Background
Magee grew up in the strongly nationalist Ardoyne area of Belfast and came from a boxing obsessed family. Magee"s younger brother Eamonn stated that for his mother "boxing was as important as school".
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Noel Magee
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Career
Magee fought at super middleweight but also fought as a light heavyweight and cruiserweight towards the end of his career. Magee"s three brothers were also boxers with two of them, Eamonn and Terry, having careers as professional boxers. Magee again beat Collins later that year in a trial for the international team
Still only 19 years of age, Magee on 22 May 1985, turned professional under the mentorship of Pat Brogan, winning his first fight at the European Sporting Club, Stoke, England, in which Magee knocked out Nigel Prickett.
Title fight defeats
lieutenant was four years before he fought for his title fight when he took on fellow Belfastman Sam Storey in November 1989 for the British Super Middleweight Title, however he lost this fight when the referee stopped the fight in the 9th round. Magee"s following fight was also a defeat, this time at the hands of Dariusz Michalczewski for the Vacant IBF Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Title.
Magee also lost his challenge for the European (EBU) Light Heavyweight Title against Fabrice Tiozzo. Commonwealth title victory
After this series of title fight defeat Magee was becoming disillusioned with boxing and had informed his promoter Barney Eastwood that he was considering a changing promoters.
The following week Eastwood lined up a fight with the then unbeaten Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Title holder Garry Delaney.
The fight took place in May 1995 at the Festival Hall, Basildon, Essex, England. Magee made his superior hand and foot speed tell by winning the fight with a stoppage in the seventh to take the only major title belt in his professional career. Magee lost his first defense of his title to Nicky Piper and after this Magee lost his will to continue boxing and two years later, after a brief two fight comeback including a loss to Darren Corbett for the Irish Cruiserweight Title, Magee retired from boxing.
Achievements
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His brother, Eamonn, was also a Commonwealth champion. The highlight of his short amateur career was in 1985 when, at the age of eighteen, he won the Irish Light Heavyweight Title, defeating a young Steve Collins in the final. Magee was a huge underdog with the bookies offering odds of 10/1 for a Magee win.
