I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! star Barry McGuigan is still haunted by the tragic death of his opponent during the fledgling days of his boxing career.
The former World Champion, 63, broke down on Monday night’s show while recalling the passing of his daughter Danika, 33, from cancer in 2019.
But nearly three decades earlier, McGuigan experienced another traumatic event which shaped his life when Nigerian featherweight Young Ali collapsed and fell into a coma following their June 1982 fight at London’s Grosvenor Hotel in Mayfair.
After being flown back to Lagas on life support, the 21-year-old fighter died in hospital six months after the bout.
The tragedy seriously impacted McGuigan who, like Ali – real name Asymin Mustapha, was fighting to support his pregnant wife at the time, but while the Irishman and partner Sandra got to meet their son Blain, the African boxer never met his newborn child.
McGuigan considered quitting boxing following the fight and struggled when he next stepped back into the ring four months later, when he lifted the British featherweight title after stopping Jimmy Duncan in the third round.
I’m A Celeb star Barry McGuigan is still haunted by the tragic death of his opponent Young Ali during the fledgling days of his boxing career (pictured at their 1982 fight)
The former World Champion, 63, broke down on Monday night’s show while recalling the passing of his daughter Danika, 33, from cancer in 2019
But soon afterwards Mustaffa died as a result of his injuries from his bruising encounter with McGuigan, sparking the boxer to declare: ‘It’s something I’ll struggle with for the rest of my life.’
Speaking about the fight in his autobiography, titled Cyclone, McGuigan, told how the ‘tough’ Nigerian recovered impressively from several hard punches but as the pair came out for the sixth round, the Irishman was confident of beating him.
He wrote: ‘I came out for that round thinking, right, I am going to go and get him now.
‘I stepped up and began to set about him. This time, Ali started to wilt and I hit him with the long right hand, right on the nose.
‘I had hit him with a couple beforehand and he was starting to go so I went bom, bom… Bam!
‘I hit him and the reaction was incredible. His head swung around and he just fell down.’
McGuigan then recalls how he noticed Ali did not get up, even after the referee counted to ten.
He continued: ‘The doctors were in there immediately, they didn’t have paramedics or stretchers in those days.
‘They crowded over for three or four minutes, I was beginning to wonder what was going on.’
Young Ali died as a result of his injuries from his bruising encounter with McGuigan, sparking the boxer to declare: ‘It’s something I’ll struggle with for the rest of my life’
Two-and-half years later, McGuigan dedicated his World Title win over Eusebio Pedroza (pictured in the ring) to Young Ali and he broke town in tears after the event
McGuigan added: ‘I remember someone coming over to me and saying, “This kid, this kid is badly hurt.”
‘I couldn’t believe it. “You must be joking,'”I replied. “No” he said, “he’s very badly hurt.”
McGuigan added: ‘I just thought, oh my God.’
The Irishman says he remembers Ali getting to his feet, but believes he was lifted up before collapsing again.
Ali was taken to the nearest hospital before he was then moved to another hospital where he was able to be operated on, but the delay had devastating consequences.
McGuigan wrote: ‘They tried to operate on Ali but couldn’t stem the blood flow. I’m not sure why they couldn’t.
‘All I know is Ali didn’t recover from it and he remained in a coma. After a month or so, they flew him back to Nigeria, where they kept him alive with a respirator.’
In the weeks and months that followed, McGuigan struggled to come to terms with the incident, writing: ‘Everyone thought I was a nice kid. People liked me, yet here I was, having almost killed somebody, and it was all legal and above board.
McGuigan reduced his I’m A Celebrity campmates to tears this week as he opened up about losing his beloved daughter Danika (pictured in 2008)
He added: ‘What must people have thought of me? I found myself asking why it happened to Ali and not me. I went to church and prayed a lot.’
After returning to boxing four months later after contemplating quitting, McGuigan won his fight against Duncan but shortly after he received the news he had been dreading, Young Ali was not showing any signs of recovery and his family made the agonising decision to turn off his life support machine. Young Ali died on December 13, 1982.
Following the tragic fight, McGuigan successfully campaigned for new safety measures to be introduced by the British Board of Control, which included the nearest neurosurgical hospital being made aware a boxing match is taking place nearby and in the event if a boxer suffering a head injury the injured fighter will be taken to that hospital.
