Tom McNeece (born August 25, 1958) [1] was a professional American Light Heavyweight boxer from Oakdale, Long Island, New York. McNeece had an extensive amateur career before turning professional.
Oakdale is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 7,974 at the 2010 census. Oakdale is in the Town of Islip. It has been home to Gilded Age mansions, the South Side Sportsmen's Club, and the main campus of Dowling College. It is now home to Connetquot River State Park Preserve.
Long Island is a densely populated island off the East Coast of the United States, beginning at New York Harbor approximately 0.35 miles (0.56 km) from Manhattan Island and extending eastward into the Atlantic Ocean. The island comprises four counties in the U.S. state of New York. Kings and Queens Counties and Nassau County share the western third of the island, while Suffolk County occupies the eastern two-thirds. More than half of New York City's residents now live on Long Island, in Brooklyn and Queens. However, many people in the New York metropolitan area colloquially use the term Long Island to refer exclusively to Nassau and Suffolk Counties, which are mainly suburban in character, conversely employing the term the City to mean Manhattan alone.
New York is a state in the Northeastern United States. New York was one of the original thirteen colonies that formed the United States. With an estimated 19.54 million residents in 2018, it is the fourth most populous state. In order to distinguish the state from the city with the same name, it is sometimes referred to as New York State.
On June 9, 1977 at the Embassy Hall in North Bergen, New Jersey McNeece had his first professional fight. He won a four round decision over Mike Pittman. Two weeks later McNeece won a four round decision over Al Ware at Madison Square Garden in New York City. On February 4, 1978 McNeece won a disputed four round decision over a very tough Cornell Chavis at Madison Square Garden.
North Bergen is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 60,773, reflecting an increase of 2,681 (+4.6%) from the 58,092 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 9,678 (+20.0%) from the 48,414 counted in the 1990 Census. The town was founded in 1843. It was much diminished in territory by a series of secessions. Situated on the Hudson Palisades, it is one of the "hilliest" municipalities in the United States. Like neighboring North Hudson communities, North Bergen is among those places in the nation with the highest population density and a majority Hispanic population.
Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or in initials as MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. Located in Midtown Manhattan between 7th and 8th Avenues from 31st to 33rd Streets, it is situated atop Pennsylvania Station. It is the fourth venue to bear the name "Madison Square Garden"; the first two were located on Madison Square, on East 26th Street and Madison Avenue, with the third Madison Square Garden (1925) further uptown at Eighth Avenue and 50th Street.
The City of New York, usually called either New York City (NYC) or simply New York (NY), is the most populous city in the United States, as well as the second-most populous city in North America, second only to Mexico City. With an estimated 2018 population of 8,398,748 distributed over a land area of about 302.6 square miles (784 km2), New York is also the most densely populated major city in the United States. Located at the southern tip of the state of New York, the city is the center of the New York metropolitan area, the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban landmass and one of the world's most populous megacities, with an estimated 20,320,876 people in its 2017 Metropolitan Statistical Area and 23,876,155 residents in its Combined Statistical Area. A global power city, New York City has been described as the cultural, financial, and media capital of the world, and exerts a significant impact upon commerce, entertainment, research, technology, education, politics, tourism, art, fashion, and sports. The city's fast pace has inspired the term New York minute. Home to the headquarters of the United Nations, New York is an important center for international diplomacy.
McNeece was unbeaten in his first eleven fights with nine wins and two draws.
McNeece lost his first fight on May 22, 1980 at the Ice World in Totowa, New Jersey when he was TKO'd in the second round by Tony Mesoraca. McNeece bounced back from his first loss and TKO'd Elijah Hamm in one round at Glen Cove, Long Island, New York.
Totowa is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 10,844, reflecting an increase of 912 (+9.2%) from the 9,892 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 285 (-2.8%) from the 10,177 counted in the 1990 Census.
In his next fight McNeece was knocked out by undefeated Euclides Valdez in the fifth round at the Felt Forum in New York City. On May 28, 1981 McNeece knocked out John Gallagher in four rounds at the Colonie Hill Catering Hall in Hauppauge, Long Island, New York.
Hauppauge is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the towns of Islip and Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 20,882 at the time of the 2010 census.
In a rematch with Euclides Valdez on April 16, 1982 at the Felt Forum McNeece was again defeated on a fourth round technical knockout.
During his professional career McNeece boxed three times at Madison Square Garden in New York City and boxed three times in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Atlantic City is a resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, known for its casinos, boardwalk, and beaches. In 2010, the city had a population of 39,558. It was incorporated on May 1, 1854, from portions of Egg Harbor Township and Galloway Township. It borders Absecon, Brigantine, Pleasantville, Ventnor City, Egg Harbor Township, and the Atlantic Ocean.
McNeece came from a fighting family. His father Billy McNeece was a professional Middleweight who boxed in the 1950s. His brother Jimmy McNeece was a 1976 New York Golden Gloves Champion and was also a professional boxer.
Tom McNeece's unofficial professional record was thirteen wins four losses and three draws.
