The great amateur Light-Heavyweight from New South Wales, Australia. One of the best 175 lb. amateur boxers from 1955 thru 1960. Could have been a World Champion, but stayed an amateur. Competed in '3' Olympics (1952, 1956 and 1960). Won a Bronze Medal at the 1960 Olympics. All were hoping to see Tony versus Cassius Clay in a highly anticipated match. In the Semi-Finals, Cassius won the hard-fought Decision. This content is protected
Ah Senor, a name from the past...My dad and I saw Tony Madigan lose a split decision to Cassius Clay in the Olympic Finals at MSG in I believe 1960...We had ringside seats and I recall Tony Madigan as a handsome Lightheavy weight from Australia,and the bouncing young LH from Kentucky Cassius Clay...Who in the crowd visualized that this tall ,jumping jack leaning backwards to avoid punches, would eventually morph into a Heavyweight champion years later ? Answer NO ONE...
Madigan must have been a fairly good amateur, as I think he won a diamond? belt tournament or two in the US. He was smart enough to know a bit about what was in store for him as a pro and never bothered with it. Instead he stayed in the US and made himself a very successful business career instead. Sounds like one smart cookie to me He's not well known by the general public here in Australia although the old time boxing guys speak highly of him
Tony Madigan boxed in England as well as an amateur winning the ABA title for the Fulham club in 1954. He later became a very successful business man. I think he might of lived out in Italy at some point as well as other countries.
Some say that he defeated Cassius Clay in a 1958 Amateur Tournament. Their 1960 Olympics battle, was highly anticipated. The experts said, that Tony was the only entrant at the Olympics who could defeat Cassius at that time.
Im not a hundred per cent on this,Al,but got a feeling Henry Cooper beat him as an amateur,possibly in the ABAs.
Tony Madigan, born in 1930. Was competing at Middleweight thru 1953, and ended his career in 1962 as a Light-Heavyweight. In an interview, Tony said that Cassius Clay had the 'perfect style' for the amateurs. Tall, sleek, fast, and with a great left jab. You just can't build them any better. Tony was a marvelous fighter.
Tony Madigan's career did not finish in 1962, but in 1964, when attempting to qualify for his fourth Olympics, he was beaten by Fred Casey who then represented Australia, at Light heavyweight, in Tokyo. Tony, who lives in London, was inducted into the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame in 2010.
