Eamonn Loughran

Loughran never returned to the ring, or to boxing, after the defeat to Lopez. He now lives in his native Ballymena working in the building and property industry. He is also a keen golfer and plays regularly. As of October 2017 Loughran has taken up the role of coach and sparring partner for fellow Ballymena man Jamie Smith. The ex rugby player is starting a boxing career at the age of 29 largely due to Loughran’s backing.

Loughran is a former Commonwealth Light Welterweight Title holder and won the WBO Welterweight Title and lost on his sixth defence in the first round to José Luis Lopez in March 1996 after which Loughran announced his retirement.

As an amateur, Loughran boxed for Ireland and won a silver medal at the 1987 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Havana, Cuba defeating the Cuban and American fighters on the way to the final. Loughran then turned professional later that year.

Loughran fought out of the Breen Gym in Belfast and, in December 1987, fought his first professional fight at the Ulster Hall, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, in which he beat Glaswegian Adam Muir on a card that included Dave "Boy" McAuley and Andy Holligan.

Eamonn Loughran (born 5 June 1970 in Ballymena, Northern Ireland) is an Irish former professional boxer who fought in the light welterweight divisions.