Former boxer Barry McGuigan has made his opinion clear on questions of his age stopping him from taking on any of the I’m A Celeb trials that await him.
The 63-year-old is insistent his experience as a fighter will help him manage his upcoming stint Down Under.
McGuigan is famed as “The Clones Cyclone” and held the Word Boxing Association lineal featherweight titles from 1985 to 1986.
At a regional level, he was the British and European featherweight champion between 1983 and 1985.
The 63-year-old will head to Australia with Ant and Dec the new series alongside the former Strictly pro Oti Mabuse, Radio 1 host Melvin Odoom, Coleen Rooney, GK Barry, Jane Moore, Alan Halsall, Dean McCullough, Tulisa Contostavlos and Danny Jones.
Speaking on what he expects from the competition, McGuigan believes he will be “one of the elders” around the camp.
He told ITV that he adopts a similar role as a boxing coach and hopes to bring that to the jungle.
“I’m the consoler when the guys have a hard day in the gym… I put my arm around their shoulder and say: ‘Listen, that’s just the way it is. Tomorrow will be different’,” he explained.
Despite his “elder” status, McGuigan is keen to stress that he will not let it get in the way of his determination to compete.
“It can be physically arduous, but it’s the psychological part of it that I want to conquer before I get too old,” he revealed.
The former boxer continued: “I’m 63 now. I’d like to think I‘m a young 63, but that doesn‘t mean it’ll make any of these challenges easy. I’d rather do it when I’m 63, than 73, put it that way.”
Regarding the infamous Bushtucker Trials, McGuigan declared: “I couldn’t refuse to do it. Once you’ve made the decision to get into I’m A Celebrity, you have to be willing to do everything.”
McGuigan explained he plans to use the grit he gained as a boxer to help with any challenge put to him.
“It might be disgusting, and you might be tired but being a fighter (means) being dedicated and committed to training and getting ready for fights,” the 63-year-old began.
“You have to go through hell, physically as well as psychologically. So, I know what I’m letting myself in for.”
“I fought relentlessly, I just used to track my opponents, so l was called The Clones Cyclone. It’s something that’s stuck with me. I hope it helps me with this,” he concludes.
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On his potential success in the competition, McGuigan explains that he would “like to do well”.
“I’m not saying I’m going to win, but l’d like to be in there for a sustained amount of time so that I can get to know all of the guys in camp.”
“Maybe as I’m getting older, I’m getting more irritable, It’s just a natural thing, an age thing. I’m more irritable than I was 30 or 40 years ago, put it that way.”