Rinty Monaghan


John Joseph Monaghan was an Undisputed World flyweight boxing champion from Belfast. He became famous in the post-war period, 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 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.

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, Gracie Fields and George Formby, and later formed his own band.
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, after the film dog, and shortened it to Rinty.
Monaghan married Frances Thompson in 1938 and moved to the nearby district of "Little Italy", close to Sailortown. 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. 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.
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".

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateAgeLocationNotes
69DrawTerry AllenPTS15Sep 30, 1949Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UKRetained NBA, Lonsdale, European, and The Ring flyweight titles
68Win52–9–7Otello BelardinelliPTS10Aug 19, 1949Hippodrome, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
67Win51–9–7Maurice SandeyronPTS15Apr 5, 1949Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UKRetained NBA, Lonsdale, and The Ring flyweight titles;
Won European flyweight title
66Loss50–9–7Terry AllenPTS8Feb 7, 1949Villa Park, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK
65Win50–8–7Charlie SquireTKO7 Jun 28, 1948Villa Park, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK
64Win49–8–7Jackie PatersonKO7 Mar 23, 1948Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UKRetained NBA flyweight title;
Won Lonsdale and The Ring flyweight titles
63Win48–8–7Dado MarinoPTS15Oct 20, 1947Harringay Arena, England, UKWon vacant NBA flyweight title
62Loss47–8–7Dado MarinoDQ9 Jul 16, 1947Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, UKMonaghan DQ'd for persistent holding
61Win47–7–7Emile FamechonPTS8Jul 1, 1947Olympia, London, England, UK
60Win46–7–7Terry AllenTKO1 Mar 11, 1947Seymour Hall, London, England, UK
59Win45–7–7Sammy ReynoldsDQ8 Sep 24, 1946Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UKReynolds DQ'd for low blow
58Win44–7–7Alex MurphyPTS8Sep 11, 1946Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
57Win43–7–7Jackie PatersonRTD7 Jun 7, 1946Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
56Win42–7–7Tommy BurneyPTS8Apr 4, 1946The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
55Win41–7–7Bunty DoranKO4 Nov 6, 1945Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UKWon BBBofC Northern Ireland Area flyweight title
54Loss40–7–7Joe CurranPTS10Oct 18, 1945The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
53Win40–6–7Tommy BurneyPTS10Sep 13, 1945The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
52Win39–6–7Joe 'Boy' CollinsPTS10Feb 9, 1945Theatre Royal, Dublin, Ireland
51Win38–6–7Joe MeikleKO2 Oct 14, 1943Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
50Loss37–6–7Ike WeirPTS10Jul 13, 1943Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
49Draw37–5–7Harry RogersPTS8Feb 6, 1943Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
48Win37–5–6Joe MeiklePTS8Dec 26, 1942Rialto, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
47Loss36–5–6Jimmy GillPTS10Mar 20, 1940New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
46Win36–4–6Tommy StewartPTS8Mar 4, 1940Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
45Loss35–4–6Paddy RyanPTS10Jan 10, 1940New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
44Win35–3–6Seaman ChettyPTS10Nov 8, 1939New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
43Win34–3–6Billy AshtonPTS8Jul 20, 1939The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
42Win33–3–6Tommy StewartPTS8Jun 28, 1939Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
41Win32–3–6Sammy ReynoldsPTS10Mar 20, 1939New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
40Win31–3–6Joe CurranKO5 Feb 27, 1939New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
39Loss30–3–6Tommy StewartPTS10Sep 2, 1938Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
38Win30–2–6Joe CurranPTS8Aug 11, 1938The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
37Loss29–2–6Jackie PatersonKO5 Jul 23, 1938The Oval, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
36Win29–1–6Joe KielyKO2 Jul 2, 1938The Oval, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
35Win28–1–6Ivor NeilKO2 Jun 18, 1938The Oval, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
34Win27–1–6Peter PetersKO1 May 27, 1938Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
33Win26–1–6Battling Joe McCluskeyPTS10May 6, 1938Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
32Win25–1–6Cyclone KellyPTS10Apr 15, 1938Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
31Win24–1–6Cyclone KellyPTS10Mar 31, 1938The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
30Win23–1–6Spider AllenKO2 Mar 1, 1938Cuba Street Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
29Win22–1–6Pat MurphyTKO4 Feb 4, 1938Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
28Win21–1–6Alf HughesKO9 Jan 21, 1938Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
27Win20–1–6Tommy AllenKO5 Dec 2, 1937Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
26Win19–1–6George LangKO1 Nov 17, 1937Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
25Win18–1–6Paddy O'TooleTKO4 Oct 1, 1937Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
24Win17–1–6Ted MeiklePTS8Sep 17, 1937Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
23Win16–1–6Frank BensonTKO6 Aug 18, 1937Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
22Win15–1–6Ted MeikleTKO4 Aug 9, 1937Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
21Win14–1–6Ted MeiklePTS6Jul 13, 1937Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
20Win13–1–6Sam RamseyPTS6Jul 7, 1937Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
19Win12–1–6Mick GibbonsPTS6Jun 21, 1937Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
18Win11–1–6Mick GibbonsPTS6May 10, 1937Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
17Loss10–1–6Jim KeeryPTS6May 1, 1937Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
16Win10–0–6Joe DuffyPTS6Sep 18, 1936Factory Arena, Larne, Northern Ireland, UK
15Draw9–0–6Young JosephsPTS6Jul 24, 1936Market Yard, Larne, Northern Ireland, UK
14Draw9–0–5Jack McKenziePTS8May 20, 1936Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
13Win9–0–4Young JosephsTKO3 May 16, 1936Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
12Win8–0–4Young KellyPTS6Apr 8, 1936Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
11Win7–0–4Sam RamseyPTS6Mar 28, 1936Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
10Draw6–0–4Sam RamseyPTS6Mar 20, 1936Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, UK
9Win6–0–3Young JosephsPTS6Feb 22, 1936Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
8Win5–0–3Sam RamseyPTS6Jan 13, 1936Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
7Win4–0–3Young FinneganPTS6Mar 29, 1935The Ring, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
6Win3–0–3Vic LargeKO4 Feb 17, 1935The Ring, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
5Win2–0–3Jim PedlowPTS4Dec 19, 1934The Ring, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
4Draw1–0–3Boy RamseyPTS4Dec 5, 1934The Ring, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
3Draw1–0–2Boy RamseyPTS4Sep 28, 1934The Ring, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
2Win1–0–1Jim NorneyPTS4Apr 27, 1932Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
1Draw0–0–1Sam RamseyPTS4Apr 13, 1932Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK