*I originally posted this in the history forum but is definitely better suited here.*
Listed as Bill Keneally.
W.J. Kenealey, most often referred to as Billy, but also William Kenealey, was an amateur heavyweight boxer for the Olympic Club in San Francisco in the late 1880s. Kenealey trained as an amateur under James J. Corbett. He was referred to as both a blacksmith and a mechanic, and was also a sprinter for the Olympic Club.
A report for the only fight listed on his BOXREC, versus Alec Greggains, for the Amateur Heavyweight Championship of the Pacific Coast in 1889.
Here is a report from his fight with Joe Choynski for the Amateur Heavyweight Championship of the Pacific Coast in 1887.
According to James J. Corbett: A Biography of the Heavyweight Boxing Champion and Popular Theater Headliner The fight between Choynski and Kenealey was the beginning of Choynski James J. Corbett's early bitter rivalry, which came to a head with the pairs legendary Barge Fight in 1889.
Report of his appearance at a benefit for his old foe, with many other pugilists.
Kenealey spent most of 1888 trying to get a rematch with Choynski, but when the time came a broken hand for Billy forced the fight off. He was soundly defeated twice thereafter. He had one caceled bout in 1888, on November 27.
Report of his penultimate fight with Ed Lynch. This bout took place on the Choynski-Glover undercard.
Report of his final fight vs Jim Kitchen on November 14 1889.
His retirement was announced via The San Francisco Chronicle on January 27, 1890.
W.J. Kenealey was appointed to engine company 14 in the San Francisco Fire Department on June 15, 1889, and was serving as a captain by February of 1900.
In 1893 he had his eyes badly burned fighting a fire on Page Street. the flames consumed half a block and took 33-hours to tame. He also played a critical role in rescuing J.H. Rulffs from a burning building on Buchanan Street, emerging from the flames alongside Battalion Chief Dolan.
In 1914, he was instrumental in locating and returning a historic hand-pump fire engine to the city, which is now a centerpiece of the San Francisco Fire Department Museum.
In 1936 he was still working for the SFFD.