In a fight that was described as one of the greatest ever to be held in Ireland, fellow Belfast natives Freddie Gilroy and John Caldwell served up a classic bout in front of 15,000 fans at a packed Kings Hall on October 20, 1962.
Up for grabs was the British and Commonwealth bantamweight titles and the opportunity of a meeting with Brazilian Eder Jofre who had beaten Caldwell in a unification bout for the world title in February of that year in Sao Paulo.
Both men had won Olympic bronze medals in 1956 in Melbourne, and as professionals Caldwell held the World bantamweight title and Gilroy the European crown, but going into the fight the latter of the two was rated as the underdog.
However, the former St John's Bosco amateur boxer triumphed when Caldwell was forced to retire at the end of the ninth round with a cut eye caused by a clash of heads.
Unfortunately, despite the pre-fight hype, a crack at Jofre never materialised for Gilroy, nor did a rematch with Caldwell as the North Belfast man retired after the clash.
Cyprus Street born Caldwell continued to box, but as a result of the injury received in that King's Hall fight his vision was impaired and his career never reached the same heights as before.
Caldwell, who was born on May 7, 1938 was a product of the Immaculata club and, following a battle with cancer, died on July 10, 2009.
His fellow Belfast man Gilroy, who was born two years earlier on March 7, 1936, passed away on June 28, 2016.
