Vaughan backs Tyrone McCullagh to bamboozle in 2019

New coach Danny Vaughan believes Tyrone McCullagh will progress from bamboozling Paddy Barnes in sparing to befuddling some big super bantamweight names in 2019.

The notoriously awkward southpaw enjoyed a brilliant 2018 and put himself in the frame for some major fights over the coming 12 months thanks to eye-catching wins over the Scottish champ Joe Ham and English champ Josh Kennedy.

These victories scored him the BBBoC Celtic title and he now sits at #13 in the WBO rankings.

Now with bigger fights in the pipeline, the Derry fighter has moved trainers, trading George Vaughan and Derry Matthews for Danny Vaughan.

Vaughan, who works with Paddy Barnes, Tyrone McKenna and Sean McComb as well as previously coaching Jamie Conlan and Jono Carroll, is delighted to add the punching nurse to the ranks and predicts another positive year for a fighter who is hoping to bring boxing home to Derry in 2019.

“I’m so pleased to welcome Tyrone to the team. I’ve always worked closely with my father, Georgie Vaughan, so in many ways we’ve been on the same team as Tyrone for years already,” said the Liverpudlian trainer.

“It could be a huge year for ‘White Chocolate.’ He’s one of the slickest operators around. Just ask Paddy Barnes, who calls him ‘The Bamboozler’ in sparring!”

“Now those two will be sparring even more than usual as they’ll be in camp together.”

“With Tyrone McKenna, Paddy and Sean McComb already in my stable, Sam Maxwell and I are starting to feel pretty heavily outnumbered as Scousers but jokes aside, the atmosphere between the boys is great and Tyrone McCullagh will only enhance that.

Considering he moves from father to son in terms of training ‘White Chocolate’ doesn’t see it as a major transition.

Where he really feels he will benefit will be in terms of the fighters around him during camp. McCullagh [12(6)-0] teams up with some former amateur team mates and fighters he has a real bond with and he thinks that friendship element will only reap rewards.

The fighter who is aiming to win a world title and has openly suggested a fight with Portlaoise’s TJ Doheny said that “I’m glad to be joining such a promising gym under Danny and it feels more like moving bedrooms than moving houses because the two camps have always worked together.”

“I’ve learned such a huge amount under Georgie Vaughan and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank both him and Derry Mathews for all the hard work and knowledge they’ve shared with me,” added the Foylesider who ws also previously trained in the pros by Gerry Storey Jr and Sr.

“The time is right for me to join my good friends like Tyrone McKenna, Paddy Barnes and Sean McComb over in Scotland and I’m looking forward to us all pushing each other onwards and upwards towards more titles.”