Tommy Coyle (boxer)

Coyle made his professional debut on 18 September 2009, winning a six-round points decision against Kristian Laight.^{[citation needed]} On 6 October 2012, having won his first 13 fights, Coyle lost a three-round unanimous decision to Gary Sykes in the quarter-finals of the Prizefighter lightweight tournament.^[5] Coyle suffered his second professional defeat to Derry Mathews on 13 July 2013, losing by a 10th round stoppage in a fight for the Commonwealth lightweight title.^[6]

Two of Coyle's best wins came in 2014, beginning with a last-round stoppage over Daniel Brizuela on 22 February, in what was named a Fight of the Year candidate by ESPN,^[7] and Round of the Year by The Ring magazine. This was followed up on 25 October with a knockout of Michael Katsidis in two rounds.^[8]

These two fights helped set up a showdown with fellow Hull native and 2012 Olympic gold medallist Luke Campbell, with their highly anticipated fight eventually taking place on 1 August 2015. After being knocked down four times, Coyle was stopped in the tenth round.^[9]

After moving up to light-welterweight and scoring a points decision victory over Reynaldo Mora, Coyle challenged British champion Tyrone Nurse. Coyle lost a closely contested unanimous decision despite knocking Nurse down in the seventh round.^[10]

On 21 April 2018, Coyle fought Sean Dodd for the Commonwealth Boxing Council|Commonwealth lightweight title. Coyle managed to stop Dodd in the sixth round and win the belt.^[11]

On 1 June 2019, Coyle fought Chris Algieri, ranked #5 by the WBO at super lightweight, on the Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr undercard.^[12] After an entertaining first half of the fight, Algieri battered Coyle in the eighth round, which prompted Coyle's corner to pull him from the fight, awarding Algieri the victory.^[13]

Coyle announced his retirement from professional boxing in January 2020.^[14][15]