Volume 49, No. 23, December 14, 2006

IN RIG: Boxer Joey Donovan joined the Navy as Quarter Master Gunner.

IN THE RING: Donovan takes on an opponent.

JOEY DONOVAN

Joey was born in Kempsey on the NSW North Coast and was fondly known as the “Prince of Stuart Point” or “Smithtown Whirlwind”.

He joined the Navy as a Quarter Master Gunner before changing over to PTI.

Joey represented NSW and Australia from 1966-1982. He was Australian Amateur champion six times in three different weight divisions – flyweight (51kg) in 1967 and 1969, light flyweight (48kg) in 1968, and bantamweight (54kg) in 1971, 1973 and 1974.

His boxing record was 159 fights for 150 wins and included 40 knockouts, one of the greatest records in Australian boxing history. He was never knocked out.

Joey won a gold medal at the 1967 Asian Games, before being given his greatest honour, being the flag bearer for the Australian Olympic team at the opening ceremony at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

He boxed as a light flyweight (48kg) defeating his first two opponents, a Hungarian and an Argentine, before losing in the quarter finals in a hotly disputed decision against his Polish opponent.

If he had won that bout, he would have qualified for the semi-finals and certain bronze medal.

Despite this setback, Joey continued to box and went on to represent Australia at the 1974 New Zealand Commonwealth Games.

After retiring, Joey continued his involvement in boxing as an official, referee and judge.

He was an official role model for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

At the 8th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sport Awards in 2001 he received an International Volunteers Award.

He was a member of the Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame and the NSW Hall of Champions.

Joey was a great ambassador for the Aboriginal people, Australia and of course, the Royal Australian Navy.


RAY MAGUIRE

FRONT PAGE: During the height of his boxing career Ray Maguire graced the cover of Fighter magazine’s Olympic edition.

STAY LOOSE: Maguire receives some attention to relieve muscle soreness in his neck.

Ray joined the Navy from Brisbane in 1962, but it was evident from his early days, that he had an exceptional skill in the boxing department.

At the ripe age of 17, Ray had become somewhat of a celebrity. Junior and senior sailors alike showed a great deal of affection towards him and as much as people wanted to be around him, Ray loved being surrounded by his mates.

In 1962, Ray was posted to HMAS Queenborough and deployed as part of the Far East Strategic Reserve. Ray was actively training at sea and had a busy seven months “up top”, boxing on numerous occasions.

Aussie ships would regularly take part in boxing nights against Royal Navy ships, the British Army at FanLing in Hong Kong and Kiwi forces.

Ray’s fierce reputation had seen a “special” imported boxer brought out to box him. His opponent had weight, age and experience on his side and ended up giving Ray a lesson in the art of boxing.

Regardless of his crushing defeat, Ray’s determination saw him box on to win bronze at the 1966 Jamaican Commonwealth Games.

Two years later he was serving on HMAS Hobart during its first tour of Vietnam.

He again went on to represent Australia, alongside Joey Donovan at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

Despite a courageous and gallant effort, Ray did not enjoy the same success as his team mate and was defeated on points, in the first round of preliminary bouts by his opponent from the USSR.

LS Kennedy has given you a glimpse of some of the Navy’s finest boxers. Look out for round three of his historical series in the new year.