At the age of 79, Olympic bronze medalist Jim McCourt passed away. The Belfast southpaw, sometimes referred to as “The Prince of the Immaculata,” played for Ireland in the 1964 and 1968 Olympics. He earned seven Irish senior championships and a bronze medal at the 1965 European Championships in East Germany. He was a well-liked athlete.
He was devoted to the amateur game and representing Ireland despite years of attempts to sign him by professional promoters, including the powerful Barney Eastwood. In Japan, McCourt advanced to the semifinals by defeating Bun-Nam Suh of Korea, Ghulam Sarwar of Pakistan, and Domingo Barrera of Spain. To advance to the final, Soviet great Vilikton Barannikov defeated him in a split decision. McCourt won the lightweight bronze medal.
Who is Jim McCourt? Olympic boxing bronze medallist dies at the age of 79
Olympic bronze medalist in boxing Jim McCourt passes away at age 79. A medal was won by Jim McCourt (right) in 1964 at the Tokyo Olympics. Jim McCourt, a boxer from Belfast who earned a bronze medal for Ireland in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, has passed away, according to news reports. He was 79.