Les Rackley Sr., New Zealand Trainer of Champions, Dies at 92
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Wellington, New Zealand (June 5th, 2021)– British welterweight boxer and noted boxing trainer Les Rackley Sr., who moved to New Zealand and trained boxers who won 55 New Zealand championships and 20 South Island championships, has died in Nelson, New Zealand at age 92. His sons, Jeff Jr., Les, Perry and Dean Rackley all represented New Zealand in boxing in either the Olympic Games or the Commonwealth Games.
An exponent of scientific boxing, boxing defense, and strict training regimens with the boxers he taught, Rackley was a five-time recipient of the Joe Thwaites Memorial Shield award as the boxing coach as the best New Zealand scientific boxer at the New Zealand Amateur National championships held annually.
Seven boxers represented Les internationally, most notably his son, welterweight Jeff Rackley Jr. at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. Jeff Jr. got a bye in the first round, then lost to Gunther Meier in the second round by decision. Jeff Jr. was 5-1 as a professional, winning a 15 rounds decision over Irenaia Silva in Wellington, New Zealand, to win the vacant New Zealand Boxing Association Middleweight title in his final bout.
Another professional trained by Rackley, 11-1 Alan McNamara, won the New Zealand Boxing Association, and the Australian National Boxing Federation National Light heavyweight titles.
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