins by KO10
Losses7
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
Youth World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2008 Guadalajara Light-heavyweight

Tommy McCarthy (born 4 November 1990) is an Irish former professional boxer who held the European cruiserweight title. [2] As an amateur he won a bronze medal for Ireland at the 2008 Youth World Championships.

Contents

Professional career

McCarthy made his professional boxing debut against Rolandas Cesna on 24 May 2014. He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout. [3] McCarthy fought thrice more in 2014 and won all three fights by stoppage: against Imantas Davidaitis on 21 June, [4] against Dimitar Spaiyski on 4 October, [5] and Martin Horak on 15 November. [6]

McCarthy fought four more times in 2015. He first notched a sixth-round technical knockout of Jakub Wojcik on 20 February 2015. [7] McCarthy next scored points victories against Courtney Fry on 1 August and Martin Szatmari on 5 December. [8] [9] His last of the year, against Vladimir Reznicek, came just a week after his victory over Szatmari. McCarthy won the fight by points.

McCarthy faced Jon-Lewis Dickinson on 28 May 2016, [10] and won by unanimous decision. It was the first ten round bout of his career. [11] McCarthy was next scheduled to face Matty Askin on 19 November 2016. [12] He suffered the first loss of his professional career, as he lost by unanimous decision. [13]

McCarthy rebounded from the first loss of his professional career with a first-round technical knockout of Peter Hegyes on 21 October 2017. [14] McCarthy was then scheduled to face Blaise Mendouo on 18 November 2017. [15] He won the fight on points. [16]

McCarthy's sole fight of 2018 came against Kent Kauppinen on 17 November. He won the fight on points. [17]

McCarthy was scheduled to face Jiri Svacina on 9 February 2019. He won the fight on points. [18] McCarthy's four-fight winning streak earned McCarthy the chance to challenge the incumbent WBA Inter-continental Cruiserweight champion Richard Riakporhe on 2 March 2019. Riakporhe won the fight by a fourth-round technical knockout. [19]

Following his loss to Riakporhe, McCarthy re-matched Jiri Svacina on 18 May 2019, and won by a third-round technical knockout. [20] McCarthy was scheduled to face Francesco Cataldo on 11 July 2019 in Rome, which was his first fight outside of the British Isles. Cataldo retired from the fight at the end of the second round. [21]

McCarthy was scheduled to fight the reigning WBC International cruiserweight champion Fabio Turchi on 11 October 2019. [22] He won the fight by split decision. [23]

McCarthy fought Bilal Laggoune for the European cruiserweight title on 31 October 2020. He won the fight by majority decision. [24] McCarthy made the first defense of his European title against Alexandru Jur on 15 May 2021. [25] He won the fight by a sixth-round knockout. [26]

McCarthy was scheduled to fight Chris Billam-Smith on 31 July 2021. The fight was a defense of his European cruiserweight title, a challenge for Billam-Smith's Commonwealth title, and a fight for the vacant British cruiserweight title. The bout was set as the main event of a Matchroom Boxing card, which was broadcast by DAZN. [27] McCarthy lost the fight by split decision, with scores of 116-112, 115-115 and 116-115. [28] McCarthy expressed his surprise at the scorecards after the fight, stating: "“When I heard that score of 116-112 I just walked out of the ring in disgust... How could one of the judges have it eight rounds to four after a fight like that?". [29] McCarthy was booked to face Billam-Smith in an immediate rematch on 16 April 2022. [30] McCarthy lost the fight by an eight-round technical knockout. [31]

McCarthy was stopped in the seventh-round by Michal Cieslak in a challenge to regain the European cruiserweight title in Poland on 4 November 2023. [32]

On 27 January 2024, McCarthy was stopped in the fourth-round by Cheavon Clarke in a contest for the vacant WBA cruiserweight Intercontinental title at Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland. [33]

McCarthy announced his retirement from professional boxing in March 2025. [34] [35]

Personal life

His cousin is the English musician Labrinth. [36]

