Mossy Doyle

Mossy Doyle was regarded as the best Irish lightweight and featherweight boxer in the 1920s and was undefeated at the time of him taking part in the 1924 Paris Olympics, when he became the first Irish Free State (now the Republic of Ireland) boxer to set foot in a ring at The Games. Unfortunately, he was outpointed in his opening bout by the eventual gold medallist, 16-year-old Jackie Fields of the USA.

Upon returning from Paris, Doyle beat T. G. Oliver to win the featherweight title at the inaugural Tailteann Games in Dublin. Doyle spent most of his boxing career in the Army after joining the Irish National Army in 1922. In addition to winning the Irish lightweight title, he was the Army lightweight champion in 1924 and 1926.

Doyle turned professional in 1927 and beat fellow Irishman Billy Stout on his début, before moving to the USA. Based in Massachusetts he engaged in 15 more professional bouts over three years with a 7-8 win-loss record. He later became a boxing trainer. It is not known when Mossy Doyle died, but a newspaper report in 1992 says he lost his life “some time ago” in a fire in London.