Roddie “Big Pay” MacDonald was born in Springhill, Nova Scotia, in 1894. He was introduced to boxing by Glace Bay’s Police Chief Joseph MacInnis and spent many hours training in the Chief’s gym. MacDonald began his professional boxing career in 1911 with a second-round knockout in a bout with Alf White.

In 1912, he beat Billy Parsons in a tough 12-rounder, and the following year he knocked out several opponents on the way to becoming the 1913 Canadian Middleweight Champion. MacDonald fought more than 200 fights all over Canada and the United States. He was a cross between a street fighter and a ring fighter – he was said to fight like a mad man. Roddie MacDonald retired from boxing in 1928 and passed away in July 1961. He is an Original Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame Inductee.