# Rinty Monaghan

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

| 69 fights | 52 wins | 9 losses |
| By knockout | 20 | 1 |
| By decision | 31 | 7 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 1 |
| Draws | 8 | 8 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Age | Location | Notes |
| 69 | Draw | 52–9–8 | Terry Allen | PTS | 15 | Sep 30, 1949 | 31 years, 40 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | Retained NBA, Lonsdale, European, and The Ring flyweight titles |
| 68 | Win | 52–9–7 | Otello Belardinelli | PTS | 10 | Aug 19, 1949 | 30 years, 363 days | Hippodrome, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 67 | Win | 51–9–7 | Maurice Sandeyron | PTS | 15 | Apr 5, 1949 | 30 years, 227 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | Retained NBA, Lonsdale, and The Ring flyweight titles; Won European flyweight title |
| 66 | Loss | 50–9–7 | Terry Allen | PTS | 8 | Feb 7, 1949 | 30 years, 170 days | Villa Park, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK | |
| 65 | Win | 50–8–7 | Charlie Squire | TKO | 7 (10) | Jun 28, 1948 | 29 years, 312 days | Villa Park, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK | |
| 64 | Win | 49–8–7 | Jackie Paterson | KO | 7 (15) | Mar 23, 1948 | 29 years, 215 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | Retained NBA flyweight title; Won Lonsdale and The Ring flyweight titles |
| 63 | Win | 48–8–7 | Dado Marino | PTS | 15 | Oct 20, 1947 | 29 years, 60 days | Harringay Arena, England, UK | Won vacant NBA flyweight title |
| 62 | Loss | 47–8–7 | Dado Marino | DQ | 9 (10) | Jul 16, 1947 | 28 years, 329 days | Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, UK | Monaghan DQ'd for persistent holding |
| 61 | Win | 47–7–7 | Emile Famechon | PTS | 8 | Jul 1, 1947 | 28 years, 314 days | Olympia, London, England, UK | |
| 60 | Win | 46–7–7 | Terry Allen | TKO | 1 (10) | Mar 11, 1947 | 28 years, 202 days | Seymour Hall, London, England, UK | |
| 59 | Win | 45–7–7 | Sammy Reynolds | DQ | 8 (10) | Sep 24, 1946 | 28 years, 34 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | Reynolds DQ'd for low blow |
| 58 | Win | 44–7–7 | Alex Murphy | PTS | 8 | Sep 11, 1946 | 28 years, 21 days | Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, UK | |
| 57 | Win | 43–7–7 | Jackie Paterson | RTD | 7 (10) | Jun 7, 1946 | 27 years, 290 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 56 | Win | 42–7–7 | Tommy Burney | PTS | 8 | Apr 4, 1946 | 27 years, 226 days | The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK | |
| 55 | Win | 41–7–7 | Bunty Doran | KO | 4 (15) | Nov 6, 1945 | 27 years, 77 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | Won BBBofC Northern Ireland Area flyweight title |
| 54 | Loss | 40–7–7 | Joe Curran | PTS | 10 | Oct 18, 1945 | 27 years, 58 days | The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK | |
| 53 | Win | 40–6–7 | Tommy Burney | PTS | 10 | Sep 13, 1945 | 27 years, 23 days | The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK | |
| 52 | Win | 39–6–7 | Joe 'Boy' Collins | PTS | 10 | Feb 9, 1945 | 26 years, 172 days | Theatre Royal, Dublin, Ireland | |
| 51 | Win | 38–6–7 | Joe Meikle | KO | 2 (8) | Oct 14, 1943 | 25 years, 54 days | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 50 | Loss | 37–6–7 | Ike Weir | PTS | 10 | Jul 13, 1943 | 24 years, 326 days | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 49 | Draw | 37–5–7 | Harry Rogers | PTS | 8 | Feb 6, 1943 | 24 years, 169 days | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 48 | Win | 37–5–6 | Joe Meikle | PTS | 8 | Dec 26, 1942 | 24 years, 127 days | Rialto, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 47 | Loss | 36–5–6 | Jimmy Gill | PTS | 10 | Mar 20, 1940 | 21 years, 212 days | New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK | |
| 46 | Win | 36–4–6 | Tommy Stewart | PTS | 8 | Mar 4, 1940 | 21 years, 196 days | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 45 | Loss | 35–4–6 | Paddy Ryan | PTS | 10 | Jan 10, 1940 | 21 years, 142 days | New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK | |
| 44 | Win | 35–3–6 | Seaman Chetty | PTS | 10 | Nov 8, 1939 | 21 years, 79 days | New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK | |
| 43 | Win | 34–3–6 | Billy Ashton | PTS | 8 | Jul 20, 1939 | 20 years, 333 days | The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK | |
| 42 | Win | 33–3–6 | Tommy Stewart | PTS | 8 | Jun 28, 1939 | 20 years, 311 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 41 | Win | 32–3–6 | Sammy Reynolds | PTS | 10 | Mar 20, 1939 | 20 years, 211 days | New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK | |
| 40 | Win | 31–3–6 | Joe Curran | KO | 5 (10) | Feb 27, 1939 | 20 years, 190 days | New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK | |
| 39 | Loss | 30–3–6 | Tommy Stewart | PTS | 10 | Sep 2, 1938 | 20 years, 12 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 38 | Win | 30–2–6 | Joe Curran | PTS | 8 | Aug 11, 1938 | 19 years, 355 days | The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK | |
| 37 | Loss | 29–2–6 | Jackie Paterson | KO | 5 (8) | Jul 23, 1938 | 19 years, 336 days | The Oval (Glentoran FC), Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 36 | Win | 29–1–6 | Joe Kiely | KO | 2 (10) | Jul 2, 1938 | 19 years, 315 days | The Oval (Glentoran FC), Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 35 | Win | 28–1–6 | Ivor Neil | KO | 2 (8) | Jun 18, 1938 | 19 years, 301 days | The Oval (Glentoran FC), Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 34 | Win | 27–1–6 | Peter Peters | KO | 1 (10) | May 27, 1938 | 19 years, 279 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 33 | Win | 26–1–6 | Battling Joe McCluskey | PTS | 10 | May 6, 1938 | 19 years, 258 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 32 | Win | 25–1–6 | Cyclone Kelly | PTS | 10 | Apr 15, 1938 | 19 years, 237 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 31 | Win | 24–1–6 | Cyclone Kelly | PTS | 10 | Mar 31, 1938 | 19 years, 222 days | The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK | |
| 30 | Win | 23–1–6 | Spider Allen | KO | 2 (10) | Mar 1, 1938 | 19 years, 192 days | Cuba Street Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 29 | Win | 22–1–6 | Pat Murphy | TKO | 4 (10) | Feb 4, 1938 | 19 years, 167 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 28 | Win | 21–1–6 | Alf Hughes | KO | 9 (10) | Jan 21, 1938 | 19 years, 153 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 27 | Win | 20–1–6 | Tommy Allen | KO | 5 (8) | Dec 2, 1937 | 19 years, 103 days | Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 26 | Win | 19–1–6 | George Lang | KO | 1 (10) | Nov 17, 1937 | 19 years, 88 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 25 | Win | 18–1–6 | Paddy O'Toole | TKO | 4 (8) | Oct 1, 1937 | 19 years, 41 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 24 | Win | 17–1–6 | Ted Meikle | PTS | 8 | Sep 17, 1937 | 19 years, 27 days | Belfast Sports Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 23 | Win | 16–1–6 | Frank Benson | TKO | 6 (6) | Aug 18, 1937 | 18 years, 362 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 22 | Win | 15–1–6 | Ted Meikle | TKO | 4 (6) | Aug 9, 1937 | 18 years, 353 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 21 | Win | 14–1–6 | Ted Meikle | PTS | 6 | Jul 13, 1937 | 18 years, 326 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 20 | Win | 13–1–6 | Sam Ramsey | PTS | 6 | Jul 7, 1937 | 18 years, 320 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 19 | Win | 12–1–6 | Mick Gibbons | PTS | 6 | Jun 21, 1937 | 18 years, 304 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 18 | Win | 11–1–6 | Mick Gibbons | PTS | 6 | May 10, 1937 | 18 years, 262 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 17 | Loss | 10–1–6 | Jim Keery | PTS | 6 | May 1, 1937 | 18 years, 253 days | Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 16 | Win | 10–0–6 | Joe Duffy | PTS | 6 | Sep 18, 1936 | 18 years, 28 days | Factory Arena, Larne, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 15 | Draw | 9–0–6 | Young Josephs | PTS | 6 | Jul 24, 1936 | 17 years, 338 days | Market Yard, Larne, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 14 | Draw | 9–0–5 | Jack McKenzie | PTS | 8 | May 20, 1936 | 17 years, 273 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 13 | Win | 9–0–4 | Young Josephs | TKO | 3 (6) | May 16, 1936 | 17 years, 269 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 12 | Win | 8–0–4 | Young Kelly | PTS | 6 | Apr 8, 1936 | 17 years, 231 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 11 | Win | 7–0–4 | Sam Ramsey | PTS | 6 | Mar 28, 1936 | 17 years, 220 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 10 | Draw | 6–0–4 | Sam Ramsey | PTS | 6 | Mar 20, 1936 | 17 years, 212 days | Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 9 | Win | 6–0–3 | Young Josephs | PTS | 6 | Feb 22, 1936 | 17 years, 185 days | Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 8 | Win | 5–0–3 | Sam Ramsey | PTS | 6 | Jan 13, 1936 | 17 years, 145 days | Chapel Fields Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 7 | Win | 4–0–3 | Young Finnegan | PTS | 6 | Mar 29, 1935 | 16 years, 220 days | The Ring, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 6 | Win | 3–0–3 | Vic Large | KO | 4 (4) | Feb 17, 1935 | 16 years, 180 days | The Ring, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 5 | Win | 2–0–3 | Jim Pedlow | PTS | 4 | Dec 19, 1934 | 16 years, 120 days | The Ring, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 4 | Draw | 1–0–3 | Boy Ramsey | PTS | 4 | Dec 5, 1934 | 16 years, 106 days | The Ring, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 3 | Draw | 1–0–2 | Boy Ramsey | PTS | 4 | Sep 28, 1934 | 16 years, 38 days | The Ring, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 2 | Win | 1–0–1 | Jim Norney | PTS | 4 | Apr 27, 1932 | 13 years, 250 days | Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Sam Ramsey | PTS | 4 | Apr 13, 1932 | 13 years, 236 days | Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK | |

## Titles in boxing
### Major world titles

* NBA (WBA) flyweight champion (112 lbs)

### The Ring magazine titles

* The Ring flyweight champion (112 lbs)

### Regional/International titles

* Lonsdale Belt flyweight champion (112 lbs)
* Northern Ireland flyweight champion (112 lbs)
* European flyweight champion (112 lbs)

### Undisputed titles

* Undisputed flyweight champion