David Downey Explained

David Downey
Birth Date:	18 February 1942
Birth Place:	Halifax, Nova Scotia
Occupation:	Boxer
Weight:	Middleweight
Nickname:	Dave
Nationality:	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.^{[1] [2]} He is in the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame and the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame.^[3]

Early History

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

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 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 nine more fights before losing to Lawrence Hafey in 1975.^[10]

Downey retired from boxing in 1977.

Honors and awards

• Canadian Middleweight Boxing Champion. (1967)^[11]
• Two-Time Canadian Middleweight Boxing Champion. (1970)^[12]
• Inductee of the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame. (1976)^[13]
• Inductee of Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. (1999)^[14]
• Inductee of Maritime Black Sports and Hockey Hall of Fame. (2006)
• Inductee of Maritime Sport and Hockey Hall of Fame. (2018)

See also

• Boxing in Canada

Further reading

• Robert Ashe. Halifax Champion: Black Power in Gloves. [Life of Dave Downey] Formac. 2005

External links

• • Video - Downey Inducted into NS Sport Hall of Fame (1999)
• Image of Downey, 1972

Notes and References

1. Web site: Forging the "Boxing Downeys". 24 June 2013 . Government of Canada, National Defence.
2. Web site: Our Roots / Nos Racines.
3. Web site: David Downey. Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. November 7, 2022.
4. Web site: Heart Like A Glove - Newspapers.com™. newspapers.com. 2024-05-08.
5. Web site: Former Middleweight Champ Watches Son Advance Down Olympic Road - Newspapers.com™. newspapers.com. 2024-05-08.
6. Web site: Champ, Challengers On Same Card - Newspapers.com™. newspapers.com. 2024-05-08.
7. Web site: David Downey Maritime Sport Hall of Fame. Maritime Sport Hall of Fame. May 11, 2024.
8. Web site: Dave Downey Defeats Meilleur For Middleweight Boxing Title - Newspapers.com™. newspapers.com. 2024-05-11.
9. Web site: Gary Broughton Loses Title In Split Decision - Newspapers.com™. newspapers.com. 2024-05-08.
10. Web site: O'Brien, Downey among inductees to Maritime Sport Hall of Fame. CBC.ca. May 11, 2024.
11. Web site: Jim Meilleur vs Dave Downey Boxrec. boxrec.ca. 2024-05-11.
12. Web site: Champ Twice, Downey Seeks to Regain 'Stolen' Ring Title - Newspapers.com™. newspapers.com. 2024-05-11.
13. Web site: Celebrating the accomplishments of Black Canada Games alumni. canadagames.ca. 2024-05-11.
14. Web site: David Downey Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. 2024-05-11.