Joseph's Story
2/11/1949 – 27/11/2001
Joey Donovan, from near Kempsey, New South Wales, boxed in the light-flyweight division at Mexico City 1968. Still only 18 years of age, he comfortably won his first two bouts and performed admirably in the quarter-final, losing a close points decision to Hubert Skrzypczak of Poland. Given that three of the five members of the judging panel were from Communist countries, there were questions whether Joey was a victim of political bias as the Pole also came from an Eastern Bloc nation.
Joey’s first round opponent, who he defeated when the referee stopped the contest, was Hungarian Gyoray Gedó. Gedó went on to win the gold medal in the same division in Munich 1972.
Joey Donovan is a member of the Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame.