Professional boxing record

28 fights21 wins7 losses
By knockout105
By decision112
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
28Loss21–7Steven WardPTS6 (10)1 Mar 2025The SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
27Win21–6Ryan LabournPTS61 Nov 2024The SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
26Loss20–6 Cheavon Clarke TKO4 (10), 1:2827 Jan 2024Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern IrelandFor vacant WBA Inter-Continental cruiserweight title
25Loss20–5 Michal Cieslak TKO7 (12), 1:054 Nov 2023Nosalowy Dwór, Zakopane, PolandFor European cruiserweight title
24Win20–4Reinis PorozovsPTS84 Sep 2022Europa Hotel, Belfast, Northern Ireland
23Win19–4Pauls VilbergsTKO2 (6), 0:4511 Jun 2022Tondi 17 Boxing Hall, Tallinn, Estonia
22Loss18–4 Chris Billam-Smith TKO8 (12), 1:2816 Apr 2022AO Arena, Manchester, EnglandFor European and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles
21Loss18–3 Chris Billam-Smith SD1231 Jul 2021Matchroom Headquarters, Brentwood, EnglandLost European cruiserweight title;
For Commonwealth and vacant British cruiserweight titles
20Win18–2Alexandru JurKO6 (12), 2:2015 May 2021 AO Arena, Manchester, EnglandRetained European cruiserweight title
19Win17–2Bilal LaggouneMD12 31 Oct 2020 The SSE Arena, London, EnglandWon European cruiserweight title
18Win16–2 Fabio Turchi SD1211 Oct 2019 PalaTrento, Trento, ItalyWon WBC International cruiserweight title
17Win15–2Francesco CataldoRTD2 (8)11 Jul 2019Stadio Nicola Pietrangeli, Rome, Italy
16Win14–2Jiri SvacinaTKO3 (6), 2:0118 May 2019 Europa Hotel, Belfast, Northern Ireland
15Loss13–2 Richard Riakporhe TKO4 (10), 2:452 Mar 2019East of England Arena, Peterborough, EnglandFor WBA Inter-Continental cruiserweight title
14Win13–1Jiri SvacinaPTS89 Feb 2019 Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
13Win12–1Kent KauppinenPTS617 Nov 2018Shorts Sports & Social Club, Belfast, Northern Ireland
12Win11–1 Blaise Mendouo PTS618 Nov 2017Odyssey Complex, Belfast, Northern Ireland
11Win10–1Peter HegyesTKO1 (6), 2:3321 Oct 2017 Odyssey Complex, Belfast, Northern Ireland
10Loss9–1 Matty Askin UD1219 Nov 2016Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, England
9Win9–0 Jon-Lewis Dickinson UD1028 May 2016 OVO Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland
8Win8–0Vladimir ReznicekPTS612 Dec 2015Hilton Hotel, Blackpool, England
7Win7–0Martin SzatmariPTS65 Dec 2015Westcroft Leisure Centre, Carshalton, England
6Win6–0 Courtney Fry PTS81 Aug 2015Marquee, Belfast, Northern Ireland
5Win5–0Jakub WojcikTKO6 (6), 1:3020 Feb 2015Red Cow Moran Hotel, Dublin, Ireland
4Win4–0Martin HorakTKO2 (4), 0:5915 Nov 2014 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland
3Win3–0Dimitar SpaiyskiTKO1 (4), 1:074 Oct 2014Devenish Complex, Belfast, Northern Ireland
2Win2–0Imantas DavidaitisTKO2 (4), 2:2721 Jun 2014Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Manchester, England
1Win1–0Rolandas CesnaTKO3 (4), 0:4324 May 2014Dewsbury Leisure Centre, Dewsbury, England

