Shea Neary

James Patrick "Shea" Neary (/ˈʃeɪ/ /ˈnɪərɪ/; born 18 May 1968) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2000. He held the WBU light-welterweight title from 1996 to 2000, and challenged once for the Commonwealth light-welterweight title in the latter year.

This article is about the British boxer. For the American fashion model, see Shay Neary.

Shea Neary
Statistics
Real nameJames Patrick Neary
Nickname(s)The Shamrock Express
Weight(s)Light-welterweight
Height5 ft 7 1⁄2 in (171 cm)
Reach71 in (180 cm)
NationalityBritish
Born (1968-05-18) 18 May 1968
Kensington, Liverpool,
Lancashire, England
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights25
Wins23
Wins by KO16
Losses2

Amateur career

Neary fought as an amateur from the age of 15, compiling a record of 21 fights and 3 losses.[1]

Professional career

Neary made his professional debut on 3 September 1992, defeating fellow debutant Simon Ford by knockout in the first round. On 8 September 1995, Neary won his first regional championship—the vacant British Central Area title—by knocking out Nigel Bradley in two rounds. Three fights later, on 26 October 1996, Neary scored a twelve-round unanimous decision over Darryl Tyson to win the vacant WBU light-welterweight title. He made five successful defences of the title, all televised nationally on ITV's The Big Fight Live.[1] One of these defences included a sixth-round stoppage over former British light-welterweight champion Andy Holligan on 12 March 1998.[2]

On 11 March 2000, Neary fought Micky Ward as part of the undercard to Naseem Hamed vs. Vuyani Bungu. This brought Neary international exposure for the first time, as the event was televised in the United States by HBO on their World Championship Boxing series. In a high-paced, action-packed slugfest, Ward handed Neary his first loss by stopping him in the eighth round. The fight was dramatised in the 2010 film The Fighter, with Anthony Molinari playing the part of Neary.[3]

Neary won one more fight on 25 July 2000, scoring a ten-round points decision over Alan Bosworth. However, Neary had struggled to make weight before the fight, and was quoted as having lacked motivation coming in.[4] On 11 November 2000, in what would be Neary's final fight, he lost via points decision to then-reigning Commonwealth light-welterweight champion Eamonn Magee. The result, judged by referee Roy Francis, was viewed as controversial.[5][6]

Personal life

Neary's father moved from Ireland to Liverpool in the 1940s,[7] and during his career Neary was embraced as both an Irishman and a Scouser.[8] On 2 May 2011, Neary was arrested following a brawl at the Revolution bar in Albert Dock, Liverpool, but was later cleared of assault charges in December.[9]

Neary's son James Metcalf, nicknamed "Kid Shamrock", became a professional boxer in 2011 and competes as a light-middleweight. He has called his father "a huge inspiration growing up", and the reason he wanted to be a boxer.[10]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
25 fights 23 wins 2 losses
By knockout 16 1
By decision 7 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
25 Loss 23–2 Eamonn Magee PTS 12 11 Nov 2000 Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland For Commonwealth light-welterweight title
24 Win 23–1 Alan Bosworth PTS 10 25 Jul 2000 Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, London, England
23 Loss 22–1 Micky Ward TKO 8 (12), 2:55 11 Mar 2000 London Olympia, London, England Lost WBU light-welterweight title
22 Win 22–0 Mike Griffith TKO 4 (12), 2:49 19 Jun 1999 National Stadium, Dublin, Ireland Retained WBU light-welterweight title
21 Win 21–0 Juan Carlos Ceferino Villarreal UD 12 24 Oct 1998 St George's Hall, Liverpool, England Retained WBU light-welterweight title
20 Win 20–0 Naas Scheepers UD 12 21 Jul 1998 Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, England Retained WBU light-welterweight title
19 Win 19–0 Andy Holligan TKO 6 (12), 2:42 12 Mar 1998 Stanley Park, Liverpool, England Retained WBU light-welterweight title
18 Win 18–0 Jeremiah Malinga KO 3 (12), 3:04 1 Mar 1997 Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, England Retained WBU light-welterweight title
17 Win 17–0 Darryl Tyson UD 12 26 Oct 1996 Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, England Won vacant WBU light-welterweight title
16 Win 16–0 Terry Southerland KO 2 (8), 2:48 3 Feb 1996 Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, England
15 Win 15–0 Mark Richardson KO 1 (8) 24 Nov 1995 Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Manchester, England
14 Win 14–0 Nigel Bradley KO 2 (10) 8 Sep 1995 Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, England Won vacant British Central Area light-welterweight title
13 Win 13–0 Hugh Forde RTD 6 (8), 3:00 16 Jun 1995 Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, England
12 Win 12–0 Tony Swift TKO 3 (8) 15 Mar 1995 Moat House, Stoke-on-Trent, England
11 Win 11–0 John Smith TKO 5 (8), 0:12 25 Jan 1995 European Sporting Club, Stoke-on-Trent, England
10 Win 10–0 Tony Foster KO 2 (6) 7 Dec 1994 Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, England
9 Win 9–0 Mark Pearce KO 4 (6) 13 Jun 1994 Devonshire House Hotel, Liverpool, England
8 Win 8–0 Mark Antony KO 1 (6) 25 Oct 1993 Devonshire House Hotel, Liverpool, England
7 Win 7–0 Wayne Shepherd TD 2 (6) 6 Sep 1993 Devonshire House Hotel, Liverpool, England
6 Win 6–0 John Smith PTS 6 29 Mar 1993 Devonshire House Hotel, Liverpool, England
5 Win 5–0 Vaughan Carnegie KO 1 (6) 22 Feb 1993 Devonshire House Hotel, Liverpool, England
4 Win 4–0 Chris Saunders PTS 6 1 Dec 1992 Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, England
3 Win 3–0 Jason Barker TKO 3 (6) 2 Nov 1992 Devonshire House Hotel, Liverpool, England
2 Win 2–0 Shaun Armstrong TKO 6 (6) 5 Oct 1992 Devonshire House Hotel, Liverpool, England
1 Win 1–0 Simon Ford KO 1 (6) 3 Sep 1992 Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, England

References
  1. "Interview with Shea Neary former WBU Light-Welterweight Champion" Archived 22 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine. British Boxing News. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  2. Leach, Glyn (13 March 1998). "Boxing: Merseysider Neary makes mark over Holligan in a marquee". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  3. Collinson, Dawn (7 May 2013). "Hollywood stardom for Liverpool's former world champion boxer Shea Neary in Mark Wahlberg's The Fighter". Liverpool Echo. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  4. "Neary edges to points verdict". BBC Sport. BBC. 26 July 2000. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  5. "Neary outpointed by Magee". BBC Sport. BBC. 12 November 2000. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  6. "Neary camp to make official complaint". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. 13 November 2000. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  7. Kilfeather, Sean (18 June 1999). "Neary invasion returns home". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  8. Hilton, Nick (7 May 2013). "Shamrock Scousers: Shea Neary". Liverpool Echo. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  9. "Ex-world champ Shea Neary found not guilty of assault by unanimous verdict". Liverpool Echo. Trinity Mirror. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  10. Warren, Frank (3 February 2017). "Frank Warren adds Shea Neary's son James Metcalfe, Aston Brown to stable". World Boxing News. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Richard Burton		 British Central Area
light-welterweight champion
8 September 1995 – October 1996
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Wayne Windle
Minor world boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Joey Gamache		 WBU light-welterweight champion
26 October 1996 – 11 March 2000		 Succeeded by
Micky Ward
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