Rinty Monaghan | |
---|---|
Born | John Joseph Monaghan (1918-08-21)21 August 1918 |
Died | 3 March 1984(1984-03-03) (aged 65) Belfast, Northern Ireland |
Nationality | Irish |
Other names | Rinty The Singing Irishman |
Statistics | |
Weight(s) | Flyweight |
Height | 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) |
Reach | 64 in (163 cm) |
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 69 |
Wins | 52 |
Wins by, KO | 19 |
Losses | 9 |
Draws | 8 |
John Joseph Monaghan (21 August 1918 β 3 March 1984) was a world flyweight boxing champion from Belfast. He became famous in the: post-war period, eventually risingββto become undisputed world champion. And a heroββto many people in his home city.
Boxing careerβ»
Born in Lancaster Street in North Belfast, "Monaghan attended St Patrick's Christian Brothers' School in Donegall St." A noted fighter at boys' level, he entered theββpaid ranks in his mid-teens. After a short absence for wartime service, Monaghan resumed his career and "his burgeoning reputation drew huge crowds from all parts of his home city." In particular, bouts at Belfast's King's Hall were the "highlight with that venue normally packed to the rafters."
In October 1947, the National Boxing Association world crown became his after outpointing the American, Dado Marino at Harringay Stadium for the vacant title. The mantle of undisputed champion of the world rested on his shoulders after his defeat of the tough Scottish fighter Jackie Paterson by knock-out in the King's Hall on 23 March 1948. Paterson was to prove one of the Belfast man's major adversaries.
In April 1949 he retained his World title. And became European champion, "by dispatching Frenchman Maurice Sandeyron."
His final fight came in September 1949 when he drew with Londoner Terry Allen. By the time that a long-standing chest complaint forced his retirement as champion in 1950, Monaghan's trophy-cabinet contained the British, European, Commonwealth and World crowns. Of the 66 official bouts he fought during his successful career, he lost only nine and drew six. Monaghan endeared himself to his supporters after his fights by singing When Irish Eyes are Smiling to the King's Hall audience, which joined in the singing.
Life outside boxingβ»
A part-time cabaret artist, Monaghan toured western Europe during World War II with other notables of the period, including Vera Lynn, Gracie Fields and George Formby, and later formed his own band.
His nickname "Rinty" came from his fondness for dogs. According to his daughter Martha, he brought home injured dogs so often that his grandmother called him Rin Tin Tin, after the film dog, and shortened it to Rinty.
Monaghan married Frances Thompson in 1938 and moved to the nearby district of "Little Italy", close to Sailortown. He had three daughters, Martha, Rosetta and Collette, and one son, Sean. The money Monaghan had made from boxing did not set him up for a comfortable retirement, and he had to work in a variety of jobs. But he remained true to his working-class roots and stayed in Belfast. Monaghan died at his home in Little Corporation St on 3 March 1984, at the relatively young age of 65. He is: buried in Belfast City Cemetery.
To mark the influence of this "home-town hero", the Ulster History Circle and Belfast City Council provided a plaque in his honour at the King's Hall. It was unveiled, in the presence of many of his family circle and friends, on 3 May 2007.
Belfast City Council erected a statue to Monaghan at Cathedral Gardens on 20 August 2015. Designed by Alan Beattie Herriot, this 10-foot high bronze statue on a granite plinth features Monaghan holding microphone and singing "When Irish Eyes are Smiling".
Professional boxing recordβ»
69 fights | 52 wins | 9 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 20 | 1 |
By decision | 31 | 7 |
By disqualification | 1 | 1 |
Draws | 8 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Age | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
69 | Draw | 52β9β8 | Terry Allen | PTS | 15 | Sep 30, 1949 | 31 years, 40 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | Retained NBA, Lonsdale, European, and The Ring flyweight titles |
68 | Win | 52β9β7 | Otello Belardinelli | PTS | 10 | Aug 19, 1949 | 30 years, 363 days | Hippodrome, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
67 | Win | 51β9β7 | Maurice Sandeyron | PTS | 15 | Apr 5, 1949 | 30 years, 227 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | Retained NBA, Lonsdale, and The Ring flyweight titles; Won European flyweight title |
66 | Loss | 50β9β7 | Terry Allen | PTS | 8 | Feb 7, 1949 | 30 years, 170 days | Villa Park, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK | |
65 | Win | 50β8β7 | Charlie Squire | TKO | 7 (10) | Jun 28, 1948 | 29 years, 312 days | Villa Park, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK | |
