Billy “Spider” Kelly and (left) his father, Jimmy “Spider” Kelly.
Planners have given the go-ahead for a memorial to be erected in Derry in tribute to city’s legendary father-and-son boxers Jimmy and Billy Kelly, both affectionately known as “Spider.”
Derry City Council have been given the green light to erect a granite plinth with two granite planters at the top of Waterloo Street, opposite Butcher Gate in the city centre.
Jim “Spider” Kelly fought at feather, light, welter and middleweight during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, winning the Irish flyweight title, British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) Northern Ireland Area featherweight title, BBBofC British featherweight title, and British Empire featherweight title.
His professional fighting weight varied from 125 3⁄4 lbs (57.0 kg; 8 st 13.8 lb), i.e. featherweight to 148 1⁄2 lbs (67.4 kg; 10 st 8.5 lb), i.e. Middleweight.[1]
Billy uniquely emulated his father’s 1930s triumphs by winning the Commonwealth (British Empire) featherweight title in 1954 and the British title at the same weight in 1955.
Jim “Spider” Kelly
Nickname: Spider
Rated at: Feather/light/welter/middleweight
Born: 25 February 1912, Derry, Northern Ireland
Total fights: 168
Wins: 120 (knockouts 26)
Losses: 35 (knockouts 14)
Draws: 12
No contests: 1
William (Billy) Kelly
Nickname: Spider
Rated at: Featherweight
Born: 21 April, 1932, Derry, Northern IrelandDied
Died: 7 May 2010 (aged 78)
Total fights: 84
Wins: 56 (knockouts 15)
Losses: 24
Draws: 4
Tags:
