Peter McDonagh

Peter McDonagh is a professional boxer from Galway, Ireland. He usually competes at lightweight.

McDonagh fought Michael Gomez on 28 January 2006 for the Irish lightweight title on the undercard of a Bernard Dunne fight at the National Stadium, Dublin, Ireland.

Gomez had been out of the ring for almost a year and was due to fight Scottish Willie Limond for the WBU lightweight title but turned down that opportunity for a chance to fight for an Irish title.

After the fight was signed Gomez stated "I just can't wait to get my hands on that Irish title because I've been desperate to fight in Ireland for years".

Leading up to the fight McDonagh was seeing the famous paranormalist Uri Geller as mind coach to help him mentally prepared for the fight and Geller travelled with him to Dublin for the fight. Gomez commented that ""I'm not sure Uri Geller will be of much use to him though because there won't be any spoons in that ring for him to bend. The only thing I plan on bending is some of McDonagh's ribs with my body punches".

The first four rounds were relatively close with Gomez leading according to pundits but the fight ended in the fifth round in bizarre circumstances when for no apparent reason Gomez stopped fighting and failed to defend himself, he then received a number of unanswered punches from McDonagh before being floored. Gomez rose from the canvas immediately but appeared to ignore the referee and walk towards his corner while the referee continued with his count, and then left the ring as the referee was waving the fight off. The RTÉ commentator Steve Collins commented that "I smell a rat, something's not right here".

The Boxing Union of Ireland (BUI) suspended both fighters purses, and investigated reports of unusual betting patterns and large sums of money being placed on McDonagh to win inside the distance and more specifically in the fifth round after on McDonagh to win the fight in the fifth-round had been cut from 125–1 to 18–1 by the afternoon of the bout.

Following an investigation, the BUI released the purses to each of the fighters, stating "Michael Gomez and Peter McDonagh confirmed that neither they, their families, nor any person in their camp, as far as they were aware, betted on the fight", but expressing disappointment that the bookmaker Boylesports, who had suspended wagering on the bout due to the unusual betting patterns, had chosen not to reply to the investigators' queries.

Gomez later explained the loss by saying that "it was all very simple, I just came to a decision in there that I need to retire from boxing full stop".

Gomez further indicated that he planned to pursue a career in body building. McDonagh, meanwhile, claimed that he had won because Uri Geller had helped him mentally prepare for the fight.

In 2005, McDonagh was ranked 4th by the Boxing Union of Ireland in the light welterweight division. He is currently ranked second in irish-boxing.com's rankings of lightweights after moving down a division, and is ranked number 2 in the current Boxing Union of Ireland lists.

