BANTAMWEIGHT division
JOHNNY CALDWELL
RetiredBorn 1938-05-07, BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND (died aged 71)· Died 2009-07-10, BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND· GBR
Residence: BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND· Stance: orthodox· Height: 162 cm (5'4")· Reach: 164 cm (5'5")
Debut: 1958-02-05· Career: 1958–1965 (8 years)
Wins
29
Losses
5
Draws
1
NC
0
Rated Fights
35
EARLY LIFE
Born in Cyprus Street, Belfast to John Caldwell and Briget Caldwell (nee Maguire)
AMATEUR CAREER
Held both Irish Junior and Senior Flyweight titles.
Won Bronze medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne in the flyweight (51kg) division, aged 18.
Last Amateur fight in St Mary's Hall, Belfast in January 1958.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Moved to Scotland to begin his professional career under manager Sammy Docherty before moving back to Belfast after six fights.
Claimed the Lonsdale Belt at Flyweight.
Became first Irishman to win World title since Rinty Monaghan in 1948, when he won World bantamweight title in May 1961.
LIFE AFTER BOXING
Retired at the age of 27 and returned to his trade as a pipe-fitter in Belfast
DEATH
Died following a long battle with cancer, aged 71, in July 2009.
LEGACY
There is a statue of Johnny in Dunville Park, Belfast which was unveiled in May 2016. The statue was created by Alan Beattie Herriot.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Compare JOHNNY CALDWELL's career against any other fighter on record — records, ratings, common opponents, and any direct bouts.
Title Reigns — 1
1961-05-30 → present · 65y 4m · 1 defence
Still reigning
Complete Record — 35 Bouts
| Date | Result | Opponent | Rds | Div. | Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🔒 12 OCT 1965 | LOSS | MONTY LAUD | 10 | BANTAMWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 22 MAR 1965 | LOSS | ALAN RUDKIN | 10 | BANTAMWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 25 NOV 1964 | DEC | ORIZU OBILASO | 8 | BANTAMWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 11 NOV 1964 | DRAW | JACKIE BROWN | 10 | BANTAMWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 05 OCT 1964 | DEC | RAFAEL FERNANDEZ | 8 | BANTAMWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 05 MAR 1964 | TKO | GEORGE BOWES | 7 | BANTAMWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 12 FEB 1963 | LOSS | MICHEL ATLAN | 6 | BANTAMWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 20 OCT 1962 | LOSS | FREDDIE GILROY | 9 | BANTAMWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 10 APR 1962 | DEC | FEDERICO SCARPONI | 10 | BANTAMWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 18 JAN 1962 | LOSS | EDER JOFRE | 10 | BANTAMWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 31 OCT 1961 | DEC | ALPHONSE HALIMI | 15 | BANTAMWEIGHT | — | TITLE |
| 🔒 04 SEP 1961 | KO | JUAN CARDENAS | 8 | BANTAMWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 28 AUG 1961 | DEC | PIERRE VETROFF | 10 | BANTAMWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 30 MAY 1961 | DEC | ALPHONSE HALIMI | 15 | BANTAMWEIGHT | — | TITLE |
| 🔒 30 MAR 1961 | TKO | JACQUES JACOB | 5 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 31 JAN 1961 | TKO | ANGELO RAMPIN | 8 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 26 NOV 1960 | TKO | CHRISTIAN MARCHAND | 7 | BANTAMWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 08 OCT 1960 | KO | FRANKIE JONES | 3 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 31 MAY 1960 | DEC | RENE LIBEER | 10 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 23 FEB 1960 | DEC | RISTO LUUKKONEN | 10 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 09 FEB 1960 | KO | YOUNG MARTIN | 3 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 28 OCT 1959 | TKO | SALVATORE MANCA | 6 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 03 OCT 1959 | DEC | SALVATORE MANCA | 10 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 17 JUN 1959 | DEC | GIACOMO SPANO | 10 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 15 APR 1959 | DEC | PIERRE ROSSI | 8 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 07 MAR 1959 | TKO | FRANCISCO CARRENO | 4 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 05 FEB 1959 | DEC | HENRI SCHMID | 8 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 10 JAN 1959 | TKO | SIMON CARNAZZA | 5 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 29 NOV 1958 | DEC | ESTEBAN MARTIN | 10 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 29 OCT 1958 | KO | JUANITO CID | 5 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 17 SEP 1958 | DEC | DENNIS ADAMS | 8 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 18 JUN 1958 | TKO | MICHEL LAMORA | 4 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 21 MAY 1958 | DEC | MONCEF FABRI | 8 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 05 MAR 1958 | KO | EDDIE BARRACLOUGH | 1 | FLYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 05 FEB 1958 | KO | BILLY DOWNER | 2 | FLYWEIGHT | — |
Some bouts are locked in the archive
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Final Resting Place
MILLTOWN CEMETERY
257A FALLS ROAD, BALLYMURPHY, BELFAST, BT12 6EQ