Nostalgia was in the air at the Midland Boxing Club on 23 April when John McNally, Ireland’s first Olympic medallist, returned to the York Road area to meet up with world title prospect Carl Frampton.
McNally won his silver medal at the Helsinki Games in 1952 boxing out of the former White City ABC under the tutelage of the late Sammy Wallace. The White City club amalgamated with the Midland ABC in the 1970s and today the legacy of both clubs is preserved in the Cultra Street gym.
In an event organised by the Belfast Boxing Ring, Tommy Monaghan brought along his brother Rinty’s famous ‘Ring’ belt for the young boxers to admire.
Pictured below: L to R – Billy McKee (Midland coach), Shea McAuley, Tommy Monaghan, Carl Frampton, Eamon McAuley, John McNally and the young Midland ABC boxers.
