Nedder Healey began his boxing career as an amateur in 1919, boxing at Saint Mary’s club. He competed in the Canadian Amateur Boxing Championships in 1920 before finally turning professional in 1923. Unlike his counterparts from the United States, Healey did not have a professional coach.
Instead, Healey learned by watching and imitating other boxing greats like Tom Foley, Roddy MacDonald, and George Latham. In 1923, Healey became the Canadian Welterweight Boxing Champion. Due to his success as a professional, he had countless offers to move to the United States and fight abroad.
Being a true “hometown boy”, Nedder rejected the offers as he did not want to leave Halifax. Healey weighed only 142 pounds, but used his cleverness in the ring to consistently lead him to a victory against middleweight boxers. Many of his bouts were against opponents who were noted for their punching ability, but they were outwitted by Healey’s cleverness.
Healey fought over 225 amateur and professional bouts throughout his career. He lost no more than 8 pro fights throughout his career and was never knocked off his feet.
Upon his retirement from the ring, Healey utilized his knowledge of boxing to become a coach at the Nova Scotia Technical College and at Dalhousie University. He also did a great deal of refereeing and training. Nedder Healey passed away in August, 1962 and is an Original Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame Inductee.
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• Turned to professional boxing in 1923
• Healey coached himself by imitating other boxers
• 1923 Canadian Welterweight Boxing Champion
• Used cleverness in the ring to win his bouts
• Lost only 8 professional bouts in his career
• Coached at NSTC and Dalhousie
• Valuable referee and trainor