Irish cruiserweight Tommy McCarthy has said how the support of his cousin and rapper Labrinth helped steer him away from retirement after his defeat to Richard Riakporhe.
McCarthy (16-2, 8 KOs), was stopped inside four rounds by the heavy-hitting Riakporhe in Peterborough in March 2019, in an unsuccessful bid for the WBA Inter-Continental title.
The west Belfast man admits the shock of his loss to the now-British champion left him on the verge of leaving the sport for good, but says that Labrinth, who shot to fame with hit records like ‘Pass Out,’ came to him in his hour of need.
“After the fight I thought it was over for me," McCarthy told Pro Boxing Fans.
“I was just really down after and I was kidding myself, I haven’t got it. I’m not the man I thought I was.
“But after I came home and spoke with my wife, she really instilled the belief in me again.
“I was embarrassed too. The fight was in Peterborough, they had travelled up from London, they were front row.
“Afterwards, he [Labrinth] hugged me and I was like 'do you know what, I’m finished, I can’t do this no more'.
“He said: 'look Tommy, don’t worry there’s a rebirth happening, this is just a wake up call that you need.'
“He gave me loads of positive talk, just reassuring me it wasn’t the end.
“At the time I was taking it with a pinch of salt, but his words just resonated in my mind, when I got home my wife was saying the same things.”
The 29-year-old has rebuilt since with three successive victories, notably a stand-out win in Italy over Fabio Turchi last November, in which he claimed the WBC International title.
And McCarthy believes the lessons learnt from his reverse to Riakporhe will stand him in good stead for the future, to ensure there is no such repeat result.
“The benefits are major,” McCarthy added.
“Very few assess their wins, I know I was one of them coming up when I was beating people, you’re getting away with sloppy stuff but you never address it, because if it's not broke, don’t fix it.
“It took me to get embarrassed on the TV to really take stock. I knew that changes needed to be made but when you’re winning you’re getting away with it.
“I thought in order for this not to happen again I need to take responsibility, that’s going to stick with me forever.
“There’s no excuse for it to happen again.”
McCarthy said he was close to securing a world title shot against WBA ‘Super’ World champion Arsen Goulamirian, prior to the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic and admits he’s hopeful of receiving an opportunity against the Frenchman or WBC World champion Ilunga Makabu when boxing resumes.
“All the terms were agreed, the date was agreed, purses were agreed,” McCarthy explained on the negotiations with Goulamirian.
“Hopefully it comes back again after the lockdown.''
Fans can watch the full interview at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSKxkU8YkqU
