Paddy Maguire (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Paddy Maguire is a former bantamweight
boxer
. He was a Commonwealth Games
silver medal winner and one-time holder of the BBBC
bantamweight title.
and the 1966 Commonwealth Games. At the games he won a silver medal in the bantamweight division.
His first title fight was on 20 February 1973, at the Royal Albert Hall
. He was fighting for the British bantamweight title, his opponent was Johnny Clark. Maguire lost on points.
Maguire's second attempt at the bantamweight title was on 10 December 1974, at Nottingham
ice rink. His opponent was Dave Needham
, Maguire again lost on points.
On 20 October 1975 Maguire's third attempt to win the British bantamweight title was successful. This time he beat Dave Needham, winning by a technical knockout in the 14th round.
Maguire had two unsuccessful attempts to win the European Boxing Union
(EBU) bantamweight title.
His first attempt took place at Cluses
, France
on 16 January 1976. His opponent was Daniel Trioulaire, the fight was a draw.
The second attempt took place at Cagliari
, Sardinia
on 28 September 1977. His opponent was Franco Zurlo, Maguire lost on a technical knockout in the 8th round.
Maguire lost his British bantamweight title on 29 November 1977, at the National Sporting Club
, Piccadilly
. His opponent was relative newcomer Johnny Owen
, Maguire lost on a technical knockout in the 11th round. This was to be Maguire's last fight.
Paddy now lives in West Belfast with wife Patricia, they have 7 daughters and 3 sons.
Conservative
politician Colin Moynihan
is recorded in Hansard
as having once sparred with the retired Maguire at the Thomas A Becket public house
on London
's Old Kent Road
.
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...
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...
. He was a Commonwealth Games
1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica from 4 August to 13 August 1966. This was the first time that the Games had been held outside the so-called White Dominions....
silver medal winner and one-time holder of the BBBC
British Boxing Board of Control
The British Boxing Board of Control is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff.- Councils :...
bantamweight title.
Amateur career
Maguire represented Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and the 1966 Commonwealth Games. At the games he won a silver medal in the bantamweight division.
Professional career highlights
Maguire's first professional fight was on 4 March 1969 when he fought Bernard Nicholls and won on points.His first title fight was on 20 February 1973, at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
. He was fighting for the British bantamweight title, his opponent was Johnny Clark. Maguire lost on points.
Maguire's second attempt at the bantamweight title was on 10 December 1974, at Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
ice rink. His opponent was Dave Needham
Dave Needham (boxer)
Dave Needham was a British boxer. He was a Commonwealth Games gold medal winner and one of the few boxers to have held both the BBBC bantamweight and featherweight titles.-Early life and amateur career:...
, Maguire again lost on points.
On 20 October 1975 Maguire's third attempt to win the British bantamweight title was successful. This time he beat Dave Needham, winning by a technical knockout in the 14th round.
Maguire had two unsuccessful attempts to win the European Boxing Union
European Boxing Union
The European Boxing Union is an organization that oversees competition in that sport over the continent of Europe.-History:The EBU started life as the International Boxing Union in Paris in 1910...
(EBU) bantamweight title.
His first attempt took place at Cluses
Cluses
Cluses is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.Citizens are known as Clusiens. The commune is situated in the Arve Valley, on the river which bears the same name...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on 16 January 1976. His opponent was Daniel Trioulaire, the fight was a draw.
The second attempt took place at Cagliari
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu...
, Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
on 28 September 1977. His opponent was Franco Zurlo, Maguire lost on a technical knockout in the 8th round.
Maguire lost his British bantamweight title on 29 November 1977, at the National Sporting Club
National Sporting Club
The National Sporting Club was a club founded in London in 1891, which did more to establish the sport of boxing in Great Britain than any other organisation.-Origins:...
, Piccadilly
Piccadilly
Piccadilly is a major street in central London, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is completely within the city of Westminster. The street is part of the A4 road, London's second most important western artery. St...
. His opponent was relative newcomer Johnny Owen
Johnny Owen
Johnny Owen was a professional boxer from Wales. His fragile appearance earned him many epithets, including ‘the Bionic Bantam’ and ‘the Merthyr Matchstick’. During his brief career, he held the Bantamweight Championships of Great Britain and Europe and became the first ever Welsh holder of the...
, Maguire lost on a technical knockout in the 11th round. This was to be Maguire's last fight.
Paddy now lives in West Belfast with wife Patricia, they have 7 daughters and 3 sons.
Retirement
Maguire retired from professional boxing in 1977 aged 29. He is still involved in the sport and is currently serving as a Council Member on the Northern Ireland Area Council of the British Boxing Board of ControlBritish Boxing Board of Control
The British Boxing Board of Control is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff.- Councils :...
Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician Colin Moynihan
Colin Moynihan
Colin Berkeley Moynihan, 4th Baron Moynihan PC is a former Olympic coxswain who became a businessman, politician and sports administrator.-Early life:...
is recorded in Hansard
Hansard
Hansard is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.-Origins:...
as having once sparred with the retired Maguire at the Thomas A Becket public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
on London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Old Kent Road
Old Kent Road
The Old Kent Road is a road in South East London, England and forms part of Watling Street, the Roman road which ran from Dover to Holyhead. The street is famous as the equal cheapest property on the London Monopoly board and as the only one in South London....
.