Career
He held the WBU light-welterweight title and challenged once for the Commonwealth light-welterweight title. Neary fought as an amateur from the age of 15, compiling a record of 21 fights and 3 losses. Neary made his professional debut on 3 September 1992, defeating fellow debutant Simon Ford by knockout in the first round.
He made five defences of the title, all televised nationally on Independent Television"s The Big Fight Live.
On 11 March 2000, Neary fought Micky Ward as part of the undercard to Naseem Hamed versus Vuyani Bungu. This brought Neary international exposure for the first time, as the event was televised in the United States by Home Box Office on their World Championship Boxing series.
In a high-paced, action-packed slugfest, Ward handed Neary his first loss by stopping him in the eighth round. The fight was dramatised in the 2010 film The Fighter, with Anthony Molinari playing the part of Neary.
However, Neary had struggled to make weight before the fight, and was quoted as having lacked motivation coming in.
The result, judged by referee Roy Francis, was viewed as controversial.
