McCullough hit by costly lawsuit

Wayne McCullough has been hit by a lawsuit which could cost him around £625,000 less than three weeks before he challenges for the world super bantamweight title.

Coach Thel Torrance, who runs the Las Vegas gym in which McCullough trains, claims he has not been paid for services rendered regarding the Pocket Rocket's failed bid at dethroning WBO featherweight champion Prince Naseem Hamed in October.

McCullough used Kenny Croom, who works with Torrance, and he will be in the Ulsterman's corner on May 8th in Las Vegas when he challenges unbeaten WBC super-bantamweight champion Erik Morales.

Torrance said: "All the problems started when Cheryl (McCullough's wife) took over as manager and started trying to tell me who was training when, when to do it and where".

Earl Hawley, Torrance's lawyer, added: "Thel has a contract with Wayne for training him and he didn't receive his cut from McCullough's fight with Hamed.

"Thel is also suing for his percentage from the Morales fight. For the Hamed fight they utilised one of Thel's subordinates (Croom)."

McCullough's attorney Don Nomur, disputes the claim, saying: "We believe that which is in the lawsuit is unfounded. It's a contractual dispute but we believe there was a prior breach by Mr Torrance. The contract had been for trainers Eddie Futch and Thel Torrance to coach Wayne, but Eddie retired. Wayne has kept his part of the contract."

Despite the action, Torrance added: "I don't have a problem with Wayne - he's a great guy. But I won't have anybody telling me who trains who and how to do it.

"If Wayne got back to the way things were when Mat Tinley was promoting him, and I was in complete control of his training, then he would be champion again.

"Wayne got £312,000 for the Hamed fight when he should have got a million and now he's getting £93,000 for facing Morales which doesn't make sense. These are not sound business decisions."

Former world bantamweight champion McCullough will start as the underdog next month.