John McNally (boxer)
Encyclopedia
John McNally is a former boxer
. McNally is most noted for winning a silver medal
for Ireland
at the 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki
in the Bantamweight
division. In the final McNally lost a split decision to Pentti Hämäläinen
of Finland
.
In 1953, John McNally won a bronze medal in the European Amateur Boxing Championships
held in Warsaw
, and won the Golden Gloves Championships representing Europe against the USA in Chicago. In fact, McNally, within the space of a year, beat three American Golden Gloves champions and was awarded an honorary pair of Golden Gloves in recognition of this achievement. In 1953, he was made the official bantamweight champion of Germany in recognition of his feat of having defeated that country's three former bantamweight champions in the space of a year.
's Jimmy Magee at an awards night held in the National Stadium in Dublin. A biography of McNally's life and career has been published by Appletree Press.
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...
. McNally is most noted for winning a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
for Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
at the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
in the Bantamweight
Bantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
division. In the final McNally lost a split decision to Pentti Hämäläinen
Pentti Hämäläinen
Pentti Olavi Hämäläinen was a Finnish bantamweight professional boxer, who won gold in Boxing at the 1952 Summer Olympics in his home country of Helsinki. Four years later in Melbourne he captured the bronze medal in the featherweight division .-Amateur career:Hämäläinen competed on the European...
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...
.
Early life
McNally was born and raised in the Pound Loney area of west Belfast and was the first person from Belfast and the first Irish boxer to win an Olympic medal.In 1953, John McNally won a bronze medal in the European Amateur Boxing Championships
European Amateur Boxing Championships
The European Amateur Boxing Championships is the highest competition for boxing amateurs in Europe, organised by the continent's governing body EUBC, which stands for the European Boxing Confederation...
held in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, and won the Golden Gloves Championships representing Europe against the USA in Chicago. In fact, McNally, within the space of a year, beat three American Golden Gloves champions and was awarded an honorary pair of Golden Gloves in recognition of this achievement. In 1953, he was made the official bantamweight champion of Germany in recognition of his feat of having defeated that country's three former bantamweight champions in the space of a year.
Olympic results
- 1st round bye
- Defeated Alejandro OrtuosteAlejandro OrtuosteAlejandro Ortuoste is a retired amateur boxer from the Philippines. He won the gold medal at the 1954 Asian Games in the men's bantamweight division. He represented his native country at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, failing to reach the third round.-References:*...
(Philippines) 3-0 - Defeated Vincenzo Dall'Osso (Italy) 3-0
- Defeated Kang Joon-HoKang Joon-HoKang Joon-Ho was a South Korean amateur boxer who won the bronze medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He was born in Haeju, Hwanghae-do and died in Seoul.-Career:...
(South Korea) 3-0 - Lost to Pentti HämäläinenPentti HämäläinenPentti Olavi Hämäläinen was a Finnish bantamweight professional boxer, who won gold in Boxing at the 1952 Summer Olympics in his home country of Helsinki. Four years later in Melbourne he captured the bronze medal in the featherweight division .-Amateur career:Hämäläinen competed on the European...
(Finland) 1-2
Pro career
In 1954 McNally turned professional but his pro career did not reach the heights of his amateur days. He fought only 25 times and finished with a record of 14 wins, 9 defeats and 2 draws.Honours
On 25 October 2007 John McNally was recognised by the Sports Council of Northern Ireland for his contribution to Irish sport at a gala event held at Stormont in Belfast.Boxing Hall of Fame
On 4 January 2008 John McNally was inducted into the Irish Boxing Hall of Fame by RTÉRTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
's Jimmy Magee at an awards night held in the National Stadium in Dublin. A biography of McNally's life and career has been published by Appletree Press.