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Chris Finnegan

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Chris Finnegan
Born
Christopher Martin Finnegan

(1944-06-05)5 June 1944
Iver,Buckinghamshire,England
Died2 March 2009(2009-03-02)(aged 64)
Uxbridge,Hillingdon
NationalityBritish
Statistics
Weight(s)Light Heavyweight
Middleweight
StanceSouthpaw
Bo xing record
Total fights37
Wins29
Wins by KO16
Losses7
Draws1
No contests0
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico Middleweight

Chris FinneganMBE(5 June 1944 – 2 March 2009) was a British professionalboxerofIrish descentborn inIver,Buckinghamshire,England.[1]

Early life

[edit]

Finnegan was one of eight children; his father was fromLiverpooland his mother fromNewry,Northern Ireland.Finnegan always wore aUnion Flagand aShamrockon his bo xing trunks to signify his joint heritage.[2]Finnegan was introduced to bo xing at a young age by his elder brother Terence.[3]His younger brotherKevinalso boxed professionally, winning theBritishandEuropeanmiddleweight titles, and fighting such opponents asMarvin HaglerandAlan Minter.[1]

Amateur career

[edit]

Juggling his amateur bo xing career with his work as ahod carrier,[4]Finnegan was the 1966ABAmiddleweight champion, but he considered retiring from the sport afterJohn Turpin,the man he had beaten in the ABA finals, was chosen ahead of him to represent England at the1966 Commonwealth GamesinJamaica.[5]Finnegan competed at the 1967European Amateur Bo xing ChampionshipsinRome,where he lost on points toJan HejdukofCzechoslovakia.[6]

Finnegan almost missed out on making the1968 Summer Olympicsteam after sustaining an eye injury which prevented him taking the ABA championships.[7]His disappointment about not making the team resulted in a two-weekdrinkingbinge.[7]Finnegan's trainer at hisHayesbo xing club,Dick Gunn,[8]rescued the boxer from his binge by securing a box-off which Finnegan won.[7]

One final obstacle almost prevented Finnegan's participation in the games: £70 owed inNational Insurance Stamps,for which he had to appear before a magistrate. When the presiding magistrate heard that Finnegan was due to represent Britain at the Olympics he was given a reprieve, and wished luck in his bid to win a gold medal.[5]When the Games were over, the debt was eventually paid by the British bo xing promoterHarry Levene.[9]

Fighting in themiddleweightdivision, Finnegan's first opponent at the Olympics was little-knownTitus SimbaofTanzania;Finnegan was knocked down in the first round, but climbed off the canvas to win the decision.[10]In the quarter-finals Finnegan guaranteed himself at least a bronze medal by out-pointing theYugoslavMate Parlov,who would win gold at the1972 Olympicsand later hold theWBClight-heavyweight championship.

In the semi-final, Finnegan won a 4–1 decision over theAmericanAl Jonesdespite receiving two standing eight-counts.[7]Finnegan's final opponent wasAleksei Kiselyovof theSoviet Union.Finnegan won by a 3–2 verdict, theMexican,SpanishandCubanjudges voting for him, and theThaiandIndianfor Kiselyov.[11]Finnegan was the last British boxer to win an Olympic gold medal untilAudley Harrisonin2000.[12]For his success Finnegan was awarded anMBEin theNew Year Honours,which was presented to him by the QueenElizabeth IIon 12 February 1969.[13]

In a famous television interview conducted moments after winning gold, Finnegan's wife back in Britain, Cheryl, remarked: "Fuckin' 'ell, you 'aven't fuckin' gone and done it, 'ave you?", to which Finnegan replied: "Yes, ol' lady, I fuckin' have."[14]When asked of his future plans, Finnegan quipped that he intended "to go home and increase the family."[15]

Finnegan's biggest problem after his gold medal victory was producing enoughurinefor thedopingtest.[16]It would take several glasses ofwater,three or four pints ofbeer,encouragement from others, and a victory meal before Finnegan finally had enough urine to produce for the doping test which he finally got at 1:40 AMCST.[7]The test proved negative.[7]

Finnegan wrote anautobiographyentitledFinnegan: Self-Portrait of a Fighting Manabout his bo xing career, including his gold medal win atMexico Citywhich he referred to as a "golden rivet".[7]

1968 Olympic results

[edit]

Chris Finnegan won an Olympic gold medal while representing Great Britain as a middleweight boxer in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Here are his results:

Professional career

[edit]

The story of an unemployed labourer winning a gold medal for Britain at the Olympics had led to the Finnegans being inundated with small donations of money from well-wishers in the UK. Finnegan had considered turning professional even before the Olympics, but his money troubles meant that he was "more or less forced to".[17]

To manage him he hired Sam Burns, who had guidedTerry Downesto theworld middleweight championshipin 1962. Now trained byFreddie Hill,he made his professional debut on 9 December 1968, defeating Mike Fleetham in three rounds. Finnegan won 13 of his first 14 fights, his sole loss a cut-eye stoppage against Danny Ashie. Among his early opponents wereBrendan Ingle,who would later go on to be a successful bo xing trainer, andHarry Scott,then the number-one ranked British middleweight contender.

In his 15th fight, Finnegan was matched with reigningEuropeanmiddleweight championTom BogsinCopenhagen,as a late replacement for the injuredMark Rowe.Finnegan dropped a close 15-round decision, in which the referee and sole judgeHerbert Tomserscored four rounds to Bogs and eleven even.[18]Five months later, in January 1971, Finnegan stoppedEddie Avothin the 15th round to win theBritishandBritish Commonwealthlight-heavyweight titles.

