Harold Devine
Encyclopedia
Harold "Harry" George Devine (May 18, 1909 – April 29, 1998) was an American
boxer
who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics
.
He was born in New Haven, Connecticut
and died in North Oxford, Massachusetts.
. There he defeated Fausto Montefiori of Italy
in the Second Round and Kaarlo Vakeva
of Finland
in the Third Round. In the Semi-Final Round on August 10 he was beaten by Bep van Klaveren
(who went on to take the Gold Medal) despite flooring Van Klaveren in the second round. Devine won the bronze medal in the featherweight class after winning the third place fight against Lucian Biquet.
, before losing it to Frankie Britt. In 1935 he went to Australia, where he suffered two severe setbacks and then retired from the ring.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
.
He was born in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
and died in North Oxford, Massachusetts.
Amateur career
Devine was national AAU featherweight champion in 1928 and represented the United States in the 1928 Olympics in AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. There he defeated Fausto Montefiori of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in the Second Round and Kaarlo Vakeva
Kaarlo Väkevä
Kaarlo Olavi Väkevä was a Finnish boxer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.He was born in Jakobstad and died in Aalborg, Denmark....
of Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in the Third Round. In the Semi-Final Round on August 10 he was beaten by Bep van Klaveren
Bep van Klaveren
Lambertus "Bep" van Klaveren was a Dutch boxer, who won the gold medal in the featherweight division at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Born in Rotterdam as Lambertus Steenhorst, he adopted the name of his stepfather Pieter van Klaveren when he was eight...
(who went on to take the Gold Medal) despite flooring Van Klaveren in the second round. Devine won the bronze medal in the featherweight class after winning the third place fight against Lucian Biquet.
Pro career
As a professional, Devine was handicapped by being a southpaw who was avoided by other good fighters. Hand injuries held him back and he lost twice on cut eyes. Despite this he won the New England welterweight title in 1934 by defeating Werther Arcelli and defended it successfully against Pancho Villa of New Bedford, MassachusettsNew Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
, before losing it to Frankie Britt. In 1935 he went to Australia, where he suffered two severe setbacks and then retired from the ring.