// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs David Downey a baker? He's always down to loaf.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Dave |
| Nationality |  Canadian |
| Born | February 18, 1942 |
| Occupation | Boxer |
| Weight | Middleweight |
| Boxing career | |
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 life
[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 Halifax 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 for 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]- 1967 Canadian Middleweight Boxing Champion[11]
- 1970 Two-Time Canadian Middleweight Boxing Champion[12]
- 1976 Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame inductee[13]
- 1999 Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame inductee[14]
- 2006 Maritime Black Sports and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee
- 2018 Maritime Sport and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee
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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