Thomas William McNeeley Jr. (February 27, 1937 – October 25, 2011) was a
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 ...
boxer Boxer most commonly refers to:
* Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing
*Boxer (dog), a breed of dog
Boxer or boxers may also refer to:
Animal kingdom
* Boxer crab
* Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans
* Boxer snipe ee ...
in the 1950s and 1960s. He came from
Arlington, Massachusetts, and played
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
for
Michigan State University
Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...
. His son,
Peter McNeeley, and father, Tom McNeeley Sr., were also boxers.
Career
Tom McNeeley had his first professional bout at the Norwood Stockcar Arena July 17, 1958. On December 4, 1961, McNeeley challenged
Floyd Patterson for the
world heavyweight championship, McNeeley's most famous bout. McNeeley was on the November 13, 1961, cover of ''
Sports Illustrated
''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellence twic ...
''. He later served eight years as the boxing commissioner of the
State Boxing Commission.
Death
McNeeley died on October 25, 2011, at the age of 74 of complications from a seizure.
Professional boxing record
, -
, align="center" colspan=8, 37 Wins (28 knockouts, 8 decisions, 1 DQ), 14 Losses (5 knockouts, 8 decisions, 1 D
, -
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Result
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Record
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Opponent
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Type
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Round
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Date
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Location
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Notes
, -align=center
, Loss
,
, align=left, Curtis Bruce
, MD
, 10
, 14/06/1966
, align=left, Four Seasons Arena,
Walpole, Massachusetts
Walpole is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Walpole Town, as the Census refers to it, is located about south of downtown Boston and north of Providence, Rhode Island. The population of Walpole was 26,383 at the 2020 censu ...
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left, Boston Jacobs
, PTS
, 10
, 24/03/1966
, align=left,
Portland Exposition Building
The Portland Exposition Building, also known as The Expo, is a sports and exhibition venue (convention center) building complex in Portland, Maine, Portland, Maine. The complex includes five inter-connected buildings with 24,000 square feet of e ...
,
Portland, Maine
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Jean-Claude Roy
, SD
, 10
, 08/03/1966
, align=left,
Lewiston City Hall,
Lewiston, Maine
Lewiston (; ; officially the City of Lewiston, Maine) is List of cities in Maine, the second largest city in Maine and the most central city in Androscoggin County, Maine, Androscoggin County. The city lies halfway between Augusta, Maine, August ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Dick Greatorex
, TKO
, 7
, 12/02/1966
, align=left, Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Marion Connor
, TKO
, 9
, 13/12/1965
, align=left, Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left, Marion Connor
, UD
, 12
, 15/10/1965
, align=left, Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left,
José Torres
, UD
, 10
, 31/07/1965
, align=left,
Hiram Bithorn Stadium,
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan (, , ; Spanish for "Saint John") is the capital city and most populous municipality in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2020 census, it is the 57th-largest city under the jur ...
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left, James J Beattie
, KO
, 5
, 27/03/1965
, align=left, Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Arnie Brower
, TKO
, 10
, 13/02/1965
, align=left, Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left,
Thad Spencer
Thaddeus Spencer Jr. (March 28, 1943 – December 13, 2013) was an American heavyweight boxer.
A native of Portland, Oregon, Spencer made his professional boxing debut in May 1960. After building up a 31-5 record, which included wins over conten ...
, KO
, 5
, 09/11/1964
, align=left,
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is a multi-purpose convention center at 1855 Main Street in Santa Monica, California, owned by the City of Santa Monica. It was built in 1958 and designed by Welton Becket and as a concert venue, it has a seating cap ...
,
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Hal Carter
, KO
, 5
, 13/10/1964
, align=left, Woodhouse Arenatorium,
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left,
Oscar Bonavena
Oscar Natalio "Ringo" Bonavena (September 25, 1942 – May 22, 1976) was an Argentine heavyweight professional boxer with a career record of 58 wins, 9 losses and 1 draw. A rugged, wild-swinging puncher, he was nicknamed "Ringo" because of his Bea ...
, TKO
, 5
, 21/08/1964
, align=left, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Leslie Borden
, KO
, 4
, 16/07/1964
, align=left,
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the seat of Chittenden County. It is located south of the Canada–United States border and south of Montreal. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 44,743. It ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Don Quinn
, TKO
, 4
, 25/04/1964
, align=left, Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left,
Doug Jones
, TKO
, 5
, 03/02/1964
, align=left,
New York Coliseum
The New York Coliseum was a convention center that stood at Columbus Circle in Manhattan, New York City, from 1956 to 2000. It was designed by architects Leon Levy and Lionel Levy in a modified International Style, and included both a low b ...
, New York City, New York
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Duke Sabedong
, UD
, 10
, 09/12/1963
, align=left, Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Duke Sabedong
, DQ
, 2
, 14/10/1963
, align=left, Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Earl Atley
, TKO
, 2
, 16/09/1963
, align=left, Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Bill Nielsen
, TKO
, 8
, 17/06/1963
, align=left,
Omaha Civic Auditorium,
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest cit ...
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left,
Brian London
Brian Sidney Harper (19 June 1934 – 23 June 2021), known professionally as Brian London, was an English professional boxer who competed from 1955 to 1970. He held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight title from 1958 to 1959, and twice ...
, PTS
, 10
, 29/01/1963
, align=left,
London Olympia
Olympia London, sometimes referred to as the Olympia Exhibition Centre, is an convention center, exhibition centre, event space and conference centre in West Kensington, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, London, England. A ran ...