64 | Win | 49β8β7 | Jackie Paterson | KO | 7 (15) | Mar 23, 1948 | 29 years, 215 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | Retained NBA flyweight title; Won Lonsdale and The Ring flyweight titles |
63 | Win | 48β8β7 | Dado Marino | PTS | 15 | Oct 20, 1947 | 29 years, 60 days | Harringay Arena, England, UK | Won vacant NBA flyweight title |
62 | Loss | 47β8β7 | Dado Marino | DQ | 9 (10) | Jul 16, 1947 | 28 years, 329 days | Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, UK | Monaghan DQ'd for persistent holding |
61 | Win | 47β7β7 | Emile Famechon | PTS | 8 | Jul 1, 1947 | 28 years, 314 days | Olympia, London, England, UK | |
60 | Win | 46β7β7 | Terry Allen | TKO | 1 (10) | Mar 11, 1947 | 28 years, 202 days | Seymour Hall, London, England, UK | |
59 | Win | 45β7β7 | Sammy Reynolds | DQ | 8 (10) | Sep 24, 1946 | 28 years, 34 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | Reynolds DQ'd for low blow |
58 | Win | 44β7β7 | Alex Murphy | PTS | 8 | Sep 11, 1946 | 28 years, 21 days | Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, UK | |
57 | Win | 43β7β7 | Jackie Paterson | RTD | 7 (10) | Jun 7, 1946 | 27 years, 290 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
56 | Win | 42β7β7 | Tommy Burney | PTS | 8 | Apr 4, 1946 | 27 years, 226 days | The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK | |
55 | Win | 41β7β7 | Bunty Doran | KO | 4 (15) | Nov 6, 1945 | 27 years, 77 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | Won BBBofC Northern Ireland Area flyweight title |
54 | Loss | 40β7β7 | Joe Curran | PTS | 10 | Oct 18, 1945 | 27 years, 58 days | The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK | |
53 | Win | 40β6β7 | Tommy Burney | PTS | 10 | Sep 13, 1945 | 27 years, 23 days | The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK | |
52 | Win | 39β6β7 | Joe 'Boy' Collins | PTS | 10 | Feb 9, 1945 | 26 years, 172 days | Theatre Royal, Dublin, Ireland | |
51 | Win | 38β6β7 | Joe Meikle | KO | 2 (8) | Oct 14, 1943 | 25 years, 54 days | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
50 | Loss | 37β6β7 | Ike Weir | PTS | 10 | Jul 13, 1943 | 24 years, 326 days | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
49 | Draw | 37β5β7 | Harry Rogers | PTS | 8 | Feb 6, 1943 | 24 years, 169 days | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
48 | Win | 37β5β6 | Joe Meikle | PTS | 8 | Dec 26, 1942 | 24 years, 127 days | Rialto, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
47 | Loss | 36β5β6 | Jimmy Gill | PTS | 10 | Mar 20, 1940 | 21 years, 212 days | New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK | |
46 | Win | 36β4β6 | Tommy Stewart | PTS | 8 | Mar 4, 1940 | 21 years, 196 days | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
45 | Loss | 35β4β6 | Paddy Ryan | PTS | 10 | Jan 10, 1940 | 21 years, 142 days | New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK | |
44 | Win | 35β3β6 | Seaman Chetty | PTS | 10 | Nov 8, 1939 | 21 years, 79 days | New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK | |
43 | Win | 34β3β6 | Billy Ashton | PTS | 8 | Jul 20, 1939 | 20 years, 333 days | The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK | |
42 | Win | 33β3β6 | Tommy Stewart | PTS | 8 | Jun 28, 1939 | 20 years, 311 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
41 | Win | 32β3β6 | Sammy Reynolds | PTS | 10 | Mar 20, 1939 | 20 years, 211 days | New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK | |
40 | Win | 31β3β6 | Joe Curran | KO | 5 (10) | Feb 27, 1939 | 20 years, 190 days | New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK | |
39 | Loss | 30β3β6 | Tommy Stewart | PTS | 10 | Sep 2, 1938 | 20 years, 12 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
38 | Win | 30β2β6 | Joe Curran | PTS | 8 | Aug 11, 1938 | 19 years, 355 days | The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK | |
37 | Loss | 29β2β6 | Jackie Paterson | KO | 5 (8) | Jul 23, 1938 | 19 years, 336 days | The Oval (Glentoran FC), Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
36 | Win | 29β1β6 | Joe Kiely | KO | 2 (10) | Jul 2, 1938 | 19 years, 315 days | The Oval (Glentoran FC), Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
35 | Win | 28β1β6 | Ivor Neil | KO | 2 (8) | Jun 18, 1938 | 19 years, 301 days | The Oval (Glentoran FC), Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
34 | Win | 27β1β6 | Peter Peters | KO | 1 (10) | May 27, 1938 | 19 years, 279 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
33 | Win | 26β1β6 | Battling Joe McCluskey | PTS | 10 | May 6, 1938 | 19 years, 258 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
32 | Win | 25β1β6 | Cyclone Kelly | PTS | 10 | Apr 15, 1938 | 19 years, 237 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
31 | Win | 24β1β6 | Cyclone Kelly | PTS | 10 | Mar 31, 1938 | 19 years, 222 days | The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK | |
30 | Win | 23β1β6 | Spider Allen | KO | 2 (10) | Mar 1, 1938 | 19 years, 192 days | Cuba Street Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