date opponent W-L-D last 6 location 2013-11-16 Arek Malek 13–61–4 Glow, Bluewater, Greenhithe, Kent, United Kingdom W PTS 6 6x3 referee: Mark Green 60–55 2013-10-10 Dan Blackwell 3–22–0 The Ring Boxing Club, Ewer Street, Southwark, London, United Kingdom W PTS 4 4x3 referee: Robert Williams 40–36 2013-07-12 Paddy Murphy 8–0–1 Fairways Hotel, Dundalk, Ireland D PTS 8 8 referee: Mickey Vann 77–77 vacant Celtic Nations light-middleweight title. 2013-06-08 Liam Griffiths 2–27–1 Glow, Bluewater, Greenhithe, Kent, United Kingdom W PTS 4 4x3 referee: Mark Green 40–35 Griffiths had one point deducted for holding. 2013-03-21 Bradley Skeete 10–0–0 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom L PTS 10 10x3 referee: Jeff Hinds 90–100 BBBofC Southern Area welterweight title McDonagh had one point deducted in the 9th round. 2012-11-30 Bradley Saunders 4–0–0 Manchester Arena (formerly M.E.N Arena), Manchester, Lancashire, United Kingdom L PTS 8 8x3 referee: John Latham 74–78 2012-11-01 Ronnie Heffron 10–0–0 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom L PTS 8 8x3 referee: Robert Williams 76–77 2012-09-14 Bradley Skeete 8–0–0 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom L PTS 10 10x3 referee: Ken Curtis 95–97 vacant International Masters welterweight title. 2012-07-14 Ronnie Heffron 9–0–0 Upton Park, West Ham, London, United Kingdom L UD 8 8x3 referee: Dominique Schmit | 72–80 | 73–80 | judge: Camille Majerus 76–80 2012-03-31 Chris Johnson 15–3–0 Winter Gardens, Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom L PTS 6 6x3 referee: Alvin Finch | judge: John Latham 55–60 2012-01-13 Jason Nesbitt 9–138–3 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom W PTS 6 6x3 referee: Ken Curtis 60–54 2011-11-25 Gary McMillan 12–3–1 Ravenscraig Sports Centre, Motherwell, Scotland, United Kingdom L PTS 6 6x3 referee: Kenny Pringle 57–58 2011-09-30 Johnny Greaves 3–67–0 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom W PTS 4 4x3 referee: Robert Williams 40–37 2011-06-07 Yassine El Maachi 14–4–0 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom L UD 3 3x3 referee: Marcus McDonnell | judge: Mark Green 27–30 | judge: John Keane 28–29 | judge: Victor Loughlin 28–29 Prizefighter tournament, welterweight quarter-final. 2011-03-18 Darren Hamilton 7–1–0 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom L TKO 8 10x3 time: 2:58 | referee: Robert Williams BBBofC Southern Area light welterweight title McDonagh's corner threw in the towel. 2010-10-23 Curtis Woodhouse 14–1–0 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom W PTS 8 8x3 referee: Marcus McDonnell 77–76 2010-09-04 Alex Arthur 27–3–0 Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom L PTS 8 8x3 referee: Victor Loughlin 74–79 2010-07-24 Michele Di Rocco 27–1–1 Is Arenas, Quartu Sant'Elena, Sardegna, Italy L PTS 6 6 2010-06-04 Yvan Mendy 19–1–0 Salle Leo Lagrange, Pont-Sainte-Maxence, Oise, France L UD 12 12 referee: Ernst Salzgeber | judge: Alain Hemeleers 112–117 | judge: Noel Monnet 112–117 | judge: Zbigniew Lagosz 113–119 vacant World Boxing Federation Intercontinental light welterweight title (supervisor: Olaf Schroeder) 2010-04-03 Christopher Sebire 20–3–0 M.E.N. Arena, Manchester, Lancashire, United Kingdom W PTS 8 8x3 referee: Michael Alexander 79–75 2010-02-13 Frankie Gavin 5–0–0 Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, United Kingdom L PTS 6 6x3 referee: Jeff Hinds 54–60 2009-09-05 Lee Purdy 11–1–1 Colosseum, Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom L PTS 10 10x3 referee: Jeff Hinds 94–98 vacant BBBofC Southern Area welterweight title 2009-06-12 Jimmy Briggs 2–10–0 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom W PTS 4 4x3 referee: Richard James Davies 40–36 2009-04-11 Lenny Daws 18–1–1 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom L PTS 10 10x3 