Eamonn McKeon

A member of the Garda, the Irish National Police Force, Eamonn McKeon was the younger brother of the 1948 Olympian Mick McKeon and was coached by his older sibling in the early days of his boxing career at Dublin’s Crumlin Boxing Club. Eamonn McKeon could not match his brother’s total of six Irish titles, although he did win three titles, at light-middleweight in 1956, and middleweight in 1957 and 1958. He was also runner-up in the heavier of the two divisions in 1959 and 1960.

After beating the reigning Irish champion Jim Byrne in an Olympic trial at Drogheda the month before the 1960 Roma (Rome) Olympics, McKeon booked his place in the Irish team for the Games. Unfortunately, he was eliminated in his second-round contest on a decision by the South African Frik van Rooyen. McKeon announced his retirement from the ring shortly after the Olympics.