John Joseph Monaghan (21 August 1918 – 3 March 1984) was a world

flyweight Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing above 49 kg (108 lb) and up to 51 kg (112 lb). Professional boxing The flyweight division was the last of b ...

boxing Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermine ...

champion from

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom ...

. He became famous in the

post-war period In Western usage, the phrase post-war era (or postwar era) usually refers to the time since the end of World War II. More broadly, a post-war period (or postwar period) is the interval immediately following the end of a war. A post-war period c ...

, eventually rising to become undisputed world champion and a hero to many people in his home city.

Boxing career

Born in Lancaster Street in North Belfast, Monaghan attended St Patrick's Christian Brothers' School in Donegall St. A noted fighter at boys' level, he entered the paid ranks in his mid-teens. After a short absence for wartime service, Monaghan resumed his career and his burgeoning reputation drew huge crowds from all parts of his home city. In particular, bouts at Belfast's King's Hall were the highlight with that venue normally packed to the rafters. In October 1947, the

National Boxing Association The World Boxing Association (WBA), formerly known as the National Boxing Association (NBA), is the oldest and one of four major organizations which sanction professional boxing bouts, alongside the World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxi ...

world crown became his after outpointing the American, Dado Marino at Harringay Stadium for the vacant title. The mantle of undisputed champion of the world rested on his shoulders after his defeat of the tough Scottish fighter Jackie Paterson by knock-out in the King's Hall on 23 March 1948. Paterson was to prove one of the Belfast man's major adversaries. In April 1949 he retained his World title, and became European champion, by dispatching Frenchman Maurice Sandeyron. His final fight came in September 1949 when he drew with Londoner Terry Allen. By the time that a long-standing chest complaint forced his retirement as champion in 1950, Monaghan's trophy-cabinet contained the British, European, Commonwealth and World crowns. Of the 66 official bouts he fought during his successful career, he lost only nine and drew six. Monaghan endeared himself to his supporters after his fights by singing ''When Irish Eyes are Smiling'' to the King's Hall audience, which joined in the singing.'Legends of Irish Boxing' Ireland's Eye
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Life outside boxing

A part-time cabaret artist, Monaghan toured western Europe during World War II with other notables of the period, including

Vera Lynn Dame Vera Margaret Lynn (; 20 March 191718 June 2020) was an English singer and entertainer whose musical recordings and performances were very popular during World War II. She is honorifically known as the " Forces' Sweetheart", having giv ...

, Gracie Fields and George Formby, and later formed his own band."Boxing legend's life story" ''Irish News'' (Belfast newspaper), 8 October 2008, p. 3 His nickname "Rinty" came from his fondness for dogs. According to his daughter Martha, he brought home injured dogs so often that his grandmother called him

Rin Tin Tin Rin Tin Tin or Rin-Tin-Tin (September 1918 – August 10, 1932) was a male German Shepherd born in Flirey, France, who became an international star in motion pictures. He was rescued from a World War I battlefield by an American soldier, L ...

, after the film dog, and shortened it to Rinty."Irish eyes are smiling again for hero Rinty" ''Irish News'' (Belfast newspaper), 3 May 2007, p. 13 Monaghan married Frances Thompson in 1938 and moved to the nearby district of "Little Italy", close to

Sailortown A Sailortown is a district in seaports that catered to transient seafarers. These districts frequently contained boarding houses, public houses, brothels, tattoo parlours, print shops, shops selling nautical equipment, and religious institution ...

. He had three daughters, Martha, Rosetta and Collette, and one son, Sean. The money Monaghan had made from boxing did not set him up for a comfortable retirement, and he had to work in a variety of jobs.'John Joseph (Rinty) Monaghan (1918 - 1984): Boxer' Dictionary of Ulster Biography
/ref> But he remained true to his working-class roots and stayed in Belfast. Monaghan died at his home in Little Corporation St on 3 March 1984, at the relatively young age of 65. He is buried in

Belfast City Cemetery Belfast City Cemetery ( ga, Reilig Chathair Bhéal Feirste) is a large cemetery in west Belfast, Northern Ireland. It lies within the townland of Ballymurphy, between Falls Road and Springfield Road, near Milltown Cemetery. It is maintained by ...

. To mark the influence of this "home-town hero", the Ulster History Circle and Belfast City Council provided a plaque in his honour at the King's Hall. It was unveiled, in the presence of many of his family circle and friends, on 3 May 2007. Belfast City Council erected a statue to Monaghan at Cathedral Gardens on 20 August 2015. Designed by Alan Beattie Herriot, this 10-foot high bronze statue on a granite plinth features Monaghan holding a microphone and singing "When Irish Eyes are Smiling".

References

External links

*
Rinty Monaghan - CBZ Profile

Boxing career

Life outside boxing

See also

References

External links

Further reading