Due to the events of the last two years, I am probably not the only person who missed the news of the passing of former British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion, Danny McAlinden in March 2021. McAlinden, born in Newry but based in Coventry from the age of 15, was one of a seemingly endless conveyor belt of successors to Henry Cooper throughout the 70's and 80's. After an amateur career that peaked with a Bronze Medal in the 1966 Commonwealth Games, Danny turned professional with the Turpins' old Manager, George Middleton, Jack Solomons having exclusive promotional rights and went on an immediate winning streak. He won Solomons' novice Heavyweight tournament with three KO's in one night, the victims including perennial contender Dennis Avoth and future World Title Challenger, Richard Dunn. It was during this time that Mac's big night in the limelight happened. On the 8th March 1971, he won a 6 round decision over Rahman Ali at Maddison Square Garden on the undercard of the Fight of the Century. The legend says that Ali Snr came bursting out of the dressing room demanding to know who the bum was that beat his little Brother. "It was me", replied Dangerous Dan, "And I'll beat you just as I beat him!". In a historical quirk of fate, Danny died on the fiftieth anniversary of the fight. Fifteen months later, McAlinden got his shot at the British and Commonwealth Titles outdoors at Villa Park against the fast declining Jack Bodell. In perhaps the most unsightly Title fight in British history, a wild Danny flattened Jack in two rounds to become the first Irishman to take the belts. That was as good as it got for Mac. At the point his star shone brightest, things turned sour. Two projected super fights with Joe Bugner fell through and, somewhat worryingly, Danny was touted as a first defence for new World Heavyweight Champion, George Foreman. This would have been suicide or at least cold blooded murder by Solomons. Thanks to a BBBofC ruling, McAlinden had to pay £10,000 to buy his contract back from Jack Solomons so it was an understandably disgruntled Danny who found himself defending his Titles for £8,300 against Birmingham's Bunny Johnson on a Solomons show. Mac came out swinging, as ever, and dropped Bunny in the 4th but he had shot his bolt and Johnson boxed beautifully to wear Danny down and stopped him in the 9th. In another historical twist, the first Irish Champion gave way to the first black Fighter to hold the Title. There was one more hurrah at Title level when, after 3 quick wins, Mac challenged new Champ and old foe, Richard Dunn but the Bradford southpaw blasted him in the second. The sunset of McAlinden's career was as painful to watch as it was seemingly endless. The odd big punching win punctuated by desultory defeats. I saw Danny's last fight, at Aston Villa Leisure Centre in 1981. Paddy and Tommy Lynch, who managed Irish Heavyweight Gordon Ferris, had the idea of rehabilitating Danny, who was still Northern Ireland Champion, and putting on a big show in Birmingham between the two. Handed a seemingly easy job against Swindon Light Heavy Denroy Bryan, Danny was a sad sight as he subsided to defeat in 5 uncomfortable to watch rounds. Danny was no World beater but the fact that 28 of his 31 wins came inside the distance attests to the fact that he seldom failed to entertain. He was also British Heavyweight Champion in an era when every bloke in every bar knew who the Champion was. RIP Dangerous Dan.
To young to be around for any of that, but had a video that me and our kid used to watch all the time of British boxing through the 60s/70s so familiar, the Bodell fight on it at villa park, McAlinden knocking him all over and the crowd celebrating in the ring. RIP
