Graham Finlay
Graham Paul Finlay (3 February 1936 – 29 July 2018) was a New Zealand boxer who won four national amateur boxing championships, and represented his country at the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Graham Paul Finlay |
| Born | 3 February 1936 Greymouth, New Zealand |
| Died | 29 July 2018 (aged 82) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Boxing |
| Weight class | Welterweight |
Biography
Born in Greymouth on 3 February 1936, Finlay was the son of Jack "Doc" Finlay.[1][2]
Trained by his father, Graham Finlay won four New Zealand national amateur boxing championship titles: the light welterweight title in 1954; and the welterweight title in consecutive years from 1955 to 1957.[2] He represented New Zealand in the welterweight division at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, losing to the eventual bronze medallist, Kevin Hogarth from Australia, on points in his first bout.[2] In the light-welterweight division at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Finlay was eliminated in the first round, defeated by G.R. Smith from Southern Rhodesia.[2] Overall, Finlay's amateur record was 98 fights for seven defeats.[3]
Finlay was also a useful rugby league second rower, playing for the Greymouth Marist club side that won several West Coast titles, as well as the Thacker Shield in 1959 and 1961.[2]
Outside of sport, Finlay operated the Chevron restaurant and milk bar in Greymouth with his brother-in-law, John Morris.[2] In 1985, Finlay relocated to Christchurch, where he worked for the Inland Revenue Department until his retirement.
Finlay died on 29 July 2018.[2]
References
- Graham Finlay at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
- "New Zealand Olympic Games boxer Graham Finlay farewelled after final fight". Stuff.co.nz. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- "Graham Finlay, Greymouth boxer". West Coast New Zealand history. Retrieved 3 November 2018.