David Downey
David Downey | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 18, 1942 |
| Nationality |  Canadian |
| Other names | Dave |
| Occupation | Boxer |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Middleweight |
David Downey (born February 18, 1942) is a former two-time Canadian Middleweight Champion and a member of the Boxing Downeys dynasty. He was the son of George Downey and is the father of Olympian Ray Downey.[1][2] He is in the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame and the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame.[3]
Early History[edit]
Dave Downey, the youngest of nine brothers, was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he also attended Joseph Howe School.[4] Growing up, he excelled at many sports including baseball, basketball, swimming, and track and field.
Professional boxing career[edit]
He began sparring at the age of fifteen after being observed on the street by Murray Langford, nephew of Sam Langford.[5] Downey had no amateur boxing background.[6] At fifteen years old, Downey's first pro-fight occurred in 1957 at the Forum.[7]
In 1967, Downey won the vacant Canadian Middleweight Boxing title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Jimmy Meilleur in front of over 1600 hometown fans.[8] He remained champion until facing Gary Broughton in August 1970 before regaining the title months later in a December rematch against Broughton.[9] He retained his middleweight championship nine more fights before losing to Lawrence Hafey in 1975.[10]
Downey retired from boxing in 1977.
Professional boxing record[edit]
| 31 fights | 24 wins | 4 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 16 | 3 |
| By decision | 8 | 1 |
| Draws | 2 | |
| No contests | 1 | |
Honors and awards[edit]
- Canadian Middleweight Boxing Champion. (1967)[11]
- Two-Time Canadian Middleweight Boxing Champion. (1970)[12]
- Inductee of the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame. (1976)[13]
- Inductee of Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. (1999)[14]
- Inductee of Maritime Black Sports and Hockey Hall of Fame. (2006)
- Inductee of Maritime Sport and Hockey Hall of Fame. (2018)
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Forging the "Boxing Downeys"". Government of Canada, National Defence. 24 June 2013.
- ^ "Our Roots / Nos Racines".
- ^ "David Downey". Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ "Heart Like A Glove - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
- ^ "Former Middleweight Champ Watches Son Advance Down Olympic Road - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
- ^ "Champ, Challengers On Same Card - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
- ^ "David Downey | Maritime Sport Hall of Fame". Maritime Sport Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ "Dave Downey Defeats Meilleur For Middleweight Boxing Title - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
- ^ "Gary Broughton Loses Title In Split Decision - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
- ^ "O'Brien, Downey among inductees to Maritime Sport Hall of Fame". CBC.ca. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ "Jim Meilleur vs Dave Downey | Boxrec". boxrec.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
- ^ "Champ Twice, Downey Seeks to Regain 'Stolen' Ring Title - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
- ^ "Celebrating the accomplishments of Black Canada Games alumni". canadagames.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
- ^ "David Downey | Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame". Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
Further reading[edit]
- Robert Ashe. Halifax Champion: Black Power in Gloves. [Life of Dave Downey] Formac. 2005
External links[edit]
- Boxing record for David Downey from BoxRec (registration required)
- Video - Downey Inducted into NS Sport Hall of Fame (1999)
- Image of Downey, 1972
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