On This Day: October 10th

1888: Cork’s Jack McAuliffe defended his World lightweight title in a barn in New Jersey. McAuliffe knocked out Bill Dacey in the 11th round of their bout in the undisclosed location to defend his crown. The Leesider was paid $5,000 ($130,000+) for the secretive bout in Dover, a career-high purse.

2015: Michael O’Reilly secured bronze at the World Championships in Doaha. The Portlaoise middleweight defeated Kazakh Zhanibek Alimkhanuly by split decisions in the quarter finals in Qatar to guarantee a bronze. Earlier in the championships the slickster had defeated Ukrainian Valeriy Kharlamov and Aussie Daniel Lewis. O’Reilly would lose by split decision in the semi finals to Uzbek Bektemir Melikuziyev before being controversially beaten by Egyptian Hossam Abdin in the Olympic play-off.