Dave McAuley


David Anthony McAuley, MBE is a former professional boxer from Northern Ireland who competed from 1983 to 1992. He held the IBF flyweight title from 1989 to 1992 and challenged twice for the WBA flyweight title, in 1987 and 1988. At regional level, he held the British flyweight title in 1986.

Boxing career

McAuley fought under the name Dave "Boy" McAuley and was one of the last Irish boxers to fight for a world title over 15 rounds. His two bouts with Fidel Bassa of Colombia were each voted "Fight of the Year", in 1986 and 1987 respectively. On 7 June 1989, McAuley defeated Duke McKenzie for the IBF title at Wembley Arena, London.
He successfully defended his title five times, eventually losing it in 1992 to Rodolfo Blanco, whom he had beaten two years previously.
McAuley was unusual for a flyweight in that he was extremely tall, standing at 5'7".
In the late 1990s there was talk of a comeback. Rumours of a fight with Naseem Hamed circulated but never materialised. McAuley also had a short lived MMA career in 1993, fighting twice under the K1 rules, winning one bout and drawing his final contest.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
23Loss18–3–2Rodolfo BlancoUD1211 Jun 1992Sports Pavilion, Bilbao, SpainLost IBF flyweight title
22Win18–2–2Jacob MatlalaKO10 7 Sep 1991Leisure Centre, Belfast, Northern IrelandRetained IBF flyweight title
21Win17–2–2Pedro José FelicianoUD1211 May 1991Leisure Centre, Belfast, Northern IrelandRetained IBF flyweight title
20Win16–2–2Rodolfo BlancoUD1215 Sep 1990King's Hall, Belfast, Northern IrelandRetained IBF flyweight title
19Win15–2–2Louis CurtisUD1217 Mar 1990King's Hall, Belfast, Northern IrelandRetained IBF flyweight title
18Win14–2–2Dodie Boy Peñalosa128 Nov 1989Grand Hall, London, EnglandRetained IBF flyweight title
17Win13–2–2Duke McKenzieUD127 Jun 1989The Arena, London, EnglandWon IBF flyweight title
16Loss12–2–2Fidel Bassa1226 Mar 1988King's Hall, Belfast, Northern IrelandFor WBA flyweight title
15Win12–1–2Roy ThompsonPTS107 Dec 1987Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
14Loss11–1–2Fidel BassaTKO13 25 Apr 1987King's Hall, Belfast, Northern IrelandFor WBA flyweight title
13Win11–0–2Joe KellyTKO9 20 Oct 1986St. Andrews SC, Albany Hotel, Glasgow, ScotlandWon vacant British flyweight title
12Win10–0–2Charlie BrownTKO1 22 Apr 1986Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
11Win9–0–2Kelvin Smart6 15 Feb 1986RDS Arena, Dublin, IrelandSmart disqualified for intentional low blows
10Win8–0–2Bobby McDermottTKO10 8 Jun 1985Loftus Road, London, England
9Win7–0–2Johnny MackTKO1 3 Feb 1985King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
8Win6–0–2Graham ClarkeTKO4 19 Dec 1984Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
7Win5–0–2Dave George6 13 Nov 1984Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
6Win4–0–2John MwaimuPTS613 Oct 1984King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
5Win3–0–2Roy WilliamsPTS617 Sep 1984Corn Exchange, Brighton, England
4Draw2–0–2Kenny WalshPTS627 Feb 1984Albany Hotel, Birmingham, England
3Win2–0–1Ian Colbeck625 Jan 1984King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
2Win1–0–1Dave Smith1 16 Nov 1983King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
1Draw0–0–1John Mwaimu65 Oct 1983Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland