Dangerous Danny McAlinden, Irish and British Heavyweight Champion, Dies at 73
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Dublin, Ireland (March 11th, 2021)–‘Dangerous’ Irish Danny McAlinden, who briefly became a serious contender for the world heavyweight title when he knocked out Jack Bodell in the second round in Birmingham in June 1972 to win the BBB of C and Commonwealth British Empire Heavyweight titles, died on March 8, 2021, in Northern Ireland, at age 73. No cause of death was reported.
An Irish and British crowd favorite, McAlinden started his career 24-2-2, and then 26-4-2. As the Commonwealth British Empire Heavyweight champion, McAlinden remained a legitimate possible challenger for Muhammad Ali and the World Heavyweight title. That changed on January 13, 1975, when McAlinden, coming off a 10 rounds decision points loss to Pat Duncan, got knocked down, and subsequently knocked out in the ninth round by Bunny Johnson in Mayfair, United Kingdom. McAlinden scored three comeback wins, but was knocked down three times by British champion Richard Dunn in the second round and lost his attempt to regain his titles at Wembley in November 1975.
McAlinden then won three of four comeback bouts, including winning the BBB of C Northern Ireland Heavyweight title with a second-round cut eye stoppage of Sean McKenna in July 1977 in Derry. McAlinden then lost five of his next six comeback attempts. His last three opponents did not have winning records. After losing a rematch by eight-round decision to Tony Moore in December 1980, and getting stopped in the ninth round by Denton Ruddock in March 1982, McAlinden retired with a record of 31-12-2 with 28 knockouts, still an impressive knockout percentage, over 90 percent, in his wins (28 of 31).
On March 8, 1971, McAlinden decisioned 7-0 Rahman Ali (Rudy Clay) over six rounds in an undercard bout, on the same Madison Square Garden card where Muhammad’s brother hi Ali lost his first match with Smokin’ Joe Frazier. Rahman won his next seven bouts, but did not win any of his last three bouts, and never realized the career heights and fame of his brother after losing to McAlinden.
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