Jim McNally

Former New England Golden Glove Champions (left to right): 
Irish Beau Jaynes, Irish Mickey Ward, Eddie Ruiz, Bobby Christakos, Mickey O'Keefe and Jim McNally.
Photo by Larry Richardson - Facebook | SmugMug

As the son of a former boxer Jim McNally grew up around the sport. Jim’s father, Bernie McNally, was the New England Heavyweight Champion as an amateur and professional. Bernie retired as the 14th ranked heavyweight in the world with a professional record of 32-2. After his career ended Bernie began training amateur and professional boxers. When Jim was old enough he would accompany his father to the gym and began working out with the other boxers. 

The following is a list of Jim’s amateur competitions: 

1973 – Semi-finalist, Heavyweight, New England Golden Gloves, Lowell, MA. 

1974 – New England Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion, Lowell, MA. 

1975 – New England AAU Heavyweight Champion, Boston Garden. (Last boxer under the weight of 180 to hold that title) 

1976 – Silver Medalist, Heavyweight Division, International Youth Games, Montreal, Canada. (Split-decision loss to future World Heavyweight Champion Tony Tubbs in the Gold Medal bout) 

1977 – New England Golden Gloves Light-heavyweight Champion, Lowell, MA. Jim represented the United States in international competitions against England, Canada and Yugoslavia. Jim retired from amateur boxing following the 1977 New England Golden Gloves with an overall record of 61-7. 

Jim signed a professional contract later that year. From 1977 to 1983, Jim had 20 professional fights. An automobile accident resulted in 2 elbow operations and the end to Jim’s boxing career. He retired as the 17th ranked light-heavyweight in the world with a professional record of 19-1. 

In 1998, Jim and his father (posthumously) were elected into the Ring 4, Massachusetts Boxing Hall of Fame. 

Since retiring from boxing Jim began training amateur and professional boxers. Jim’s amateur boxers have won various titles including the New England Silver Mitten and New England Golden Glove championships. Jim’s professional boxers have won Massachusetts and New England championships, and one of Jim’s boxers, John Ruiz, won the WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World.