By Terence Dooley
Wayne McCullough has told the Belfast Newsletter that his omission from an official Shankill road mural depicting boxing legends from the area has left him feeling snubbed. McCullough won the WBC world bantamweight title from Yasuei Yakushiji in 1995; Wayne fought out of Vegas during his professional career, despite this, the man once nicknamed 'The Shankill Samurai' feels that he should have been included on the mural.
“It’s great to see new murals appearing around the Shankill and seeing people I respect like Davy Larmour getting recognition, but I’m saddened that I have not been included," claimed McCullough. “Whilst not surprised that I have been omitted, I am still proud to have been born on the Shankill Road.
“Although I don’t physically live on the road anymore, I visit as often as I can and work tirelessly for the friends and fans that still keep in touch with me from the area,” he continued. “I’ve never forgotten my roots and have made a TV programme featuring the Shankill and mentioned it in my book, so it’s all very sad.”
An Olympic silver medallist for his nation in 1992, McCullough hinted that there may be a political edge to the snub. “I don’t think there is any particular reason, but if it’s some sort of political thing then they needn’t have bothered putting the mural up, they could have just left the old ones” he complained. “I’ve always represented my country north and south, Protestant and Catholic. I’m a sportsman, not a politician. So if people want to drag politics into sport, that’s up to them, but you’d have to ask the people who put the murals up why they didn’t include me.”
Community leader Ian McLaughlin explained the omission, pointing out that Wayne is still an active boxer, and the mural is for retired fighters only. McLaughlin should have checked Boxrec, Wayne has not fought since last year, and at 38 he is unlikely to make a comeback of any significance, especially when you consider that he is 0-3 (2) in recent fights.
“If anyone takes the time to read this mural, they will see that it is to honour past boxers,” explained McLaughlin. "We have included James Warnock, Davy Larmour and Tommy Armour dating back from 1937 to 1974/75. Wayne McCullough still holds a licence to fight and he is preparing for another fight very soon, so he is not a past boxer.”
McLaughlin was also at pains to point out that the snub has nothing to do with politics, claiming that they did not mean to offend McCullough. “This mural has been driven by the local community and there has been no intention to offend Mr McCullough in any way,” he stated. “If and when Wayne McCullough hangs up his boxing gloves, we will put him on a future mural.”
Wayne will turn 39 in a few days, and has been semi-retired for the past three years, if he does fight again it will likely be as a farewell to his fans, consequently he is as close to retirement as one can get, his status as the only Shankill boxer to win a world title makes the absence a glaring one.
Fortunately, Belfast tour operator Stephen Long is seeking to correct this snub. Mr Long intends to create his own mural, and insists that Wayne will feature prominently on this one, telling the BBC that Wayne will be included as part of a general celebration of that area of Belfast.
“I think Wayne was aggrieved that he was overlooked because he fought for and won a world title,” stated Long. “This mural will be dedicated to him and other people from the Shankill. What Wayne didn't get with one mural, he will get with this one.”
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