Bob Rooney
Name: Bob Rooney
Birth Name: Robert Rooney
Hometown: Bayonne, New Jersey, USA
Birthplace: Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
Died: 2018-04-11 (Age:72)
Pro Boxer: Record
Bob was a life-long Bayonne resident. Bob served in the US Marine Corps from 1963-1967, serving in Vietnam 1965-1966. He was awarded a Purple Heart in 1965. After being discharged he started boxing. He made it to the quarterfinals in the 1970 NY Golden Gloves. (Bob's two sons fought in the Golden Gloves finals.) In 1970 Bob started to volunteer at the Bayonne PAL. He became Head Coach in 1984. He trained 23 Golden Gloves Champions,18 Diamond Glove Champions, 5 Amateur Club Champions and State Champions in 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1996. Bob served as Chuck Wepner's sparring partner for 13 years and as chief sparring partner for the Muhammad Ali fight in 1975. He trained and managed Nino Gonzales from the age of 12 up to and including his 10 round fight with Roberto Duran. Bob retired from the Bayonne PAL in 2007. His son Bobby Rooney was a light heavyweight from 2003 to 2011 and ended his career with a record of 12-3-1. Bob was also a Professional Fighter himself and was undefeated with a record of 2-0. In 2017 Bob was inducted to the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame.