Kevin Finnegan facts for kids

Kevin Finnegan (born 18 April 1948 – died 23 October 2008) was a famous English boxer. He was known for his tough fighting style and never giving up. Kevin fought many top boxers during his career. He became a champion in Britain and Europe.

Kevin Finnegan's Boxing Journey

Early Life and Amateur Days

Kevin Finnegan was born on 18 April 1948. His older brother, Chris Finnegan, was also a boxer. Chris even won an Olympic gold medal! When Kevin was still an amateur boxer, he got into trouble. He was banned for 18 months. This happened because he climbed into the boxing ring. He wanted to argue about a fight his brother had lost.

Becoming a Professional Boxer

Kevin Finnegan started his professional boxing career in 1970. He fought in the Middleweight division. This means boxers in his weight class were usually between 154 and 160 pounds. He quickly became known for his exciting fights.

Championship Wins

Kevin Finnegan won the British Middleweight title three times. This was a big achievement in British boxing. He also became the European Middleweight champion twice. These titles showed he was one of the best boxers in Europe.

Famous Fights and Tough Opponents

Kevin Finnegan had many memorable fights. He is especially remembered for three fights against Alan Minter. Kevin lost all three of these matches. However, they were very close decisions. This means the judges found it hard to pick a winner.

He also fought Marvin Hagler twice. Marvin Hagler later became a world champion. Kevin lost both fights to Hagler. But Hagler later said that Kevin Finnegan was the toughest boxer he had ever faced. This shows how strong and determined Kevin was. Kevin also beat other strong boxers like Tony Sibson and Gratien Tonna.

Career Highlights

Kevin Finnegan's boxing career lasted for 10 years. He fought from 1970 to 1980. In total, he had 47 professional fights. He won 35 of these fights. Thirteen of his wins were by knockout. He lost 11 fights and had one draw.

Later Life and Passing

Kevin Finnegan passed away on 23 October 2008. He was 60 years old. He died from heart disease at his home in Hillingdon. Kevin Finnegan is remembered as a brave and exciting boxer. He was a true fighter who always gave his best.

See also

• List of British middleweight boxing champions
• List of European Boxing Union middleweight champions