I THOUGHT ABOUT WALKING AWAY

I LOST my sister,” says Shane McGuigan. “Things of that magnitude put everything else, like boxing, into perspective.” Temporarily unguarded, he turns his back to shield from the sun that soaks the substantial grounds of Matchroom HQ in gorgeous shades of green and blue. McGuigan is with Chris Billam-Smith and Anthony Fowler, two fighters he trains who will compete here on July 31 in Matchroom’s first Fight Camp event of 2021.

Shane is in a good place. Or at least a better place than where he’s come from. It’s exactly two years since Danika McGuigan passed away. The family have not emerged on the ‘other side’ because there will never be any escape from the pain of the 33-year-old being taken so young. But the loss of several elite fighters to management and promotional group MTK Global is significantly easier to rationalise.

“Boxing is a sport, it is our lifestyle, but it doesn’t define us as individuals,” Shane tells . “Losing my sister like that was horrific for my parents, for all of us. We’re a very close family and it’s