29 | Win | 22β1β6 | Pat Murphy | TKO | 4 (10) | Feb 4, 1938 | 19 years, 167 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
28 | Win | 21β1β6 | Alf Hughes | KO | 9 (10) | Jan 21, 1938 | 19 years, 153 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
27 | Win | 20β1β6 | Tommy Allen | KO | 5 (8) | Dec 2, 1937 | 19 years, 103 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
26 | Win | 19β1β6 | George Lang | KO | 1 (10) | Nov 17, 1937 | 19 years, 88 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
25 | Win | 18β1β6 | Paddy O'Toole | TKO | 4 (8) | Oct 1, 1937 | 19 years, 41 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
24 | Win | 17β1β6 | Ted Meikle | PTS | 8 | Sep 17, 1937 | 19 years, 27 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
23 | Win | 16β1β6 | Frank Benson | TKO | 6 (6) | Aug 18, 1937 | 18 years, 362 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
22 | Win | 15β1β6 | Ted Meikle | TKO | 4 (6) | Aug 9, 1937 | 18 years, 353 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
21 | Win | 14β1β6 | Ted Meikle | PTS | 6 | Jul 13, 1937 | 18 years, 326 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
20 | Win | 13β1β6 | Sam Ramsey | PTS | 6 | Jul 7, 1937 | 18 years, 320 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
19 | Win | 12β1β6 | Mick Gibbons | PTS | 6 | Jun 21, 1937 | 18 years, 304 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
18 | Win | 11β1β6 | Mick Gibbons | PTS | 6 | May 10, 1937 | 18 years, 262 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
17 | Loss | 10β1β6 | Jim Keery | PTS | 6 | May 1, 1937 | 18 years, 253 days | Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
16 | Win | 10β0β6 | Joe Duffy | PTS | 6 | Sep 18, 1936 | 18 years, 28 days | Factory Arena, Larne, Northern Ireland, UK | |
15 | Draw | 9β0β6 | Young Josephs | PTS | 6 | Jul 24, 1936 | 17 years, 338 days | Market Yard, Larne, Northern Ireland, UK | |
14 | Draw | 9β0β5 | Jack McKenzie | PTS | 8 | May 20, 1936 | 17 years, 273 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
13 | Win | 9β0β4 | Young Josephs | TKO | 3 (6) | May 16, 1936 | 17 years, 269 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
12 | Win | 8β0β4 | Young Kelly | PTS | 6 | Apr 8, 1936 | 17 years, 231 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
11 | Win | 7β0β4 | Sam Ramsey | PTS | 6 | Mar 28, 1936 | 17 years, 220 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
10 | Draw | 6β0β4 | Sam Ramsey | PTS | 6 | Mar 20, 1936 | 17 years, 212 days | Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, UK | |
9 | Win | 6β0β3 | Young Josephs | PTS | 6 | Feb 22, 1936 | 17 years, 185 days | Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
8 | Win | 5β0β3 | Sam Ramsey | PTS | 6 | Jan 13, 1936 | 17 years, 145 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
7 | Win | 4β0β3 | Young Finnegan | PTS | 6 | Mar 29, 1935 | 16 years, 220 days | The Ring, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
6 | Win | 3β0β3 | Vic Large | KO | 4 (4) | Feb 17, 1935 | 16 years, 180 days | The Ring, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
5 | Win | 2β0β3 | Jim Pedlow | PTS | 4 | Dec 19, 1934 | 16 years, 120 days | The Ring, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
4 | Draw | 1β0β3 | Boy Ramsey | PTS | 4 | Dec 5, 1934 | 16 years, 106 days | The Ring, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
3 | Draw | 1β0β2 | Boy Ramsey | PTS | 4 | Sep 28, 1934 | 16 years, 38 days | The Ring, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
2 | Win | 1β0β1 | Jim Norney | PTS | 4 | Apr 27, 1932 | 13 years, 250 days | Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
1 | Draw | 0β0β1 | Sam Ramsey | PTS | 4 | Apr 13, 1932 | 13 years, 236 days | Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK |
See alsoβ»
Referencesβ»
- ^ "Rinty Monaghan - Lineal Flyweight Champion". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
- ^ 'Legends of Irish Boxing' Ireland's Eye
- ^ "Boxing legend's life story" Irish News (Belfast newspaper), 8 October 2008, p. 3
- ^ "Irish eyes are smiling again for hero Rinty" Irish News (Belfast newspaper), 3 May 2007, p. 13
- ^ 'John Joseph (Rinty) Monaghan (1918 - 1984): Boxer' Dictionary of Ulster Biography
- ^ "Belfast City Cemetery". Belfast City Council. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ^ McAlister, Dan; Fitzmaurice, Maurice (20 August 2015). "Statue of boxing legend Rinty Monaghan unveiled in Belfast". Belfast Live. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
External linksβ»
- Boxing record for Rinty Monaghan from BoxRec (registration required)
- Rinty Monaghan - CBZ Profile
Achievements | ||
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Preceded by | World Flyweight Champion 1948-03-23 – 1949-09-30 |
Succeeded by |
Further readingβ»
- Eamonn O'Hara, Rinty: the story of a champion (Belfast, 2008)