Irish Olympian Boxer John Caldwell

Irish boxing is in mourning this weekend with the sad news of the death of  Melbourne Olympian John Caldwell aged 71.
The multi talented Ulsterman, a flyweight of enormous skill and courage, boxed out of the Immaculata club in Belfast and won just about everything that could be won in the game, including an Olympic bronze medal and worlds titles.
In 1956 he was the youngest member  the Irish boxing team that claimed three bronze and one silver medal at the Melbourne Olympics.
Caldwell knocked out Yai Shew of Burma in the last sixteen in Melbourne and then silenced the home crowd when he beat home favourite Warren Batchelor on points in the quarter finals to guaranteed himself at least bronze.
The Belfast ace was installed as hot favourite to go all the way following that win. But unfortunaly it wasn't to be as he was edged out by Romanian Mircea Dobrescu in the semi finals.
As quoted in Barry Flynn's, "Legends of Irish Boxing", Caldwell, then just 18 years old, was very proud to represent
his country in Melbourne.
"We were away from home for six weeks and travelled to Melbourne by boat. Everything was fabulous and the opening ceremony in the stadium stood out for me in particular.
"When I recall the feeling I had inside and I just think of standing there on that podium in Melbourne with my medal it makes me so proud."
Fredt Tiedt (silver), Fred Gilroy (bronze), and Anthony Byrne (bronze) also finished in podium positions in the boxing event at the 1956 Olympic Games.
Ronney Delaney won gold in Melbourne to cap Ireland's best er performance at Olympic level.
Ireland at the 1956 Olympic Games

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