Harry Devine
Name: Harry Devine
Birth Name: Harold George Devine
Hometown: Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Birthplace: New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Died: 1998-04-29 (Age:88)
Stance: Southpaw
Pro Boxer: Record
Amateur Boxer: Record
Harry Devine was national AAU featherweight champion in 1928 and represented the United States in the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. There he defeated Fausto Montefiori of Italy in the Second Round and Kaarlo Vakeva of Finland in the Third Round. In the Semi-Final Round on Aug 10 he was beaten by Bep van Klaveren, who went on to take the Gold Medal, despite flooring van Klaveren in the second round. (van Klaveren had a 27-year professional career and held the European welterweight title.) Thus, Devine was bronze medalist in the featherweight divsion.
As a professional, Devine was handicapped by being a southpaw who was avoided by other good fighters. Hand injuries held him back and he lost twice on cut eyes. Despite this he won the New England welterweight title in 1934 by defeating Werther Arcelli and defended it successfully against Pancho Villa of New Bedford, Massaschustts and Werther Arcelli (Draw 10) before losing it to Frankie Britt. In 1935 he went to Australia, where he suffered two severe setbacks and then retired from the ring.
Olympic games results
1928 (as a featherweight)
- 1st round bye
- Defeated Fausto Montefiore (Italy) PTS
- Defeated Kaarlo Vakeva (Finland) PTS
- Lost to Bep van Klaveren (Netherlands) PTS (semifinal match)
- Defeated Lucien Biquet (Belgium) PTS (bronze medal match)
| Preceded by: Christopher Battaglia |
National AAU Featherweight Champion 1928 |
Succeeded by: Martin Zuniga |