Con O'Kelly, Jr.

Con O’Kelly’s father, also named Con, was the 1908 Olympic freestyle wrestling heavyweight gold medallist and later a professional boxer (1910-14). Con junior started attracting attention at the age of 15 after performing well in the 1922 English Schools Championships as a welterweight. It was not long before the youngster was fighting as a heavyweight and was the Northern Counties champion at that weight in 1924. O’Kelly competed at his one and only ABA Championships that year, losing to Harry Billings in the quarter-final. Having appeared at the Paris Olympics, and won at the prestigious Aonach Tailteann Boxing Championships, O’Kelly turned professional at the age of 17.

O’Kelly went on to have 74 professional bouts with a 51-16-7 record. He never won a British title but fought some of the best heavyweights in the inter-War years and, between November 1928 and October 1932, fought in the United States, winning 14 of 23 bouts. He engaged in some memorable contests, including two against the leading US heavyweight King Levinsky. O’Kelly lost to a disputed decision at the Boston Arena in 1931 and, in the re-match in Chicago six months later, the two men fought a 10-round draw. After losing to Baxter Calmes in 1931, O’Kelly returned to England and had six years away from the ring. His return lasted just six bouts (all wins) before retiring following a points win over Cal Rooney at the Anfield Road football ground on 24 March 1938. Throughout his entire career, O’Kelly was knocked down just once. Despite being billed as another “Great White Hope” when he turned professional, O’Kelly never fought for a British title and the nearest he came was in winning the 1938 Northern Area heavyweight title by beating Harry Lister.

On 10 May 1945, Con O’Kelly, Jr., was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest and over the years served parishes in Stockport, Ellesmere Port, Birkenhead, Alsager and Stalybridge. During his time at Stockport and Birkenhead, he started boxing clubs for young boys of the parish.