Ray Close boxer

Ray Close boxer
bouts
29
won
25
lost
3
draw
1
Status
inactive
Division
super middleweight
Debut
1988-10-19
Height
5′ 10″/178cm
Reach
-
Age
-
Born
1969-01-20
Death
-
Nationality
United Kingdom

Ray Close (born 20 January 1969 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a British retired boxer who fought for most of his career in the Super Middleweight division, ending his career in the Light Heavyweight division. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly Mormon. He grew up in east Belfast and attended Knockbreda High School.Close turned professional in October 1988, winning his first fight at the Ulster Hall, Belfast, when he knocked out Manchester's Steve Foster in the second of six rounds on a card that included fellow Northern Irish boxers Eammon Loughran and Sam Storey.In his seventh bout he beat Rocky McGran to win the vacant Irish Super Middleweight title. He successfully defended the title against Terry Magee, the older brother of Eamonn and Noel, in Dublin in 1991. In 1993, he defeated Vincenzo Nardiello to win the EBU European Super Middleweight title in Italy.Later the same year Close faced Chris Eubank for the WBO Super Middleweight title. In what would be the first of his two fights against Eubank, the match was declared a draw. After an October win against Ray Domenge, Close again faced Eubank in a rematch at Belfast's King's Hall. Despite having the partisan Belfast crowd behind him, Close lost the match on a split points decision. Both fights with Eubank caused considerable controversy, as Eubank floored Close in the first and had him on the verge of a knockout, yet the fight was declared a draw. The second fight, in which Close performed better, was deemed a points loss.A third fight with Eubank was scheduled in 1995. However shortly before the match the British Boxing Board of Control revoked Close's licence after he failed an MRI scan. Two lesions were subsequently found on his brain. Although Close had his British licence revoked he obtained a licence in the US from the Illinois State Boxing Commission. Close generally fought journeyman boxers in the United States, and finished his career with a run of five straight victories with his last fight being against Cleveland's Larry Willis in which Close won by a knockout in the fifth of eight rounds.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
1997-06-07 Larry Willis DWLLL Hawthorne Race Course, Cicero WIN
Technical knockout
1997-05-09 David Pearson LLLLLL Expo Center, Dolton WIN
Technical knockout
1997-04-26 Donald Tucker WLLLLL Hawthorne Race Course, Cicero WIN
KO
1996-11-15 Jake Torrance LLLDLL Fiesta Palace, Waukegan WIN
Unanimous decision
1996-10-26 Terry Ford WLLWLW Union Hall, Countryside WIN
Unanimous decision
1994-05-21 Chris Eubank WWWDDW Kings Hall, Belfast LOST
Split-decision
1993-10-16 Ray Domenge WLWWWW Kings Hall, Belfast WIN
Technical knockout
1993-05-15 Chris Eubank WWWWWW Scottish Exhibition Centre, Glasgow DRAW
Split-decision
1993-03-17 Vincenzo Nardiello LWWWWW Campione d'Italia WIN
Technical knockout
1992-12-18 Jean-Roger Tsidjo WWWWWW Zenith d'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand WIN
Points
1992-07-03 Frank Nicotra WWWWWW Pontault Combault LOST
Technical knockout
1992-04-25 Ian Chantler WLWLLL Maysfield Leisure Centre, Belfast WIN
Technical knockout
1991-12-11 Terry Magee WWWWLL National Stadium, Dublin WIN
Technical knockout
1991-11-13 Simon Collins LLLLLL Maysfield Leisure Centre, Belfast WIN
Points
1991-09-07 Carlos Christie LWWLWL Maysfield Leisure Centre, Belfast WIN
Points
1991-05-11 Carlos Christie WLWWLW Maysfield Leisure Centre, Belfast WIN
Points
1990-09-15 Ray Webb WWWL Kings Hall, Belfast WIN
Points
1990-05-23 Rocky McGran WWWWLL Kings Hall, Belfast WIN
Corner retirement
1990-03-17 Denys Cronin WLWLWL Kings Hall, Belfast WIN
Points
1990-02-21 Frank Eubank LLWW Ulster Hall, Belfast WIN
Points
1989-12-13 Denys Cronin LLWLWL Sports Centre, Kirkby LOST
Points
1989-11-29 Seamus Casey WWLLLW Ulster Hall, Belfast WIN
KO
1989-10-31 Rocky McGran WWWWWL Ulster Hall, Belfast WIN
Technical knockout
1989-09-19 Gary Pemberton LWLLLW Ulster Hall, Belfast WIN
Points
1989-04-12 Dennis White LWWW Ulster Hall, Belfast WIN
Technical knockout
1989-03-08 Andy Wright LWWLLL Ulster Hall, Belfast WIN
Technical knockout
1989-01-25 BK Bennett LLLLLL Ulster Hall, Belfast WIN
Technical knockout
1988-12-14 Kevin Roper LWLDLL Sports Centre, Kirkby WIN
Points
1988-10-19 Steve Foster WLWLLL Ulster Hall, Belfast WIN
Technical knockout