TROPHIES ARE DONATED TO LISBURN AMATEUR BOXING CLUB
Boxing legend Sam makes a real knockout offer
REPORT by STACEY HEANEY
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| Former boxer Sam Lockhart pictured at home. US35-402PM Pic by Paul Murphy |
LEGENDARY Lisburn boxer Sam Lockhart has made a knockout gesture by donating his many trophies to Lisburn Amateur Boxing Club in the hope It will act as encouragement to the young stars of the future.
Sam achieved numerous titles and trophies throughout his boxing career, his greatest achievement coming when he represented Northern Ireland at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, where he achieved a bronze medal.
Sam remembers his experience at the Commonwealth Games as if it were yesterday.
"I spent five weeks in Jamaica and I remember thinking I had won the fight. I fought Anthony Andeh from Nigeria and everyone in my corner thought I had won, even the referee thought so. It came down to points and I lost 3-2 on the voting. In the end And he went on to win the gold medal and I took home the bronze."
Born in Hillhall in 1946, Sam began boxing at 11 when he and his brother joined a local gym "to take us off the streets and learn how to look after ourselves," says Sam.
Legend
And so a legend was born. Sam continued to box at amateur level for ten years winning four Ulster Juvenile titles in 1957, 1960, 1961 and 1963, the Juvenile Bantam title in Dublin in 1963, three Ulster Senior titles in 1965, 1966 and 1967 as well as taking part in the European Nations Cup in Poland in 1965 before going professional in 1967.
Won
During his career San also won a Lightweight title, two Featherweight titles, the All-Ireland Bantam title and the Ulster Professional Lightweight title in 197 before having to give up boxing in 1973.
He fondly remember his boxing days and with his gift to Lisburn's current boxers he hopes to help local boxers achieve the success he was lucky enough to have.
Ulster Star
09/09/2005
