Barney Eastwood
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Barney Eastwood (b. 1932, Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland) is an Irish boxing promoter and bookmaker.
Eastwood was introduced to boxing through the weekly boxing tournaments at the nearby US air base and by the tutelage of a school teacher of his from County Cork. At 19 years of age Eastwood was married, to his wife Frances, and was living in Carrickfergus running a pub and assist in the running of a local boxing club. In the late 1950's Eastwood was running small boxing shows in Belfast.
Eastwood was most notable for promoting the career of Barry McGuigan, however after McGuigan's surprise defeat to Steve Cruz in Las Vegas, U.S. the relationship between the two soured and this led to a costly and acrimonious legal battle between the two.[1]
During the 1980s and 90s, Eastwood ran "Eastwood's Gym" along with John Breen on Belfast's King Street. In February 2008 it was announced that Barney Eastwood would be selling his chain of 54 Betting Shops to UK chain Ladbrokes for £135 Million.
[edit] Notable fighters promoted
- Barry McGuigan
- Crisanto Espana
- Paul Hodkinson
- Noel Magee
- Ray Close
- Dave Boy McAuley
- Victor Cordoba
- Fabrice Benichou
[edit] References
- ^ Tómas Rohan. "Barry McGuigan". BBC News. Retrieved on 28 May 2006.
- ^ "Thank you very much for the memories, Mr Eastwood". Irish Independent. Retrieved on 28 May 2006.
[edit] External links
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