Peter McNeeley (born October 6, 1968) is an American former

heavyweight Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling. Boxing Professional Boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 3 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the Wo ...

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, best known for his 1995 fight with

Mike Tyson Michael Gerard Tyson (born June 30, 1966) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2005. Nicknamed "Iron Mike" and "Kid Dynamite" in his early career, and later known as "The Baddest Man on the Planet", Tyson is cons ...

, before which McNeeley had said he would wrap Tyson in a "cocoon of horror." McNeeley fought aggressively but was knocked down twice within the first two minutes. McNeeley was disqualified after his manager Vinnie Vecchione stepped into the ring to stop his fighter from taking any more punishment after the second knockdown. ''

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'' included the fight in their list of the 50 Great TV Sports Moments of All Time in 1998.

Early life

Peter Smith McNeeley was born on 6 October 1968 in

Medfield, Massachusetts Medfield is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,799 according to the 2020 United States Census. It is a community about southwest of Boston, Massachusetts, which is a 40- ...

, U.S.; the child of Nancy McNeeley, (née Gray) (1944–2018) and

Tom McNeeley Thomas William McNeeley Jr. (February 27, 1937 – October 25, 2011) was a heavyweight boxer in the 1950s and 1960s. He hailed from Arlington, Massachusetts, and played football for Michigan State University. His son, Peter McNeeley, and father, ...

(1937–2011). His father was a former heavyweight contender who challenged

Floyd Patterson Floyd Patterson (January 4, 1935 – May 11, 2006) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1952 to 1972, and twice reigned as the world heavyweight champion between 1956 and 1962. At the age of 21, he became the youngest boxer in his ...

for the world heavyweight championship, and later served eight years as the boxing commissioner of the

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

State Boxing Commission. His mother, Nancy, was a former

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contestant from New Hampshire. His youngest brother was referred to as “Snubby.” McNeeley's grandfather, Thomas McNeeley Sr. was a New England boxing champion and fought on the 1928 Olympic boxing team.

Amateur boxing career

McNeeley had 21 amateur fights, finishing his amateur career with the record 15–6. Albeit a brief amateur career, he successfully represented the United States, wherein he defeated Wayne Bernard, the world Maritime heavyweight champion; and the first round knockout of No. 1 ranked US amateur James Johnson. He won the

New England Golden Gloves As a Franchise of the National Golden Gloves, the New England Golden Gloves is the annual amateur boxing competition for the New England States. It has been held every year since 1945 at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts. Com ...

Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell () is a city in Massachusetts, in the United States. Alongside Cambridge, It is one of two traditional seats of Middlesex County. With an estimated population of 115,554 in 2020, it was the fifth most populous city in Massachusetts as of ...

in 1989 and the New England Diamond Belt Tournament later that year.

Personal life

In 1995, McNeeley was arrested and charged with assault and using batteries as a dangerous weapon. In March 2006, McNeeley was arrested in

Norwood, Massachusetts Norwood is a town and census-designated place in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Norwood is part of the Greater Boston area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,611. The town was named after Norwood, England. Norwood is ...

, after he punched a man and stole his wallet containing $200. In June 2006, McNeeley was arrested for driving the getaway car used in a robbery of a

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Stoughton, Massachusetts Stoughton (official name: Town of Stoughton) is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 29,281 at the 2020 census. The town is located approximately from Boston, from Providence, Rhode Island, and from Cape ...

. After searching the car, police recovered $180 in cash and a black

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which had also been stolen from the store. The charges were later reduced to larceny.

Professional boxing record

References

External links

*
Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:McNeeley, Peter Heavyweight boxers Boxers from Boston 1968 births Living people American male boxers American people of Irish descent Bridgewater State University alumni People from Norwood, Massachusetts American sportspeople convicted of crimes American people convicted of assault American people convicted of robbery