Paul McCullagh Jnr, a 25-year-old light heavyweight from Belfast, Northern Ireland, has died after what is being reported as “a short illness”.
McCullagh, a decorated regional amateur who turned pro in 2020, belongs to one of the most recognized boxing families in Belfast. His late grandfather Paul McCullagh coached Barry McGuigan, Hugh Russell and former junior-lightweight titlist Anthony Cacace. His father, also Paul, was a successful amateur fighter himself, and has since become a professional referee.
McCullagh fought out of St John Bosco ABC Belfast and his family’s McCullagh ABC club, excelling as an amateur in Ulster Elite provincial competition and then internationally for Ireland. He went 2-0 as a professional, by stopping Ben Thomas in 2020 and outpointing Antony Woolery in 2021.
Tributes and condolences came in from various channels in the wake of the news, from those who knew and worked with McCullagh, to the extended boxing community.
The Irish Athletic Boxing Association extended its “deepest condolences to Paul’s family, club and loved ones” on its X social media account.
Carl Frampton, perhaps Belfast’s most famous boxing son, wrote on his X account: “Heartbreaking to hear the terrible news about the very talented Paul McCullough Jnr. Deepest sympathies to his Dad, Paul and the rest of his family and friends.”
Irish middleweight Gary O’Sullivan, Frank Warren, and Jake Paul were among others who offered public support and sympathy.
“I'm absolutely gutted to learn of the passing of the young 'Irish Drago' Paul McCullagh, he had such a great future ahead of him,” O’Sullivan posted on X.
Jason Langendorf is the former Boxing Editor of ESPN.com, was a contributor to Ringside Seat and the Queensberry Rules, and has written about boxing for Vice, The Guardian, Sun-Times and other publications. A member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, he can be found at LinkedIn and followed on X and Bluesky.
