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Added date of birth. Added infobox. Added early history, professional boxing career, and honors and awards sections.
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{{short description|Canadian boxer}}
{{short description|Canadian boxer}}

⚫
'''David Downey''' (born 1942) was the Canadian Middleweight Champion (1967–1977) and was a member of the Boxing Downeys dynasty. He was the son of [[George Downey]] and is the father of Olympian [[Ray Downey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/news-publications/national-news-details-no-menu.page?doc=forging-the-boxing-downeys/i6miwqcq|title=Forging the "Boxing Downeys"|date=24 June 2013 |publisher=Government of Canada, National Defence}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=3609143|title=Our Roots / Nos Racines|publisher=}}</ref> He is in the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame and the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nsshf.com/inductee/dave-downey/|title=David Downie|publisher=Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame|access-date=November 7, 2022}}</ref>
{{Infobox boxer
| name = Dave Downey
| birth_place = [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]]
| occupation = Boxer
| nickname =
| nationality = {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Canadian people|Canadian]]
}}

⚫
'''David Downey''' (born February 18, 1942) is a former 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/news-publications/national-news-details-no-menu.page?doc=forging-the-boxing-downeys/i6miwqcq|title=Forging the "Boxing Downeys"|date=24 June 2013 |publisher=Government of Canada, National Defence}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=3609143|title=Our Roots / Nos Racines|publisher=}}</ref> He is in the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame and the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nsshf.com/inductee/dave-downey/|title=David Downey|publisher=Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame|access-date=November 7, 2022}}</ref>

==Early History==
Dave Downey, the youngest of nine brothers, was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he also attended Joseph Howe School.<ref name="newspapers1">{{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}}</ref> Growing up, he excelled at many sports including baseball, basketball, swimming, and track and field.

==Professional boxing career==
Downey had no amateur boxing background.<ref name="newspapers10">{{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}}</ref> He began sparring at the age of fifteen after being observed on the street by Murray Langford, nephew of [[Sam Langford]].<ref name="newspapers2">{{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}}</ref> At fifteen years old, Downey's first pro-fight occurred in 1957 at the [[Halifax Forum|Forum]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref name="newspapers9">{{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}}</ref> He remained champion until facing Gary Broughton in August 1970 before regaining the title months later in a December rematch against Broughton.<ref name="newspapers3">{{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}}</ref> He retained his middleweight championship nine more fights before losing to Lawrence Hafey in 1975.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Downey retired from boxing in 1977.

==Honors and awards==
*Canadian Middleweight Boxing Champion. (1967)<ref name="boxrec">{{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}}</ref>
*Two-Time Canadian Middleweight Boxing Champion. (1970)<ref name="newspapers8">{{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}}</ref>
*Inductee of the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame. (1976)<ref>{{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}}</ref>
*Inductee of [[Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame]]. (1999)<ref>{{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}}</ref>
*Inductee of Maritime Black Sports and Hockey Hall of Fame. (2006)
*Inductee of Maritime Sport and Hockey Hall of Fame. (2018)


==See also==
==See also==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Downey, David}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Downey, David}}
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[[Category:Canadian male boxers]]
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Halifax, Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Halifax, Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Black Nova Scotians]]
[[Category:Black Nova Scotians]]
[[Category:Black Canadian boxers]]
[[Category:Black Canadian boxers]]
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[[Category:Canadian male boxers]]
[[Category:Middleweight boxers]]
[[Category:Middleweight boxers]]


Revision as of 22:27, 11 May 2024

Dave Downey
Born
Halifax, Nova Scotia
NationalityCanada Canadian
OccupationBoxer

David Downey (born February 18, 1942) is a former 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

Downey had no amateur boxing background.[5] He began sparring at the age of fifteen after being observed on the street by Murray Langford, nephew of Sam Langford.[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

References

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

Further reading

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