REVIVING AND THRIVING

The comeback of Northern Ireland EBA is going well

IT’S always sad when an EBA closes down – but great when one re-forms, as happened to the Northern Ireland Ex-boxers’ Association last year. Regular correspondent Denis O’hara quotes Committee member Seanie Mccafferty as saying the Association – based in Belfast’s National Club – has, so far, a paid-up membership of “15 and growing.” Latest to register are Jim Mcauley, former Northern Ireland featherweight champion, Maurice Quinn and ex-ulster amateur light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion John Matthews. The Association also plans to set up a library-styled museum featuring an assortment of books and magazines dealing with the history of Irish boxing. The idea was due to be discussed during the Association’s monthly meeting last Sunday.

“We are asking members to donate old boxing books, newspaper and magazine write-ups relating to Irish boxers,” Seanie said. “We hope to gather in as many items as possible, and store them in our headquarters, so they can be made available to every member who wishes to brush up on memories of past boxing bouts and personalities.” That sounds an excellent idea, and I hope it comes off. I believe some other EBAS, including Merseyside, have set up something similar, very successfully.

Seanie, a former Olympian, also noted the recent mention in this column of the death of Percy Lewis, and had some personal memories of the one-time Commonwealth featherweight champion. “I never came in contact with Percy Lewis,” Seanie said, “but I was a ringside spectator when he twice boxed in Belfast.

His passing sent me down Memory Lane to when he featured at the Belfast King’s Hall. I didn’t know Lewis, but I certainly knew his very tough opponent – Floyd Robertson of Ghana. I sparred Robertson when I should not have, after Floyd settled in Belfast.

“I remember Robertson beating Lewis on points at the King’s Hall [November 1960] – just a few weeks after Lewis beat him in a non-title fight at the same venue. I was a spectator at the Commonwealth title bout, which was a part of a big George Connell promotion that also included terrific Irish boxers – John Caldwell, Mick Leahy and Spike Mccormick. I recall Robertson arriving in Belfast from Accra, with nothing but the clothes he stood in. He was brought in by our former local flyweight and bantamweight champion, Jackie Briers,