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David Downey

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David Downey
Born (1942-02-18) February 18, 1942 (age 82)
NationalityCanada Canadian
Other namesDave
OccupationBoxer
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

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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

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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

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31 fights 24 wins 4 losses
By knockout 16 3
By decision 8 1
Draws 2
No contests 1

Honors and awards

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  • 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

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References

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  1. ^ "Forging the "Boxing Downeys"". Government of Canada, National Defence. 24 June 2013.
  2. ^ "Our Roots / Nos Racines".
  3. ^ "David Downey". Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  4. ^ "Heart Like A Glove - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  5. ^ "Former Middleweight Champ Watches Son Advance Down Olympic Road - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  6. ^ "Champ, Challengers On Same Card - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  7. ^ "David Downey | Maritime Sport Hall of Fame". Maritime Sport Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  8. ^ "Dave Downey Defeats Meilleur For Middleweight Boxing Title - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  9. ^ "Gary Broughton Loses Title In Split Decision - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  10. ^ "O'Brien, Downey among inductees to Maritime Sport Hall of Fame". CBC.ca. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  11. ^ "Jim Meilleur vs Dave Downey | Boxrec". boxrec.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  12. ^ "Champ Twice, Downey Seeks to Regain 'Stolen' Ring Title - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  13. ^ "Celebrating the accomplishments of Black Canada Games alumni". canadagames.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  14. ^ "David Downey | Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame". Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2024-05-11.

Further reading

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  • Robert Ashe. Halifax Champion: Black Power in Gloves. [Life of Dave Downey] Formac. 2005
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