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 Male boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 2 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation an ...

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 Arlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is six miles (10 km) northwest of Boston, Massachusetts, Boston, and its population was 46,308 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History Europe ...

, and played

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

for

Michigan State University Michigan State University (Michigan State or MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State o ...

. His son,

Peter McNeeley Peter McNeeley (born 6 October 1968) is an American former heavyweight boxer best known for his 1995 fight with Mike Tyson, Tyson’s first fight after being released from prison. McNeeley was disqualified after his manager Vinnie Vecchione s ...

, 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 Floyd Patterson (January 4, 1935 – May 11, 2006) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1952 to 1972, and twice reigned as the world heavyweight champion between 1956 and 1962. At the age of 21, he became the youngest boxer in his ...

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 a circulation of over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellen ...

''. He later served eight years as the boxing commissioner of the

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

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 approximately south of downtown Boston, Massachusetts, and north of Providence, Rhode Island. The population of Walpole was ...

, 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 convention center building complex in Portland, Maine. Much expanded since the original building was constructed in 1914, the complex now includes five inter-connected bui ...

Portland, Maine Portland is the List of municipalities in Maine, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine and the county seat, seat of Cumberland County, Maine, Cumberland County. Portland's population was 68,408 at the 2020 census. The Portland metropolit ...

, align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Jean-Claude Roy , SD , 10 , 08/03/1966 , align=left, Lewiston City Hall,

Lewiston, Maine Lewiston (; ) is the List of municipalities in Maine, second most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine, with the city's population at 37,121 as of the 2020 United States census. The city lies halfway between Augusta, Maine, Augusta, the sta ...

, 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 the Baptist, John") is the capital city and most populous Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality in the Commonwealth (U.S. insular area), Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the ...

, 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, Spencer was considered one of ...

, 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 ca ...

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 Dartmouth (Massachusett: ) is a coastal town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. Old Dartmouth was the first area of Southeastern Massachusetts to be settled by Europeans in 1652, primarily English. Dartmouth is part of New Englan ...

, align=left, , - , Loss , , align=left,

Oscar Bonavena Oscar Natalio "Ringo" Bonavena (September 25, 1942 – May 22, 1976) was an Argentine heavyweight professional boxing, professional boxer with a career record of 58 wins, 9 losses and 1 draw. A rugged, wild-swinging puncher, he was nicknamed "Ring ...

, 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, officially the City of Burlington, is the List of municipalities in Vermont, most populous city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the county seat, seat of Chittenden County, Vermont, Chittenden County. It is located south of the Can ...

, 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 buil ...

, 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 Civic Auditorium was a multi-purpose convention center located in Omaha, Nebraska. Opened in 1954, it surpassed the Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum as the largest convention/entertainment complex in the city, until the completion of CHI Health Center ...

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the List of cities in Nebraska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's List of United S ...

, align=left, , - , Loss , , align=left,

Brian London Brian Sidney Harper (19 June 1934 – 23 June 2021), better known by the ring name 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 twi ...

, PTS , 10 , 29/01/1963 , align=left, London Olympia,

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, 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 the List of municipalities in Massachusetts, second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the list of United States cities by population, 113th most populous city in the United States. Named after Worcester ...

, align=left, , - , Loss , , align=left, Don McAteer , DQ , 6 , 08/06/1962 , align=left, Celtic Hall,

Totowa, New Jersey Totowa (pronounced "TO-tuh-wuh" ) is a Borough (New Jersey), borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 11,065, an increase of 261 (+ ...

, 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. Ear ...

, 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,

, KO , 4 , 04/12/1961 , align=left,

Maple Leaf Gardens Maple Leaf Gardens is a historic building located at the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church and Wellesley, Church Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The building was originally constructed in 1931 as an indoor arena to host ice hoc ...

Toronto, Ontario Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

, align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Kitione Lave , 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 (n ...

Providence, Rhode Island Providence () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Rhode Island, most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The county seat of Providence County, Rhode Island, Providence County, it is o ...

, 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 Tunney Morgan Hunsaker (September 1, 1930 – April 27, 2005) was an American professional Boxer (boxing), boxer who is best remembered as the first professional opponent of boxing great Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali. Outside of his b ...

, 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 ...

, align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Jeff Holmes , KO , 2 , 25/05/1959 , align=left, Arcadia Ballroom,

, align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Charlie Lopes , KO , 1 , 02/05/1959 , align=left,

Boston Arena Matthews Arena (formerly Boston Arena) is a historic multi-purpose arena in Boston, Massachusetts currently owned by Northeastern University. It is the world's oldest multi-purpose athletic building still in use, as well as the oldest arena in u ...

, Boston, Massachusetts , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Leo Pinto , KO , 2 , 21/04/1959 , align=left, Woodrow Wilson Hall,

New Bedford, Massachusetts New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is located on the Acushnet River in what is known as the South Coast region. At the 2020 census, New Bedford had a population of 101,079, making it the state's ninth-l ...

, 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" (later ...

, 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 , 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 Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...

New York City, New York New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural harb ...

, align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Eddie Walker , KO , 1 , 06/10/1958 , align=left, Mechanics Hall,

Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Temple Jones , KO , 3 , 14/08/1958 , align=left,

Mark's Stadium Mark's Stadium is a former football (soccer), soccer stadium located in North Tiverton, Rhode Island. During the 1920s and early 1930s it was the home of Fall River F.C. (1922–1931), Fall River F.C., one of the era’s most successful soccer te ...

Fall River, Massachusetts Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. Fall River's population was 94,000 at the 2020 United States census, making it the List of municipalities in Massachusetts, tenth-largest city in the state, and the second- ...

, 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 venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

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,

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 20th-century American sportsmen

Career

Death

Professional boxing record

See also

References

External links