In May 1971, Finnegan travelled toBerlinto challenge for the European light-heavyweight title, held byConny VelensekofGermany.The fight was scored a draw, although severalBritishandGermanreporters at ringside felt that Finnegan deserved to win.[19][20]After a win overRoger Rouse,who had previously fought bothDick TigerandBob Fosterfor theworld light-heavyweight title,Finnegan and Velensek met again, this time at theNottingham Ice Rink.Finnegan won a unanimous 15-round decision to take the title.

Finnegan was namedRing Magazine'sprogress of the yearfor 1971 and was now being touted as a challenger to reigning world light-heavyweight champion Bob Foster; he was at ringside for Foster's fight withVicente Rondonand introduced to the crowd after the fight.[21]Finnegan made his first defence of the European title four months later againstJan Lubbersat theRoyal Albert Hall,and won by an eighth-round knockout. The world title fight with Foster was arranged for 26 September 1972, to take place atWembley.

Finnegan was considered a heavy underdog against Foster, whose previous two opponents, contenders Rondon andMike Quarry,had lasted a combined total of six rounds before being knocked out by him. However, Finnegan proved more competitive than expected, finally being stopped by Foster in the 14th round of a gruelling contest. Afterwards, Foster commented that Finnegan had been the best-equipped of all his previous title challengers.[22]The bout was selected as "Fight of the Year"byRing Magazine.

Six weeks after the Foster fight, Finnegan facedRüdiger Schmidtkeat Wembley, having been ordered by theEuropean Bo xing Unionto defend his European title against him or risk being stripped of it. Finnegan lost by a 12th-roundTKOafter sustaining a bad cut on his nose.[23]He remained inactive for four months, before successfully defending his British and Commonwealth titles againstRoy John,winning a 15-round decision at Wembley.

Finnegan's next defence of his British and Commonwealth belts was against new European champion and emerging British light-heavyweight contenderJohn Conteh;Finnegan lost a 15-round decision. He then won a ten-round decision overMike Quarry,before facing Conteh again. This time Finnegan was stopped on cuts after six rounds. Finnegan then dropped a decision againstJohnny Frankhamfor the British light-heavyweight title, before avenging that loss to win theLonsdale Beltoutright. That proved to be his final fight, as Finnegan retired from bo xing in 1975 after undergoing surgery to repair adetached retina.[24]His final record stood at 29–7–1.

Death

[edit]

Finnegan died at the age of 64 after several weeks inHillingdon Hospitalsuffering frompneumonia.[25][26]

See also

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Sources

[edit]
  • Finnegan, Chris (1976).Finnegan: Self-portrait of a Fighting Man.MacDonald and Jane's.ISBN0-354-04023-5.

References

[edit]
  1. ^abChris Finnegan.sports-reference
  2. ^Finnegan, Chris (1976).Finnegan: Self-portrait of a Fighting Man.MacDonald and Jane's. p. 9.ISBN0-354-04023-5.
  3. ^Finnegan (1976).Finnegan.pp. 15–19.
  4. ^Finnegan (1976).Finnegan.p. 59.
  5. ^abFinnegan (1976).Finnegan.p. 40.
  6. ^"17.European Championships – Rome, Italy – May 25 – June 2, 1967".amateur-bo xing.strefa.pl.Retrieved3 March2009.
  7. ^abcdefgWallechinsky, David and Jaime Loucky (2008). "Bo xing: Middleweight". InThe Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition.London: Aurum Press, Limited. pp.449–50.
  8. ^"Hayes Amateur Bo xing Club: History".Archived fromthe originalon 18 December 2014.Retrieved15 December2014.
  9. ^Finnegan (1976).Finnegan.p. 87.
  10. ^Finnegan (1976).Finnegan.p. 73.
  11. ^Finnegan (1976).Finnegan.p. 81.
  12. ^"Harrison wins first British bo xing gold medal for 32 years".Sports Illustrated. 1 October 2000.Retrieved3 March2009.
  13. ^Finnegan (1976).Finnegan.p. 94.
  14. ^"The Day Cheryl Finnegan added brass to the golden hoard".The Guardian.London. 28 October 2000.Retrieved3 March2009.
  15. ^Finnegan (1976).Finnegan.p. 82.
  16. ^Wallechinsky, David (2012).The Book of Olympic Lists.Aurum Press. p.21.ISBN978-1845137731.
  17. ^Finnegan (1976).Finnegan.p. 89.
  18. ^Finnegan (1976).Finnegan.pp. 103–104.
  19. ^"Winning a decision in Germany isn't exactly 'Mission: Impossible'".ESPN.24 January 2008.Retrieved3 March2009.
  20. ^Finnegan (1976).Finnegan.p. 109.
  21. ^Finnegan (1976).Finnegan.p. 113.
  22. ^Finnegan (1976).Finnegan.p. 119.
  23. ^Finnegan (1976).Finnegan.p. 121.
  24. ^Finnegan (1976).Finnegan.pp. 139–149.
  25. ^Rawling, John (3 March 2009)."Mexico Olympic champion Finnegan dies aged 64".The Guardian.London.Retrieved3 March2009.
  26. ^"Obituary".The Independent.4 March 2009.Retrieved10 February2015.
[edit]
Preceded by
Joe FrazierW15Muhammad Ali
(8 March 1971)
 Ring MagazineFight of the Year
1972 –Bob FosterTKO14 Chris Finnegan
(26 September) 		Succeeded by
George ForemanTKO2Joe Frazier
(22 January 1973)
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