Tyneside's only ever world boxing champion has turned his back on a long glittering career in broadcasting to devote his life to the church. Glenn McCrory, dramatically born again and baptised earlier this year, is now a driving force behind the Christian Revival Church in Stanley, the town where he won his world title.
He admits that his major change in lifestyle has come about after a "monumental struggle" with mental health and addiction problems.
"I've called time on my career as The Voice of Boxing after 35 years because I’m moving on to bigger and better things," McCrory told me in an exclusive interview. "Working on ITV, BBC TV and Radio, Talk Sport, BT Sport, DAZN, Fightzone and most notably Sky Sports has been an amazing blessing in my life covering the biggest fights in boxing over five decades starting in 1987 on ITV's Fight Nights. "However my church CRC at The Venue in Stanley is now my total focus after being born again and baptised this year. I’m leaving for God to dedicate my life to my faith and to helping people as the church helped me with long term mental heath and addiction problems.
"I was in darkness for a long time but now I have emerged into such a better place. I did my last live TV show for Fightzone on Saturday night. I would like to say thank you to my many friends in the sport and assure them I won’t be disappearing into the sunset."
McCrory was born again in January after meeting a former SAS soldier, Tony Wilsher, when climbing Mount Snowdon for the Healing Military Minds charity.
"We got talking and later when I felt particularly low I got in touch," explained Glenn. "Tony had gone through tough times like me and he invited me to visit his church when I was next in London. So I went along to Stratford in the East End and the atmosphere was electric. The church was packed with young people, there was a band on stage, and the whole place was so positive and vibrant. Before I came home I had been born again and baptised."
The church, which has its original roots in South Africa, has established itself in the North East on the back of its most famous recruit with Pastor Johan Swart opening doors in Stanley. During a spectacular boxing career McCrory was crowned British, Commonwealth, and World cruiserweight champion climaxing in 1989 when on a memorable night he defeated Patrick Lumumba before a packed crowd at Stanley to claim the IBF world title vacated by the legendary Evander Holyfield.
I was there to witness an epic occasion in North East sport and after Glenn retired following four world title bouts including his last in Moscow he forged another hugely successful career ringside as an analyst primarily with Sky Television over 27 years. However his greatest fight was with depression and addiction which were never more than a left hook away.
"I had dark days and hit the bottom," admitted McCrory. "My life has been full of highs and lows but I have emerged into a world where I'm so happy and contented, so full of hope and commitment. I was diagnosed with long term clinical depression 30 years ago and fell into addictions with alcohol and the like using them as a crutch.
"I had watched by brother David dying before my eyes but I felt a fraud supposedly having depression when I was reporting on glamour fights from Las Vegas. Then around last Christmas it all came to a head. I felt I should not be here."
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