Chris Rafter

Chris Rafter started boxing at the age of 15 and in 1956 missed out on an Olympic place when beaten by Johnny Caldwell for the flyweight berth. Four years later he was again beaten in a “fight-off” for an Olympic place, this time by Adam McLean. After losing out on an Olympic chance in 1956, Rafter emigrated to the USA to live with relatives in the Chicago area. He continued his amateur boxing career and won three Golden Gloves flyweight titles 1958-60.

When the 1964 Olympics came around, Rafter was serving in the US Military with the 358th Engineers in Korea. He applied for selection onto the Irish team based on his 17 Ireland international appearances and over 100 wins from 120 bouts, without ever being stopped. He was duly selected and the Military moved Rafter to a base in Tokyo, just 20 miles from the Olympic HQ, and he prepared for The Games by training with the US Marines boxing squad. At the third time of trying, Rafter eventually made his Olympic début at the age of 29 against Argentina’s Abel Almaraz. Unfortunately, his Olympic career lasted just nine minutes as he lost a decision 5-0.