Paramedics and an increased medical presence overall was also brought in.
Two-and-half years later, McGuigan dedicated his World Title win over Eusebio Pedroza to Young Ali and he broke town in tears speaking to legendary BBC boxing commentator Harry Carpenter afterwards to an audience of millions watching on television.
McGuigan said: ‘It was an important moment, simple as that, and I was hugely emotional.
‘It meant a lot to me that at the moment of my biggest victory, I was able to remember Young Ali in that way.’
McGuigan retired from boxing in 1989 and went onto become a successful coach, guiding the careers of World Champion Carl Frampton and Josh Taylor.
The Irishman could add the King of the Jungle to his list of honours and is now second favourite to win the ITV1 series behind McFly singer Danny Jones
The Irishman could add the King of the Jungle to his list of honours and is now second favourite to win the ITV1 series behind McFly singer Danny Jones.
He’s already shown his emotional side to viewers after opening up about the death of his actress daughter to campmates during Monday’s show.
McGuigan teared up when explaining Danika never lived to see the role that could have been her big break.
The actress had filmed a part in the thriller Wildfire, but died less than a year before it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2020.
Barry shared that the film received critical acclaim following its release, and Danika had ‘done all this work to get to where she was,’ before her passing.
I’M A CELEBRITY 2024: MEET THE ALL STAR LINE UP
OTI MABUSE
Oti Mabuse has already two Strictly glitterballs under her belt
AGE: 34
OCCUPATION: Professional dancer
FAMOUS FOR: Oti is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020.
DANNY JONES
Danny Jones is one of the bookies’ favourites to win this year’s I’m A Celeb
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: McFly singer
FAMOUS FOR: Danny is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly.
He is also a coach on The Voice UK.
BARRY MCGUIGAN
Former boxer Barry McGuigan is heading into the jungle
AGE: 63
OCCUPATION: Retired professional boxer
FAMOUS FOR: Barry was nicknamed The Clones Cyclone and held the WBA and lineal featherweight titles from 1985 to 1986.
GK BARRY
GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women
AGE: 25
OCCUPATION: TikTok star
FAMOUS FOR: Grace is known for her comedic commentary on culture, lifestyle, and fashion. She has over 3.6 million followers and recently joined the Loose Women panel.
DEAN MCCULLOUGH
ITV bosses are hoping Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp
AGE: 32
OCCUPATION: Radio 1 DJ
FAMOUS FOR: Radio 1 DJ Dean has been signed by I’m A Celeb bosses, in the hope that he will ruffle feathers with his outspoken views.
Earlier this year it was announced Dean would be taking over the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast Show, after previously fronting the afternoon slot.
JANE MOORE
Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women
AGE: 62
OCCUPATION: Journalist
FAMOUS FOR: Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women between 1999 and 2002.
She returned as a regular panellist from 2013 onwards.
Jane takes on the challenge following her high-profile split from husband of 20 years, Showbiz agent, Gary Farrow.
MELVIN ODOOM
Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021
AGE: 44
OCCUPATION: DJ and TV presenter
FAMOUS FOR: His work on radio. Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021, but turned down the offer at the last minute.
He also had a primetime stint on Strictly back in 2016.
COLEEN ROONEY
Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: WAG
FAMOUS FOR: Wagatha Christie case against arch rival Rebekah Vardy.
Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history, exceeding Nigel Farage’s £1.5million from last year.
ALAN HALSALL
Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on Coronation Street
AGE: 42
OCCUPATION: Actor
FAMOUS FOR: Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw from I’m A Celeb last year, after undergoing ACL Reconstruction surgery.
Bosses have now convinced the actor to sign up again, and no doubt he will draw in a huge fanbase thanks to his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs on the soap.
TULISA
Tulisa is making her career comeback after reuniting with N-Dubz last year
AGE: 36
OCCUPATION: Singer and former X Factor judge
FAMOUS FOR: Tulisa reunited with N-Dubz last year for a tour after first finding fame with the band in 2007.
In 2011, she became a judge on The X Factor and went on to launch her debut solo album, The Female Boss.
She released her fourth album with N-Dubz last year.
