Down Memory Lane: McNally robbed of Olympic gold

[richard]

The Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, venue for Northern Ireland's international friendly against Finland today, is an historic landmark in that part of the world.

Yet for a young Belfast motor mechanic it was the setting 54 years ago for the biggest disappointment of his life. Robbed by a controversial, indeed farcical refereeing decision of an Olympic bantamweight gold medal.

John McNally, now 72, was outpointed in the final by the Finn, Pentti Hamalainen, or as the late Lainson Wood, distinguished Daily Telegraph boxing correspondent, put it: "The last fling of outrageous fortune was cast in the direction of Ireland and Britain."

McNally and the Irish team, the poor relations, didn't possess the equipment of many of the other nations and US coach, Pete Mella, impressed by McNally's prowess in a sparring bout with Terry Milligan, took him under his wing.

The luck of the draw favoured McNally who was given a first round bye. He was devastating in the second defeating Aletandao Ortuosti (Philippines), repeated the act in the quarter-final and semi-finals respectively against Vincenzo Osso (Italy) and Joon Kang (Korea).

The world was at the feet of the young Ulsterman or I should say at his gloved fists which had earned him an Ulster title and the Irish Senior Bantamweight Championship giving him automatic Olympic selection. Now he faced the most important test of all in which a victory would make him an immortal of Irish amateur boxing.

Seasoned and knowledgeable observers described the fight as something of a farce. Lainson Wood was in that camp.

"Hamalainen, a strong and courageous little Finn, was permitted without caution by one of the worst referees of this very ill-assorted band to land swinging blows with his forearms and the heel of his glove. He struck only half a dozen good punches.

"McNally weathered the tempestuous attacks assailing him like the good boxer he is and cut and bruised the Finn with smart counter blows.

"He won every round according to British reckoning but the judges once more ruled in favour of a Continental. Two voted for the Finn, one for McNally who shook him with a solid punch in the third round. The Finn cut McNally's left eye with his head but went unpunished.

"I believe that anywhere in Europe and above all at a tournament other than an Olympic Games McNally would have got the verdict," wrote Lainson.

McNally, a southpaw who still lives in Northern Ireland, turned professional in 1954, managed by Glaswegian Sammy Doherty but he never quite fulfilled his ambitions in this department of the sport. He spent five months with Danny Holland in London and under Jackie Briers he won 20 of his 29 professional bouts.

"My memories of the Olympics remain and they will do so forever," he recalls. "I was filled with pride walking into the stadium for the opening ceremony even though we were soaked to the skin before getting back to the village.

"What an honour followed to carry the flag at the closing ceremony. My only regret is that it was not a gold medal but a silver one around my neck."

The Helsinki stadium is simple and homely, unlike the giant multi-million pound edifices of today while the 1952 Games, covered for this newspaper by my colleague Jack Magowan was dominated, of course, by the Czech Emil Zatopek, the triple long distance champion.

"Emil was so gently unassuming that it was difficult to correlate the man and the athlete," wrote David Miller in his magnificent tome "Athens to Athens", the official history of the Olympic Games.

Floyd Patterson (USA) and Ingemar Johansson (Sweden), destined to become world professional heavyweight champions, figured in the same ring as McNally. Patterson won the middleweight title knocking out his last three opponents with Red Smith, renowned US columnist, commenting: "Patterson has faster hands than a subway pickpocket."

And Johansson was disqualified for not trying in the heavyweight final against Ed Sanders (USA) and his silver medal was withheld until 1983. He never made as decisive an impact as did Patterson on the world scene.


Source
By Malcolm Brodie
belfasttelegraph.co.uk