References

  1. "Tommy McCarthy the Black Irishman from West-Belfast". The Irish Times . Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  2. "Tommy McCarthy: Belfast boxer becomes European champion". bbc.com. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  3. "McCarthy makes impressive start to professional career". irish-boxing.com. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  4. "Watch Tommy McCarthy's second Pro fight LIVE HERE". irish-boxing.com. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  5. Wellings, Steve (6 October 2014). "Tommy McCarthy hits the spot with a first-round KO". belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  6. Wellings, Steve (17 November 2014). "Cruiserweight Tommy McCarthy remains in knockout form". belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  7. McKenna, Derek (21 February 2015). "VIDEO: Big Tommy McCarthy Knock Out Vs Jakub Wojcik". irish-boxing.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  8. Watters, Andy (August 2015). "McCarthy foe Fry up for Féile rumble in the Park". irishnews.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  9. Watters, Andy (8 December 2015). "Tommy McCarthy closing in on a Celtic Nations title shot". irishnews.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  10. BN Staff BoxingNewsED (26 May 2016). "Jon-Lewis Dickinson ready for Tommy McCarthy, but angling for a world title clash with Tony Bellew". boxingnewsonline.net. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  11. "Tommy McCarthy beats Jon Lewis Dickinson in Glasgow". irishnews.com. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  12. Watters, Andy (22 January 2019). "Tommy McCarthy back from wilderness and determined to make up for lost time". irishnews.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  13. Watters, Andy (22 November 2016). "Defeat to Matty Askin means it's back to drawing board for Tommy McCarthy". irishnews.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  14. "Tommy McCarthy stopped Peter Hegyes in the first round on the fight". skysports.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  15. The Newsroom (9 November 2018). "Tommy McCarthy back from the wilderness for Belfast show". newsletter.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2021.{{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  16. O'Neill, Joe (18 November 2017). "Tommy McCarthy blasts his way to win over Blaise Mendouo". irish-boxing.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  17. "Tommy McCarthy left Disappointed but Determined following second pro debut". fightnewsasia.com. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  18. Stapleton, Jonny (11 February 2019). "Tommy McCarthy ready for big Sky Sports fight following "dress rehearsal"". irish-boxing.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  19. Damerell, Richard. "Richard Riakporhe halted Tommy McCarthy in fourth round on JD NXTGEN bill in Peterborough". skysports.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  20. Fullerton, Nicky (20 May 2019). "VIDEO: Tommy McCarthy hunting titles after victory at Europa Hotel on Saturday night". newsletter.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  21. "McCarthy wins in second round". skysports.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  22. Mohan, David. "Take two for McCarthy's Italian job". belfastmedia.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  23. BN Staff (14 October 2019). "Tommy McCarthy upsets Turchi on the road". boxingnewsonline.net. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  24. Lewis, Ron (31 October 2020). "Tommy McCarthy Edges Bilal Laggoune To Capture EBU Title". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  25. Kelly, David (11 May 2021). "Tommy McCarthy targets WBC world title shot if he can get past Alexandru Jur". belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  26. Lewis, Ron (15 May 2021). "Tommy McCarthy Blasts Out Alexandru Jur in Sixth, Retains European Title". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  27. Fullerton, Gareth (31 July 2021). "Tommy McCarthy vs Chris Billam-Smith TV and live stream info for Saturday's title fight". belfastlive.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  28. "McCarthy loses European belt to Billam-Smith". rte.ie. 31 July 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  29. Kelly, David (2 August 2021). "Tommy McCarthy reveals 'disgust' at judge's score and demands re-match against Chris Billam-Smith". belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  30. Dixon, Tris (12 April 2022). "Chris Billam-Smith Ready To Shine Under The Bright Lights In Rematch With Tommy Mccarthy". ringtv.com. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  31. Boxing Photos (17 April 2022). "Photos: Chris Billam-Smith Knocks Out Tommy McCarthy in Rematch". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  32. "Tommy McCarthy suffers European title defeat in Poland". Belfast Telegraph. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  33. "Cheavon Clarke Batters, Stops Tommy McCarthy in Fourth Round". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  34. "Belfast boxer Tommy McCarthy announces his retirement". Boxing News Online. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  35. "Tommy McCarthy RETIRES From Boxing". Irish Boxing. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  36. "Rapper Labrinth reassured me it wasn't the end, reveals Tommy McCarthy". The Irish News. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2022.