Billy Irwin (boxer)

Billy Irwin “Billy the Kid”

Irwin in 2017
Personal information
Full name	William Irwin
Born	(1968-05-20) 20 May 1968 Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Sport
Sport	Boxing
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Representing Canada Pan American Games 1991 Havana Lightweight

William Irwin (born 20 May 1968 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, nicknamed "Billy the Kid", is a retired Canadian amateur lightweight and professional light/light welter/welterweight boxer of the 1990s and 2000s who as an amateur won a bronze medal in the Boxing at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba, losing to eventual silver medal winner Patrice Brooks of the United States, represented Canada at the 1991 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Sydney, Australia losing to Julien Lorcy of France, and represented Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, he was stopped in the second round of the lightweight division (– 60 kg) by Ronald Chavez of the Philippines, and as a professional won the Canadian Professional Boxing Council[1] (CPBC) lightweight title, Canada lightweight title, International Boxing Organization (IBO) lightweight title, World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas lightweight title, and Commonwealth lightweight title, and was a challenger for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight title against Paul Spadafora, and World Boxing Association (WBA) World lightweight title against Juan Díaz, his professional fighting weight varied from 133+1⁄2 lb (60.6 kg; 9 st 7.5 lb), i.e. lightweight to 142 lb (64.4 kg; 10 st 2.0 lb), i.e. welterweight.

"The Kids" last stand was in 2005, up against the undefeated World Champion Juan Diaz, after Billy's loss he walked away in class retiring from a very respectable pro boxing career that spanned over 12 years.

Billy Irwin was obviously no kid, respected by boxers & fans alike, he's considered a Canadian boxing legend and one of the toughest fighters Canada has ever produced. Billy was a four time Canadian National Champion, a Bronze Medalist at the Pan-American Games, with an amateur record of 130-20-0 and with an impressive professional boxing record of 44(31)–5-0.

He now proudly trains amateurs, upcoming international fighters and professional boxers at Irwin Boxing gym in Niagara Falls, Ontario. One of his fighters won the 2012 Canadian Champion "Best Youth Boxer Award." His love, commitment and true passion for the sport shows with the results from his upcoming fighters both provincially and nationally.

One of Billy's biggest fans, a dear friend & retired amateur & pro fighter himself "Buddy Lee" Chisholm" summed up Billy's career with one quote, "The Kid...well, time will pass but our memories of Billy's career will last forever..."

References

• William Irwin. Canadian Olympic Committee. at the Wayback Machine (archived September 27, 2007)
• Falls boxers shines at championship. Niagara Falls Review. March 7, 2012. at the Wayback Machine (archived March 4, 2016)

External links

• Boxing record for Billy Irwin from BoxRec (registration required)
• Billy Irwin at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
• William Irwin at the International Olympic Committee
• William Irwin at the Canadian Olympic Committee
• William Irwin at the Commonwealth Games Federation