When he was just 14 years old, Harold Kirby began his lightweight boxing career in Florence, SC. He would eventually be referred to as ‘a choir boy who turned into a fascinating boxing machine.’ He went on to participate in matches in Charleston, SC at County Hall and more matches beyond that.
At the time, his coach was Marion Galloway and his trainer was Angelo Dundee, and both claimed that they had never met anyone who could skip rope and keep beat to the music and run ten miles a day to stay in fighting shape.
Throughout his career, Kirby met several well-known people, such as John Denver, Ernest Hemingway, Muhammad Ali, Elvis Pressley, Ed Sullivan, and Joe Frazier. Frazier ultimately led Kirby to accept Jesus Christ into his life.
By the end of Kirby’s boxing career, he had 185 wins and only 5 losses. He ended his career at 18 and went into the military, where he served our country for four years.
Kirby has settled down in Manning, where he just celebrated his 81st birthday on Aug. 14. Kirby gives credit for his long life to exercise, taking care of his body, and Jesus Christ.
