Frank Traynor

Bantamweight boxer Frank Traynor joined the ranks of ex Irish Army soldiers who become members of the Irish Garda (the national police and security service of the Republic of Ireland), who had a very strong boxing team in the 1920s and 30s. One of the founding members of Dublin’s St Paul’s boxing club in 1926, Traynor was the Irish bantamweight champion three times between 1926-28 and in the latter of those years came close to becoming Ireland’s first Olympic medallist.

Having beaten Argentina’s Carmelo Robledo (who would win the featherweight gold medal in 1932) in the quarter-final, Traynor met Italy’s Vittorio Tamagnini in the semi-final. The Irishman was disqualified by the British referee Ernie Chandler, however, for holding and clinching in the second round. Upon appeal, Traynor was re-instated into the competition but lost the bronze medal bout to South Africa’s Harry Isaacs. Tamagnini went on to win gold.

Traynor had some consolation in 1928 by winning the gold medal at the Tailteann Games by beating F. Bennett of Wales. Traynor was presented with his prize by the recently retired world heavyweight champion Gene Tunney. Traynor turned professional four months after the Olympics and made his debut against Spider Kelly at the Derry Opera House in December 1928. Traynor fought out of the USA from 1930 from his base in Connecticut, and in a four-year pro career he had 15 bouts with an 11-4-0 record