Former Leeds United favourite Ross McCormack was knocked out in the very first round of his boxing debut, as he faced ex-Leeds defender Matthew Kilgallon at a charity event in Liverpool. The 39-year-old, who entered the ring under the nickname 'Wrecking Ball', was making his first appearance in the sport at A Night To Remember II on Friday evening.
The contest began with a fairly balanced exchange, but Kilgallon, known as 'Cold Killer', soon avoided McCormack's punches and launched a decisive flurry of body shots and left hooks. The former striker crashed to the canvas in the corner, prompting referee Ian John-Lewis to stop the fight just over a minute into the first of three scheduled two-minute rounds. The two former Leeds teammates embraced warmly after the bout was concluded.
McCormack's football career saw him net 58 goals in 158 appearances for Leeds during a four-year spell at Elland Road. He was handed the captain's armband in January 2014 and claimed the Championship Golden Boot before moving to Fulham that summer for a then-Championship record fee of £11m. He later signed for Aston Villa in 2016 for another record fee, but struggled to make an impact and was sent out on loan to Australia and Motherwell before retiring from professional football in 2023.
Kilgallon, 42, came through Leeds' academy and made 95 first-team appearances before departing three years before McCormack's arrival. He also played for Sheffield United, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Bradford City before retiring in 2021.
The all-footballer card also featured Swansea City legend Lee Trundle beating former Watford and Burnley striker Chris Iwelumo, while ex-Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme faced retired Bristol City icon Bradley Orr. The event, organised by Pro Project Promotions, raised funds for Children's Charity Merseyside and Autism Merseyside, with Sky Sports analyst Jamie Carragher and former world champion boxers Natasha Jonas and Liam Smith serving as ambassadors.