referee: John Keane 94–97 vacant BBBofC English light welterweight title 2008-12-13 Lee Purdy 9–0–1 International Centre, Brentwood, Essex, United Kingdom W PTS 10 10x3 referee: Dave Parris 96–94 BBBofC Southern Area light welterweight title 2008-09-27 Constantin Florescu 10–1–1 Powerade Centre, Brampton, Ontario, Canada W UD 6 6 referee: Rocky Zolnierczyk | judge: Alan Davis | judge: Harry Davis | judge: Kelly Zolnierczyk 2008-07-12 Andy Murray 12–0–0 National Stadium, Dublin, Ireland L PTS 10 10 referee: Emile Tiedt 94–100 vacant Irish lightweight title 2008-02-29 Giuseppe Lauri 44–6–0 PalaLido, Milan, Lombardia, Italy L TKO 6 12 time: 2:12 | referee: Manuel Oliver Palomo | judge: Zvonko Rukavina | judge: Robin Dolpierre | judge: Roger Tilleman EBU-EU (European Union) light welterweight title Injury 2007-10-05 Duncan Cottier 2–30–2 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom W PTS 4 4x3 referee: Mark Green 40–36 2006-12-01 Karl Taylor 16–94–6 Grange City Hotel, Coopers Row, London, United Kingdom W PTS 4 4x3 referee: Mark Green 40–36 2006-09-24 Jason Nesbitt 6–65–0 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom W PTS 4 4x3 referee: Jeff Hinds 40–36 2006-01-28 Michael Gomez 32–6–0 National Stadium, Dublin, Ireland W TKO 6 12 time: 2:04 | referee: Sean Russell vacant Irish lightweight title Gomez down once in rd 6, turned his back. 2005-11-04 Anthony Christopher 1–8–1 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom W PTS 4 4x3 referee: Ian John-Lewis 40–36 2005-08-07 Brunet Zamora 4–0–0 PalaFlaminio, Rimini, Emilia Romagna, Italy L PTS 6 6 referee: Sauro Bertaccini 2005-05-14 Robert Murray 5–0–0 National Stadium, Dublin, Ireland L PTS 10 10 referee: Sean Russell 94–98 vacant Irish light welterweight title 2005-04-30 Rob Jeffries 8–0–0 Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham, Essex, United Kingdom L PTS 10 10x3 referee: Dave Parris 94–98 BBBofC Southern Area lightweight title 2005-03-04 Scott Lawton 12–1–0 Magna Centre, Rotherham, Yorkshire, United Kingdom L PTS 6 6x3 referee: Howard John Foster 56–58 2005-01-21 Ryan Barrett 7–1–1 Fountain Leisure Centre, Brentford, London, United Kingdom L PTS 8 8x3 referee: Jeff Hinds 75–76 Score incorrectly announced as 77–76. 2004-11-19 David Burke 23–2–0 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom L PTS 8 8x3 referee: Richard James Davies 76–78 2004-04-07 Jon Honney 6–10–0 Equinox Nightclub, Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom W PTS 10 10x3 referee: Marcus McDonnell 96–95 BBBofC Southern Area lightweight title 2004-03-06 Barry Hughes 13–2–0 Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom L PTS 6 6x3 referee: Paul Graham 57–59 2004-02-21 Chill John 8–5–0 Town Hall, Hove, Sussex, United Kingdom W RTD 2 6x3 time: 3:00 | referee: Marcus McDonnell Chill John retired after two rounds with a suspected broken rib. 2003-11-22 James Gorman 0–3–0 Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom L PTS 4 4x3 referee: Dave Parris 38–39 2003-11-08 Ceri Hall 1–0–1 Recreation Centre, Bridgend, Wales, United Kingdom L PTS 4 4x3 referee: Mike Heatherwick 37–39 2003-04-08 Ben Hudson 4–1–1 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom W PTS 4 4x3 referee: Jeff Hinds 39–38 2003-02-18 Dafydd Carlin 2–9–0 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom L PTS 4 4x3 referee: Seamus Dunne 38–39 2002-10-27 Ben Hudson 1–1–1 Elephant & Castle Centre, Southwark, London, United Kingdom L PTS 6 6x2 referee: Mark Green 56–58 2002-09-14 Peter Buckley 28–151–8 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom W PTS 4 4x3 referee: Seamus Dunne 40–37 2002-06-23 Dave Hinds 6–43–0 Elephant & Castle Centre, Southwark, London, United Kingdom W PTS 6 6x2 referee: Larry O'Connell 60–54 2002-04-28 Arv Mittoo 9–54–4 Elephant & Castle Centre, Southwark, London, United Kingdom W PTS 6 6x2