I'm a Celebrity star Barry McGuigan left crushed by daughter's tragic death

The popular reality show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! returns in 2024, featuring a fresh group of celebrities venturing into the Australian wilderness.

In the upcoming season of the ITV show, participants including McFly's Danny Jones, former Strictly contestant Oti Mabuse, and television personality Colleen Rooney will strive to earn the title of the jungle's new king or queen. They will face a variety of tough and intense tests as they compete for the crown.

This year, former boxing world champion Barry McGuigan is the sports representative in the jungle. At 63 years old, he has also won the British and European featherweight titles. Additionally, he is a past recipient of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award and has been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

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Since he hung up his gloves in 1989, the Irishman has taken on roles as a boxing manager and promoter, and has appeared as a commentator for networks like Sky Sports. He also ventured into reality television, clinching victory in the third season of Hell's Kitchen in 2007, and then decided to join this year's I'm A Celebrity.

His participation in the show will bring McGuigan to a fresh audience, as details about his life beyond boxing are set to be examined closely. Here are some lesser-known facts about the former boxer, including the heartbreaking family loss he endured and his rumored 'toxic' relationship with a fellow fighter.

Grief Over The Loss Of My Daughter

Sadly, McGuigan's daughter, Danika, passed away in July 2019 at the young age of 33, just a month after receiving a cancer diagnosis. The boxer has stated that he will "never accept" her loss.

Danika, affectionately called 'Nika', was the sole daughter of McGuigan and his spouse, Sandra, who also have three sons. At the age of 11, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia and spent the next two years receiving treatment.

She overcame her illness and eventually pursued a career in acting, featuring in Jim Sheridan's The Secret Scripture with Hollywood stars Rooney Mara and Jack Reynor.

However, when the illness came back, it tragically ended Danika's life, leaving McGuigan and the entire family heartbroken.

"We are deeply sorrowful to announce the loss of our cherished daughter and sister, Danika 'Nika' McGuigan," the family shared at that time. "Nika fought valiantly in her short battle with cancer and peacefully departed this world in the early hours of Tuesday, July 23, with her beloved family by her side."

"Our family is heartbroken and requests privacy during this challenging time so we can mourn for our beloved Nika."

During a 2021 interview with BelfastLive, McGuigan expressed his deep sorrow and acknowledged that he would have likely had to quit boxing if the tragedy had occurred while he was still competing in the ring.

"I lost my daughter two years ago, and it was a devastating experience," he shared. "I don't think I'll ever fully heal from it. My life will continue, but I will never be the same person, as family is everything to me."

She was truly an amazing child. Life was challenging for her from a very young age. At just nine months old, she experienced severe fever convulsions and was actually declared dead when she arrived at the hospital, but the doctors managed to revive her. Then, at the age of 11, she was diagnosed with leukemia, and the doctors warned that she probably wouldn’t survive. Yet, she defied the odds and pulled through.

It really bothers me a lot. I do my utmost to avoid it," he said. "I keep telling myself, 'I don't want to end up in tears again.' But it's really challenging, extremely challenging. If I had faced this during my career, I doubt I would have been able to carry on. I'm not sure I could have bounced back from that as an athlete."

McGuigan and his wife Sandra have been together for more than 40 years. The couple, who were childhood sweethearts, got married in December 1981 when he was just 20 years old.

Their marriage took place during the turbulent times of the Troubles in Northern Ireland and carried significant meaning, as the boxer was Catholic and his bride was raised in a Protestant family.

"I recall feeling a duty to foster a peaceful environment," McGuigan later shared with The Times. "I wasn't going to stir up any more conflict or difficulties. I was a Catholic Irishman competing for the British title, and my wife was Protestant."

In preparation for the British title match in 1983, I chose to wear colors that represented neutrality, opting for the shades of the UN flag symbolizing peace. My father sang "Danny Boy," which turned into a song that brought everyone together. It was essential for me that the audience watching the fight felt safe and comfortable. I received incredible support from my fans.

The couple has raised four kids, one of whom was the late actress Danika. Their son Shane pursued a career similar to his father's, becoming a well-known boxing trainer. He has trained several notable boxers, including David Haye and George Groves, among others.

"Unhealthy Relationship With A Boxer"

In 2020, McGuigan found himself in a legal dispute worth millions of pounds with Carl Frampton, the world champion boxer he managed.

The two Irish boxers once shared a good relationship, but things deteriorated between them. Frampton took legal action against his former manager, accusing him of holding back earnings from significant fights, with claims reaching as high as £6 million involving McGuigan's Cyclone Promotions UK Ltd. In response, McGuigan filed a counter-lawsuit, asserting that Frampton violated his contract by leaving the promotion in 2017.

The situation, where both individuals claimed they did nothing wrong, was presented at the High Court in Belfast until an agreement was made. During the proceedings, it was revealed that the relationship between the two had become "toxic," and McGuigan's son Shane was accused of "speaking poorly" about Frampton.

"It was a really negative environment," Paul Johnston, a manager from the boxing club where Frampton trained, shared with the court. "The atmosphere in the camp was tense. There was a sense of dissatisfaction or unhappiness directed towards Carl. He wasn't fighting with a positive mindset."

"Shane began expressing his doubts, stating that he was done," Mr. Johnston explained. "I was quite worried about this. It came from Carl's coach, who was supposed to support him the next night."

However, McGuigan's lawyer refuted Mr. Johnston's account, stating that Shane "does not remember saying that to you, and that was not his perspective either."