Ex-Leeds United star will get knocked out in first spherical of his boxing debut
A former Leeds United star was knocked out in the opening minute of the first round of his nightmare debut boxing match by a fellow Elland Road hero
Ross McCormack made his boxing debut(Image: YouTube/@talkSPORTBoxing)
Championship legend Ross McCormack was knocked out in the first round on his boxing debut, taking on ex-Leeds defender Matthew Kilgallon at a charity event.
McCormack enjoyed four seasons at Elland Road during his playing days, scoring 58 goals across 158 appearances. He received the captain’s armband in January 2014 and secured the Championship Golden Boot before transferring to Fulham that summer.
The former Scotland international retired from professional football in 2023. Having subsequently appeared for non-league sides, the 39-year-old moved to an entirely different sport when he was set to face Kilgallon in a charity boxing match. McCormack stepped into the ring using the moniker ‘Wrecking Ball’ at A Night To Remember II in Liverpool on Friday night.
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Following a reasonably even opening exchange, ‘Cold Killer’ Kilgallon evaded his rival’s strikes before bringing the bout to a rapid end.
A series of body shots coupled with devastating left hooks sent McCormack tumbling to the canvas in the corner. Referee Ian John-Lewis halted the fight just over a minute into the first of three planned two-minute rounds. The two former Leeds players shared a warm embrace once the contest had finished.
McCormack and Kilgallon were amongst several all-footballer bouts on the bill, which was shown live by talkSPORT. A Night To Remember II was put together by Pro Project Promotions, a firm founded by ex-Arsenal keeper Graham Stack.
The evening’s entertainment also saw Swansea City legend Lee Trundle triumph over former Watford and Burnley forward Chris Iwelumo. Ex-Wolves shot-stopper Carl Ikeme likewise donned the gloves to take on retired Bristol City hero Bradley Orr.
Former Leeds captain McCormack boasted an impressive playing pedigree. After establishing himself in Rangers’ senior side and appearing in the Champions League, he had a short stint with Motherwell before joining Cardiff City in 2008. His goal-laden first campaign for the Bluebirds caught Leeds’ attention, prompting them to secure his signature in 2010.
Despite a sluggish beginning at Elland Road, the Scotland international found the net 19 times in the following season. McCormack achieved a personal best of 29 goals and was given the captain’s armband during the 2013/14 campaign, before transferring to Fulham for a Championship-record £11m – a benchmark he exceeded once more when penning terms with newly-relegated Aston Villa in 2016.
The striker found it difficult to establish himself at Villa Park. He was loaned out on multiple occasions, including a stint in Australia and a return to Motherwell as his playing days drew to a close. Meanwhile, Kilgallon is a product of Leeds’ youth system and made 95 appearances for the first team, although he left over three years before McCormack’s arrival at Elland Road.
The 42-year-old also had stints with Sheffield United, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Bradford City during his career before retiring in 2021.
A Night to Remember II was a fundraising event for Children’s Charity Merseyside and Autism Merseyside. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, along with former world champion boxers Natasha Jonas and Liam Smith, acted as ambassadors for the event.