,
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left, Bob Cleroux
, SD
, 10
, 14/12/1962
, align=left, Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Billy Tisdale
, TKO
, 7
, 15/11/1962
, align=left, Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Earl Atley
, TKO
, 8
, 01/11/1962
, align=left,
Mechanics Hall,
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester ( , ) is a city and county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, the city's population was 206,518 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the second-List of cities i ...
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left, Don McAteer
, DQ
, 6
, 08/06/1962
, align=left, Celtic Hall,
Totowa, New Jersey
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left,
Willie Pastrano
Wilfred Raleigh Pastrano (November 27, 1935 – December 6, 1997) was an American former professional boxer who competed from 1951 to 1965. He held the undisputed WBA, WBC, and ''The Ring'' light heavyweight titles between 1963 and 1965.
Earl ...
, UD
, 10
, 01/05/1962
, align=left, Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Don Prout
, UD
, 10
, 16/03/1962
, align=left, Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left, Don Prout
, SD
, 10
, 22/01/1962
, align=left, Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left,
Floyd Patterson
, KO
, 4
, 04/12/1961
, align=left,
Maple Leaf Gardens,
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left,
Kitione Lave
Kitione Takitau Lavemai (16 April 1934 – 2 June 2006), who fought under the name Kitione Lave, was a Tongan heavyweight boxer from the island of Hunga, Vava'u and Kotu, Ha'apai. At the age of 18 he became the South Pacific heavyweight champ ...
, TKO
, 3
, 21/03/1961
, align=left, Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, George Logan
, UD
, 10
, 20/12/1960
, align=left, Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, George Logan
, MD
, 10
, 15/11/1960
, align=left, Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Jim Wyley
, TKO
, 3
, 17/10/1960
, align=left,
Rhode Island Auditorium
Rhode Island Auditorium was an indoor arena in Providence, Rhode Island, at 1111 North Main Street. It hosted the NBA's Providence Steamrollers from 1946 until 1949, and the Providence Reds ice hockey team until the Providence Civic Center (now t ...
,
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Ulli Ritter
, TKO
, 8
, 16/05/1960
, align=left, Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left,
Tunney Hunsaker
, TKO
, 9
, 12/04/1960
, align=left, Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left,
Willi Besmanoff
William David Besmanoff (October 4, 1932 – October 20, 2010) was a German boxer who was a heavyweight contender in the 1950s. He was born in Munich, Germany. His father was Jewish American. When Willi was 11, he was imprisoned in the Buchenwal ...
, PTS
, 10
, 14/03/1960
, align=left, Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, George Logan
, TKO
, 4
, 01/01/1960
, align=left, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Louis Jones
, TKO
, 4
, 27/11/1959
, align=left, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Louis Jones
, UD
, 6
, 31/07/1959
, align=left, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Cardell Farmos
, KO
, 3
, 27/06/1959
, align=left, Hill Arena,
West Yarmouth, Massachusetts
West Yarmouth is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Yarmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,012 at the 2010 census.
Geography
West Yarmouth is located in the southwest quarter of the town of ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Jeff Holmes
, KO
, 2
, 25/05/1959
, align=left, Arcadia Ballroom,
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Charlie Lopes
, KO
, 1
, 02/05/1959
, align=left,
Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Leo Pinto
, KO
, 2
, 21/04/1959
, align=left, Woodrow Wilson Hall,
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ) is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, Bristol County, Massachusetts. It is located on the Acushnet River in what is known as the South Coast (Massachusetts), South Coast region. Up throug ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Joe Louis Brown
, KO
, 2
, 17/03/1959
, align=left,
Boston Garden
The Boston Garden was an arena in Boston, Massachusetts. Designed by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who also built the third iteration of New York's Madison Square Garden, it opened on November 17, 1928, as "Boston Madison Square Garden" (late ...
, Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Art Mayorga
, KO
, 3
, 30/01/1959
, align=left, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left,
Bobby Halpern
Bobby Halpern (April 25, 1933 – February 8, 2015) was an American heavyweight boxer.
Early life
Halpern's exact date of birth is unknown, but is suspected to be either April 25, 1933, May 31, 1931 or March 31, 1933. Boxrec lists Halpern's ...
, PTS
, 4
, 19/12/1958
, align=left, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Mossie Walker
, KO
, 1
, 28/11/1958
, align=left, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Eddie Allen
, KO
, 3
, 17/10/1958
, align=left,
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...
,
New York City, New York
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Eddie Walker
, KO
, 1
, 06/10/1958
, align=left,
Mechanics Hall,
Boston, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Temple Jones
, KO
, 3
, 14/08/1958
, align=left,
Mark's Stadium
Mark's Stadium is a former soccer stadium located in North Tiverton, Rhode Island. During the 1920s and early 1930s it was the home of Fall River Marksmen, one of the era’s most successful soccer teams. It is one of the earliest examples of a ...
,
Fall River, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Bob Harris
, KO
, 5
, 04/08/1958
, align=left, Arena, Norwood, Massachusetts
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Richie Norden
, KO
, 2
, 17/07/1958
, align=left,
Arena
An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators ...
,
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 ...
, align=left,
See also
*
Peter D. Fuller
Peter Davenport Fuller (March 22, 1923 – May 14, 2012) was an American auto dealer, racehorse owner, and boxer who owned Dancer's Image, the first winner in the history of the Kentucky Derby to be disqualified, and Mom's Command, 1985's America ...
, who served as McNeeley's manager, 1957 – c. 1961
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:McNeeley, Tom
Boxers from Massachusetts
1937 births
2011 deaths
Sportspeople from Arlington, Massachusetts
American male boxers
Michigan State Spartans football players
Heavyweight boxers