He came out of Salt Lake City with dreams of becoming heavyweight champion. He turned pro well before his twentieth birthday and met some of the best heavyweights of his day.
Tony Doyle was another in a long string of white, Irish contenders who would have an impact on the heavyweight ratings in the late 60’s and early 70’s.
Tony turned pro in 1963 and reeled off seven straight wins before meeting and losing to his nemesis James J. Woody via a ten round verdict. Two fights later he lost by a decision to another experienced boxer named Chuck Leslie.
The cycle of Tony’s rollercoaster career had begun. He kayoed Archie Ray in his next fight and again two fights later he drew with another up and coming Irishman named Jerry Quarry.
Three fights later he was outfought by the rugged Joey Orbillo. Tony traveled to Las Vegas and avenged his loss to Leslie, only to lose his next match to promising James Rosette.
On October 17th, 1967 Tony got a big break when he traveled to Philadelphia to meet the soaring 1964 Olympic gold medalist winner Joe Frazier. This was to be a stern test for Joe but he walked right through Tony destroying him in two rounds.
Amazingly Doyle bounced back to win ten straight fights including victories over Jack O’ Halloran and Amos “Big Train “Lincoln. He dropped a ten rounder to the formidable Manuel Ramos and then put together another seven fight win streak. Roberto Davila and Thad Spencer were among his victims.
1970 he lost back to back to James J. Woody and slowed his career. In 1971 Tony lost an important bout to Jimmy Ellis but came back to beat a faded Spencer again. He then lost a rematch to Jerry Quarry by decision.
In 1972 Tony lost to Larry Middleton and was kayoed by Joe Bugner. In 1973 Quarry ended their trilogy with a smashing fourth round knockout. Howard “Kayo” Smith stopped him in 1974 and in 1975 he was out scored by Johnny Boudreaux.
On June 27, 1975 Tony was belted out in nine rounds by future champion Mike Weaver.
In his career Tony met three champions, Frazier, Ellis, and Weaver. He also met several top contenders of his time in Quarry, Spencer, Middleton, Bugner and Ramos. In addition he took on a lot of rough characters like Orbillo and O’ Halloran and for that he will be remembered.
I’ve always wondered what finally happened to “Irish” Tony Doyle. Back in 1959 I had two bouts with him in what was then AAU boxing. We mixed it up real good and I came out with the decision in both of those fights. He was 18 I believe and I was almost twenty. We fought at 160 lbs. My coach was a fine gentleman named Dick Kimber. We fought in Salt Lake city and then again in Elko Nev. It may be of some interest that at the age of 69 I took up boxing again and have had 6 bouts in the Masters boxing division of amateur boxing. I recently was victorious in my division at the Ringside National Championships in Kansas City, Mo. The tournament was held on Aug 2-7, 2010.
If anybody knows what happened to Tony or where he can be reached, I would love to know. Maybe he would like a rematch? :))
Robert(Sting)Ray
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