David Downey
{{short description|Canadian boxer}}
{{Infobox boxer
| name = David Downey
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|02|18}}
| birth_place = Halifax, Nova Scotia
| occupation = Boxer
| weight = Middleweight
| nickname = Dave
| nationality = {{flagicon|Canada}} Canadian
}}
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.{{cite web |date=24 June 2013 |title=Forging the "Boxing Downeys" |url=https://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/news-publications/national-news-details-no-menu.page?doc=forging-the-boxing-downeys/i6miwqcq |publisher=Government of Canada, National Defence}}{{cite web |title=Our Roots / Nos Racines |url=https://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=3609143 |publisher=}} He is in the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame and the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=https://nsshf.com/inductee/dave-downey/|title=David Downey|publisher=Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame|access-date=November 7, 2022}}
Early History
Dave Downey, the youngest of nine brothers, was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he also attended Joseph Howe School.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-raymond-downey-boxing-do/147102193/|title=Heart Like A Glove - Newspapers.com™|website=newspapers.com|access-date=2024-05-08}} Growing up, he excelled at many sports including baseball, basketball, swimming, and track and field.
Professional boxing career
He began sparring at the age of fifteen after being observed on the street by Murray Langford, nephew of Sam Langford.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-raymond-downey-dave-down/147105318/|title=Former Middleweight Champ Watches Son Advance Down Olympic Road - Newspapers.com™|website=newspapers.com|access-date=2024-05-08}} Downey had no amateur boxing background.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-champ-challengers-on-s/147117772/|title=Champ, Challengers On Same Card - Newspapers.com™|website=newspapers.com|access-date=2024-05-08}} At fifteen years old, Downey's first pro-fight occurred in 1957 at the Forum.{{cite web|url=https://maritimesporthalloffame.com/inductee/david-downey/|title=David Downey {{Pipe}} Maritime Sport Hall of Fame|publisher=Maritime Sport Hall of Fame|access-date=May 11, 2024}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/north-bay-nugget-dave-downey-defeats-mei/147121869/|title=Dave Downey Defeats Meilleur For Middleweight Boxing Title - Newspapers.com™|website=newspapers.com|access-date=2024-05-11}} He remained champion until facing Gary Broughton in August 1970 before regaining the title months later in a December rematch against Broughton.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-expositor-garry-broughton-loses-titl/147102297/
|title=Gary Broughton Loses Title In Split Decision - Newspapers.com™|website=newspapers.com|access-date=2024-05-08}} He retained his middleweight championship nine more fights before losing to Lawrence Hafey in 1975.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/o-brien-downey-among-inductees-to-maritime-sport-hall-of-fame-1.4829408|title=O'Brien, Downey among inductees to Maritime Sport Hall of Fame|publisher=CBC.ca|access-date=May 11, 2024}}
Downey retired from boxing in 1977.
Professional boxing record
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=2
|nc=1
|ko-wins=16
|ko-losses=3
|dec-wins=8
|dec-losses=1
|dq-losses=
}}
Honors and awards
- Canadian Middleweight Boxing Champion. (1967){{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/ru/event/32589/48322|title=Jim Meilleur vs Dave Downey {{pipe}} Boxrec|website=boxrec.ca|access-date=2024-05-11}}
- Two-Time Canadian Middleweight Boxing Champion. (1970){{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montreal-star-champ-twice-downey-se/147115820/
|title=Champ Twice, Downey Seeks to Regain 'Stolen' Ring Title - Newspapers.com™|website=newspapers.com|access-date=2024-05-11}}
- Inductee of the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame. (1976){{cite web|url=https://www.canadagames.ca/news/celebrating-the-accomplishments-of-black-canada-games-alumni|title=Celebrating the accomplishments of Black Canada Games alumni|publisher=canadagames.ca|access-date=2024-05-11}}
- Inductee of Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. (1999){{cite web|url=https://nsshf.com/inductee/dave-downey/|title=David Downey {{Pipe}} Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame|publisher=Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame|access-date=2024-05-11}}
- Inductee of Maritime Black Sports and Hockey Hall of Fame. (2006)
- Inductee of Maritime Sport and Hockey Hall of Fame. (2018)
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- Robert Ashe. Halifax Champion: Black Power in Gloves. [Life of Dave Downey] Formac. 2005
External links
- {{BoxRec|23564}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM298rzZhrM Video - Downey Inducted into NS Sport Hall of Fame (1999)]
- [https://www.facebook.com/thechronicleheraldarchives/photos/a.1657224887859269.1073741827.1653813964867028/1675369479378143/?type=3&theater Image of Downey, 1972]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Downey, David}}
Category:Sportspeople from Halifax, Nova Scotia
Category:Black Canadian boxers
Category:Black Canadian sportsmen
Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen
Category:Boxing people from Nova Scotia
{{Canada-boxing-bio-stub}}