Charlie Nash
Encyclopedia
Charlie Nash, born in Derry
, Northern Ireland
, in 1951, is a retired boxer. As an amateur he held an Irish national title and represented Ireland in the 1972 Olympic Games
. As a professional he won the professional British and then European lightweight titles but lost to Jim Watt, when he challenged him for the World Boxing Council
title. He has given several interviews about having to check several bodies laid out in a hospital morgue in order to identify that of his brother William, who was killed during the Bloody Sunday
incident.
He was travelling back from a fight in Dublin where he represented St Mary's at the time his younger brother, Willie, was shot dead and their father, Alex, was shot and wounded during the Bloody Sunday
incident.
Eight months later, Nash was part of the Irish
Olympic Team for the 1972 Summer Olympics
in Munich
, Germany
. Nash fought well at the 1972 Olympics and was knocked out of the competition by the eventual winner.
His base of Derry was to prove a problem as many fighters used it as an excuse not to fight Nash.
Nash won the British and then European lightweight titles by fights arranged in the wake of abandoned vacant titles. The titles were left vacant by Jim Watt, whom many saw as running scared of Nash. It wasn't until 1980 that Nash finally got the chance to fight Watt - this time for the World Boxing Council
lightweight title. The death of his manager Jack Solomon very close to the bout almost caused the fight to be called off. However, Nash found a new manager in Mickey Duff
. This enabled the match to go ahead. Nash lost the match, and was bitterly disappointed.
Nash retired in 1983 and remained in the Derry area and involved with the sport. He can still be found at Derry's Ring Boxing Club.
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, in 1951, is a retired boxer. As an amateur he held an Irish national title and represented Ireland in the 1972 Olympic Games
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
. As a professional he won the professional British and then European lightweight titles but lost to Jim Watt, when he challenged him for the World Boxing Council
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
title. He has given several interviews about having to check several bodies laid out in a hospital morgue in order to identify that of his brother William, who was killed during the Bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday (1972)
Bloody Sunday —sometimes called the Bogside Massacre—was an incident on 30 January 1972 in the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland, in which twenty-six unarmed civil rights protesters and bystanders were shot by soldiers of the British Army...
incident.
Amateur career
Nash was a member of his local St. Mary's boxing club, and won the junior championships at provincial level. After winning the senior title in Ulster in 1969 Nash then won the Irish National Senior Title in 1970.He was travelling back from a fight in Dublin where he represented St Mary's at the time his younger brother, Willie, was shot dead and their father, Alex, was shot and wounded during the Bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday (1972)
Bloody Sunday —sometimes called the Bogside Massacre—was an incident on 30 January 1972 in the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland, in which twenty-six unarmed civil rights protesters and bystanders were shot by soldiers of the British Army...
incident.
Eight months later, Nash was part of the Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Olympic Team for the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Nash fought well at the 1972 Olympics and was knocked out of the competition by the eventual winner.
Olympic results
- 1st round bye
- Defeated Erik Madsen (Denmark) 5-0
- Defeated Antonio Gin (Mexico) TKO 1
- Lost to Jan SzczepańskiJan Szczepanski (boxer)Jan Antoni Szczepański is a retired boxer from Poland, who won the gold medal in the lightweight division at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany...
(Poland) TKO by 3
Pro career
In 1975 Nash was faced with the choice to keep on fighting as an amateur or turn professional and decided to become a professional boxer in order to provide a living for himself.His base of Derry was to prove a problem as many fighters used it as an excuse not to fight Nash.
Nash won the British and then European lightweight titles by fights arranged in the wake of abandoned vacant titles. The titles were left vacant by Jim Watt, whom many saw as running scared of Nash. It wasn't until 1980 that Nash finally got the chance to fight Watt - this time for the World Boxing Council
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
lightweight title. The death of his manager Jack Solomon very close to the bout almost caused the fight to be called off. However, Nash found a new manager in Mickey Duff
Mickey Duff
Mickey Duff born 7 June 1929 in Krakow, Poland is a former British boxer, manager and promoter.Born Monek Prager in Krakow, Poland. His rabbi father saw the rise of the German Nazi party, so the family parents emigrated to England in the late 1930s.Having turned professional as a boxer illegally...
. This enabled the match to go ahead. Nash lost the match, and was bitterly disappointed.
Title defences
Later that year he successfully defended his European Title against Francesco Leon. This gave Nash a chance to answer his critics after the defeat to Watt earlier that year. Nash lost his next defence to Joey Gibilisco after being knocked out in a fight promoted by Philip McLaughlin in the Gresham Hotel in Dublin.Nash retired in 1983 and remained in the Derry area and involved with the sport. He can still be found at Derry's Ring Boxing Club.