'Father time waits for no man' - Limerick boxer Graham McCormack calls time on illustrious career

LIMERICK boxing stalwart Graham McCormack has called time on his illustrious career. 

The Garryowen native decided to step away from the sport after coming up short in his bout against Richie O'Leary earlier this month at the National Stadium in Dublin. 

McCormack outlines his reasoning for hanging up the gloves a fortnight ago, in the aftermath of his contest with O'Leary. 

"Boxing is a mad game. It was a good, close fight but I just felt that I was a bit behind on the punch whereas two or three years ago I wouldn't have been.

"I think two or three years ago I stop him. He's a good fighter but he wasn't spectacular and then it just had me thinking that the old me would've destroyed him, so that's what led me to step away."

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It was a tough decision for the recently turned 39-year-old to make, with McCormack admitting that 'father time waits for no man.'

"It's definitely a hard decision to make, I've been boxing since I was 14 years of age. It is a massive part of my life, especially the last ten years with me getting clean and sober and turning professional.

"It's a hard decision to make but sometimes you just need to make the right decision. I wish I could fight forever but I recently turned 39 and father time waits for no man."

The former BUI Celtic Middleweight champion says the sport of boxing saved his life and now that he has time to reflect on his career, it fills McCormack with immense gratitude. 

"Boxing saved my life and I don't say that lightly. I wouldn't have stayed clean and sober the last decade if it wasn't for boxing.

"I had a good amateur career which allowed me to go professional and it just changed my whole life. I'm so grateful for the career I've had.

"Was I the best boxer? No, I was a rough and tough competitor ready to fight. I won a title, I fought on TV a couple of times and I lived the dream that a lot of people only get to talk about.

"I'm truly grateful and I had a better career than anyone thought I would ever have. I look back now and I'm just so grateful for it all."

McCormack admits that it's been a career filled with many memorable highlights and states that they will 'live with him forever.'

"Winning the BUI Celtic title against Dominic Donegan three years ago was a major highlight. The Craig McCarthy rematch where I knocked him out on TV is up there as well, that was massive. Walking out at the SSE Arena with my sons was huge for me as well.

"There are so many good memories. Even my last fight, getting to walk out with both my sons was really special and they now both box which is great. All of those memories I have will live with me forever."

McCormack says that Limerick is a city that has had his back from 'the very first day' and states that the county has 'given him so much' over the course of his career. 

"I love Limerick and I love my city. Limerick has had my back from the very first day to the very last day. Every sponsor I had was a Limerick based company and I have had a lot of sponsors over the years.

"People buying tickets, spending their hard earned cash on me, going all around the country to watch me fight, it's just been unbelievable.

"I love this county and I love this city, it's given me so much, win or lose and the support I've gotten since day one, I just can't thank the people enough."

Now that McCormack has called time on his career, the Garryowen native is looking forward to the free time that comes with retirement as he continues his coaching role at Treaty Boxing Club.

"I'm going to coach full-time at Treaty Boxing Club, I'm a full-time coach there. I'm going to train my sons and I'm going to spend more time with my wife and kids. 

"People don't realise the time that you miss with your family when you're in camp. You're training two or three times a day and then when you're home, you're just trying to sleep. It's definitely taken more of a toll the last few years since I had my two daughters.

"I'm going to get to spend more time with my family and in the long run I want to open my own gym but for now I'm going to coach at Treaty Boxing Club, spend time with the family and just enjoy life.

"There will be no camps, no strict diets and no pressure because the pressure in boxing is so intense. I'm looking forward to not having that pressure in my life anymore," McCormack concluded.