Leroy "Irish" Haley Jr. (December 27, 1952 – November 1, 2018) was an American

light welterweight Light welterweight, also known as junior welterweight or super lightweight, is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional boxing In professional boxing, light welterweight is contested between the lightweight and welterweight divisions, ...

boxer.

Early life

Born in

Garland County, Arkansas Garland County is located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 100,180. The county seat is Hot Springs. Garland County comprises the Hot Springs, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county includes Hot S ...

, he was the fourth child of Leroy Haley Sr. and Bobbie Wallace-Haley. Haley moved to

Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

, where in 1971 he graduated from

Rancho High School Rancho High School is a zoned, and magnet high school in North Las Vegas, Nevada. It is part of the Clark County School District. Opened in 1953, Rancho High School was the third public high school founded in the Las Vegas Valley, after Las Vegas ...

Professional career

Haley turned professional in 1973 and captured the WBC light welterweight title with a split decision win over

Saoul Mamby Saoul Paul Mamby (June 4, 1947 – December 19, 2019) was an American professional boxer who fought between 1969 and 2008. He held the WBC super lightweight title from 1980 to 1982. Personal Born in South Bronx, New York, Mamby, the child ...

in 1982. He defended the belt twice before losing it to

Bruce Curry Bruce Curry (born March 29, 1956, in Marlin, Texas), is an American former professional boxer. He was the WBC Super Lightweight Champion from 1983 to 1984. Family He is a member of a very traditional family in the boxing scene: he is the oldest ...

by decision the following year. He lost a split decision in a rematch later that year. He retired in 1985 after two consecutive losses, including a loss to champion Billy Costello.

Professional boxing record

Death

Haley passed away in November 2018.

References

External links