Damaen Kelly competed in the men’s flyweight boxing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, reaching the quarter-finals before losing 13-6 to Bolat Zhumadilov of Kazakhstan – the world’s top-ranked amateur flyweight at the time.

From Belfast and coached by Michael Hawkins at Holy Trinity Boxing Club, Kelly was supported by the Olympic Aid-Atlanta Scheme and was regarded alongside Brian Magee as one of Ireland’s two potential medallists. He had won a bronze medal at the 1996 European Championships in Vejle, which also served as his automatic Olympic qualification. He came under serious pressure in his opening bout, requiring a superb comeback performance to defeat Bulgaria’s Julian Strogov 12-11, before winning more comfortably against Hussein Hussein of Australia.

Kelly subsequently turned professional in September 1997 under the mentorship of Mickey Hawkins and won the Commonwealth flyweight title and then the WBO world flyweight title, becoming one of Belfast’s most celebrated professional champions.