It is with a heavy heart that I share the sad news of the passing of our dear friend and fellow boxing historian, Austin Killeen. He passed away peacefully this morning, surrounded by his three children.
Austin had a long and diverse career in boxing, serving as a boxer, referee, judge, researcher, and writer. His love for the sport began in 1950, at the age of eight, when he watched the Joe Louis-Ezzard Charles title fight with his father, grandfather, uncles, and older cousins. Watching this fight on his parents’ 12-inch black-and-white Admiral television ignited a lifelong passion for boxing.
At the age of nineteen, Austin had one amateur fight and later participated in matches while stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. After his discharge, he became a sparring partner for light heavyweight contender Eddie “Redtop” Owens in Springfield, Massachusetts. When he moved to Fitchburg, Massachusetts, to pursue a teaching career, he was given the opportunity to turn professional at the age of thirty-four.
When a fighter dropped out of a boxing card scheduled for March 12, 1977, in Fitchburg, promoter Sam Silverman—who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2002—offered Austin the chance to fill in with only seven days’ notice. Austin did not disappoint; he won his professional debut against Phil Hart by knockout in the first round.
Over the next three years, Austin fought professionally, gaining considerable publicity due to his age and unique background. He was ranked #7 in the New England middleweight ratings by Malcolm “Flash” Gordon in his publication, “Tonight’s Boxing Program.”
In 2005, Austin became a member of the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO). The following year, he began interviewing retired boxers for IBRO’s quarterly magazine. He enjoyed writing about each fighter’s experiences, both inside and outside the ring, which led to the formation of close friendships with many of the boxers he covered.
In 2011, he started writing a weekly column focused on the boxing scene in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. His articles significantly contributed to rekindling interest in the sport by covering all professional bouts as well as the New Mexico Golden Gloves tournaments.
In 2015, Austin was inducted into the New Mexico Boxing Hall of Fame in recognition of his significant contributions to boxing.
Austin was a respected member of the IBRO and will be deeply missed by his family and everyone in the boxing community whose lives he touched.
Rest in Peace!
Dan Cuoco