Career

He suffered his first defeat in September 1989 to Tony Wilson in an eliminator for the English title, one of boxing"s most unusual fights. McCarthy knocked Wilson down in the third round and looking to finish the fight with Wilson on the ropes, the fight was stopped when Wilson"s 62-year-old mother climbed into the ring and started attacking McCarthy with her shoe, and Wilson"s corner man also entered the ring. A riot ensued and Wilson"s mother had to be dragged from the ring by her hair by a security guard.

McCarthy returned to the ring but only to calm the crowd.

A BBBofC enquiry upheld the result but ordered a rematch, but McCarthy pulled out, suffering from flu. McCarthy suffered his first defeat at the hands of another boxer in April 1992 when he was disqualified in the ninth round against Henry Maske in Düsseldorf.

He also lost via disqualification to Dariusz Michalczewski in Hamburg in September that year.

Achievements

• From Southampton, McCarthy began his professional career in February 1987 with a win over Russell Burnett. He was unbeaten in his first 10 fights, which included a win over Serg Fame in November 1988 to take the BBBofC Southern Area light heavyweight title, and a points victory over Yves Monsieur. McCarthy believed he had won and left the ring, but bizarrely referee Adrian Morgan insisted that the fight should continue. McCarthy refused (the injury caused by Wilson"s mother required four stitches) and Wilson was declared the winner by technical knockout. McCarthy"s next fight came in October 1990 against Fame for the British light-heavyweight title vacated by Tom Collins. McCarthy won on points to become British champion. In April 1993 he was stopped by Simon Harris in the fifth round, and he finished his career in February 1994 with a points win over Karl Barwise.