Shea Neary


James Patrick "Shea" Neary is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2000. He held the WBU light-welterweight title from 1996 to 2000, and challenged once for the Commonwealth light-welterweight title in the latter year.

Amateur career

Neary fought as an amateur from the age of 15, compiling a record of 21 fights and 3 losses.

Professional career

Neary made his professional debut on 3 September 1992, defeating fellow debutant Simon Ford by knockout in the first round. On 8 September 1995, Neary won his first regional championship—the vacant British Central Area title—by knocking out Nigel Bradley in two rounds. Three fights later, on 26 October 1996, Neary scored a twelve-round unanimous decision over Darryl Tyson to win the vacant WBU light-welterweight title. He made five successful defences of the title, all televised nationally on ITV's The Big Fight Live. One of these defences included a sixth-round stoppage over former British light-welterweight champion Andy Holligan on 12 March 1998.
On 11 March 2000, Neary fought Micky Ward as part of the undercard to Naseem Hamed vs. Vuyani Bungu. This brought Neary international exposure for the first time, as the event was televised in the United States by HBO on their World Championship Boxing series. In a high-paced, action-packed slugfest, Ward handed Neary his first loss by stopping him in the eighth round. The fight was dramatised in the 2010 film The Fighter, with Anthony Molinari playing the part of Neary.
Neary won one more fight on 25 July 2000, scoring a ten-round points decision over Alan Bosworth. However, Neary had struggled to make weight before the fight, and was quoted as having lacked motivation coming in. On 11 November 2000, in what would be Neary's final fight, he lost via points decision to then-reigning Commonwealth light-welterweight champion Eamonn Magee. The result, judged by referee Roy Francis, was viewed as controversial.

Personal life

Neary's father moved from Ireland to Liverpool in the 1940s, and during his career Neary was embraced as both an Irishman and a Scouser. On 2 May 2011, Neary was arrested following a brawl at the Revolution bar in Albert Dock, Liverpool, but was later cleared of assault charges in December.
Neary's son James Metcalf, nicknamed "Kid Shamrock", became a professional boxer in 2011 and competes as a light-middleweight. He has called his father "a huge inspiration growing up", and the reason he wanted to be a boxer.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
25Loss23–2Eamonn MageePTS1211 Nov 2000Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern IrelandFor Commonwealth light-welterweight title
24Win23–1Alan BosworthPTS1025 Jul 2000Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, London, England
23Loss22–1Micky WardTKO8, 2:5511 Mar 2000London Olympia, London, EnglandLost WBU light-welterweight title
22Win22–0Mike GriffithTKO4, 2:4919 Jun 1999National Stadium, Dublin, IrelandRetained WBU light-welterweight title
21Win21–0Juan Carlos Ceferino VillarrealUD1224 Oct 1998St George's Hall, Liverpool, EnglandRetained WBU light-welterweight title
20Win20–0Naas ScheepersUD1221 Jul 1998Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, EnglandRetained WBU light-welterweight title
19Win19–0Andy HolliganTKO6, 2:4212 Mar 1998Stanley Park, Liverpool, EnglandRetained WBU light-welterweight title
18Win18–0Jeremiah MalingaKO3, 3:041 Mar 1997Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, EnglandRetained WBU light-welterweight title
17Win17–0Darryl Tyson1226 Oct 1996Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, EnglandWon vacant WBU light-welterweight title
16Win16–0Terry SoutherlandKO2, 2:483 Feb 1996Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, England
15Win15–0Mark RichardsonKO1 24 Nov 1995Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Manchester, England
14Win14–0Nigel BradleyKO2 8 Sep 1995Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, EnglandWon vacant British Central Area light-welterweight title
13Win13–0Hugh Forde6, 3:0016 Jun 1995Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, England
12Win12–0Tony SwiftTKO3 15 Mar 1995Moat House, Stoke-on-Trent, England
11Win11–0John SmithTKO5, 0:1225 Jan 1995European Sporting Club, Stoke-on-Trent, England
10Win10–0Tony FosterKO2 7 Dec 1994Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, England
9Win9–0Mark PearceKO4 13 Jun 1994Devonshire House Hotel, Liverpool, England
8Win8–0Mark AntonyKO1 25 Oct 1993Devonshire House Hotel, Liverpool, England
7Win7–0Wayne Shepherd2 6 Sep 1993Devonshire House Hotel, Liverpool, England
6Win6–0John SmithPTS629 Mar 1993Devonshire House Hotel, Liverpool, England
5Win5–0Vaughan CarnegieKO1 22 Feb 1993Devonshire House Hotel, Liverpool, England
4Win4–0Chris Saunders61 Dec 1992Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, England
3Win3–0Jason BarkerTKO3 2 Nov 1992Devonshire House Hotel, Liverpool, England
2Win2–0Shaun Armstrong6 5 Oct 1992Devonshire House Hotel, Liverpool, England
1Win1–0Simon Ford1 3 Sep 1992Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, England