Francie Barrett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Francie Barrett |
|
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Francis Barrett |
| Nickname(s) | Southpaw |
| Rated at | light middleweight |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Born | 7 February 1977 Galway, Ireland |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 20 |
| Wins | 17 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Francis Barrett (born 7 February 1977), known to many as Francie Barrett, is a retired Irish professional boxer. He proudly represented Ireland at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
Contents
Francie Barrett: Irish Boxing Star
Early Life and Boxing Start
Francie Barrett began his boxing journey with the help of his trainer and mentor, Chick Gillen. Chick was a former boxer himself. He introduced Francie to the sport.
Amazing Amateur Career
As an amateur boxer, Francie had over 250 fights. He represented Ireland in many international competitions. He won Irish boxing titles at both junior and senior levels. In 1997, he also won the British welterweight title. He beat tough opponents like Tony Sesay and Michael Jennings to win this title.
Olympic Dream Comes True
A major highlight of Francie's career was when he joined the Irish team for the 1996 Olympic Games. He was the youngest member of the team. It was a huge honor for him to carry the Irish flag during the opening ceremony. At the Olympics, Francie competed in the light welterweight division.
His participation gained attention from media around the world. He became a national hero in Ireland.
Here are his results from the Olympics:
- He defeated Zely Fereria Dos Santos from Brazil with a score of 32–7.
- He lost to Fethi Missaoui from Tunisia with a score of 6–18.
Professional Boxing Journey
Francie Barrett became a professional boxer in August 2000. He fought in the light welterweight division. He trained and fought out of Wembley, London. Francie won the British Southern Area Title. In June 2004, he also won the European (EU) Title. He held this title from July 2, 2004, until December 12, 2004, when he vacated it.
Beyond the Boxing Ring
Standing Up to Discrimination
In March 1999, Francie faced a difficult situation. He was asked to leave a nightclub in Galway because of his Irish Traveller heritage. Earlier, Francie and his wife, Kathleen, were also not allowed into another nightclub in Salthill called Liquid. Francie took action and filed a lawsuit regarding this unfair treatment.
A Documentary About His Life
A documentary called Southpaw: The Francis Barrett Story was made about his life. This film won the Audience Prize at the 1999 New York Irish Film Festival. The documentary followed Francie for three years. It showed how he overcame unfair treatment as he moved up the amateur boxing ranks. The film highlighted his journey to carrying the Irish flag and boxing for Ireland at the age of 19 during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
A Local Hero's Legacy
Francie is very well-known in Galway. In fact, a current Galway United football player, Franceley Lomboto, was named after him. When Lomboto scores a goal, Galway United fans sometimes sing "All hail the Prince of hillside." This shows how much of a local hero Francie remains.
