An archive of memorabilia relating to the Ulster boxing manager and trainer Jackie Leckey, including 1940s correspondence regarding boxing matches wit

An archive of memorabilia relating to the Ulster boxing manager and trainer Jackie Leckey, including 1940s correspondence regarding boxing matches with promoters including Bob Gardiner and Gerald D. Egan and the British Boxing Board of Control for bouts involving Tommy Armour, Jimmy Ingle, Patsy Quinn, George Watters, Jim Doran, Jim Nugent, Charles Meikle, Tommy Elliott, Soldier Jones, Spike McCormack, Dave Warnock, Freddy Price, Al Lyttle, Matt Locke etc. ; B.B.B. of C. boxing licence application forms for Jack McCutcheon; signed fight contracts for Charlie Brown, Tommy Armour, Dave Warnock, Jim Fredericks, Jim Dunlop, Jim Thompson, Joe Bloomfield, Billy Irvine etc. and including a hand written Tommy Armour boxing agreement for the fight against Jimmy Ingle; also telegrams, admittance passes, various photographs (some framed) and postcards including examples signed by the boxers, Jackie Leckey's boxers' management licence and travel permit, fight programmes, press cuttings, a restored fight poster and a picture of King George VI, all in all a fascinating insight into the Belfast boxing scene of the 1940s This archive is a poignant reminder of the tough world of Irish boxing back in the 1930s and 1940s, when on a regular basis many boxers would enter the ring being offer ?1 per round for eight to ten rounds fights and be expected to contest a bout every week! This was the era of the 'hungry boxer' who fought to survive and to feed his family. At this time boxers including Benny Lynch, Tommy Armour and Jimmy Warnock were under the watchful eyes of trainer and manager Jackie Leckey who, in a small terraced house in Belfast, would prepare his fighters for battle. In a rudimentary hands-on approach to get his boxers down to a fighting weight, Leckey would start a blazing fire in the hearth of the kitchen strip down to a pair of shorts whilst heavily clothing his boxer in layers of heavy pullovers. Leckey would then wrestle with his charge until the fighter lost sufficient weight through copious sweating. Further training and preparation took place in Belfast's King's Hall, Ulster Hall and at Cliftonville football ground. The King's Hall is where famously Jimmy Warnock beat Benny Lynch. Warnock was presented with a painted and silver leaf picture of King George VI in addition to his purse by promoter Bo McAlevey. This picture is included in this lot. All the material in this lot remained with Jackie Leckey until he himself was 'counted out' on 12th December 1985. Although Jackie and all his boxing friends and associates have passed away, the memorabilia in this lot leaves a legacy and a memorial to this hard, brave band of men for future generations of boxing enthusiasts to study and to enjoy.