Austin Killeen

Name: Austin Killeen
Alias: Killer
Hometown: Massachusetts, USA
Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
Died: 2025-05-15 (Age:82)
Pro Boxer: Record

Austin Killeen had a long and diverse career in boxing -- serving as a boxer, referee, judge, researcher, and writer.

His love for the sport began in 1950, at the age of eight, when he watched the Ezzard Charles vs. Joe Louis title fight with his father, grandfather, uncles, and older cousins. Watching this fight on his parents' 12-inch black-and-white Admiral television ignited a lifelong passion for boxing.

At the age of nineteen, Austin had one amateur fight and later participated in matches while stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. After his discharge, he became a sparring partner for light heavyweight contender Eddie “Redtop” Owens in Springfield, Massachusetts. When he moved to Fitchburg, Massachusetts, to pursue a teaching career, he was given the opportunity to turn professional at the age of thirty-four.

When a fighter dropped out of a boxing card scheduled for March 12, 1977, in Fitchburg, promoter Sam Silverman—who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2002—offered Austin the chance to fill in with only seven days' notice. Austin did not disappoint; he won his professional debut against Phil Hart by knockout in the first round.

Over the next three years, Austin fought professionally, gaining considerable publicity due to his age and unique background. He was ranked #7 in the New England middleweight ratings by Malcolm “Flash” Gordon in his publication, “Tonight’s Boxing Program.”

In 2005, Austin became a member of the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO). The following year, he began interviewing retired boxers for IBRO's quarterly magazine/journal. He loved writing about each fighter's experiences, both inside and outside the ring, which led to close friendships with many of the boxers he covered. In 2011, he started writing a weekly column focused on the boxing scene in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas, playing a crucial role in revitalizing interest in the sport by covering all professional and New Mexico Golden Gloves tournaments.

In recognition of his significant contributions to boxing, Austin was inducted into the New Mexico Boxing Hall of Fame in 2015.

[Above from IBRO.]

Notes

• Sparring partner for light-heavyweight contender Eddie Owens.
• Ranked #7 in New England middleweight ratings by Malcolm "Flash" Gordon in his publication "Tonight's Boxing Program."
• Trained by Arthur Ramalho and Gardner Brooks.
• Was a Fitchburg, Massachusetts, school teacher during his active fistic career.
• Authored numerous articles for the IBRO Journal. Sample article: [1]
• Austin Killeen Photo Gallery: [2]