Harry Connolly

The highlight of Harry Connolly’s amateur career was in reaching the flyweight final at the 1928 ABA Championships. Although he lost to Cardiff’s Cuthbert Taylor, Connolly was chosen as a reserve for the Amsterdam Olympics that year. He turned professional in 1930 and enjoyed a 17-fight career, with 10 wins. Sadly it all ended prematurely in 1932.

Connolly died three days after losing on points to Bert Kirby at the Crystal Palace Drill Hall in May 1932. He was depressed, not only for losing to Kirby, but because he was putting on weight and also felt he was not having the success and number of contests he deserved. Furthermore, Connolly was found to have a malignant growth in his throat, and he died after poisoning himself with disinfectant. He was just 25-years-of-age at the time, and had been married for just eight months.