Christy Elliott competed in the men’s light-middleweight boxing at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, winning his opening bout before being stopped in the second round of his next contest in what was described as one of the best rounds of boxing of the entire Munich Games.

The only member of the Irish boxing team to return undefeated from the USA training camp, Elliott arrived in Munich ‘fitter than ever before.’ After a hesitant start against Farouk Kesrouani of Lebanon he finished strongly for a comfortable victory, before facing Mexico’s Villanueva.

Elliott won the opening round and put the Mexican on the floor early in the second, with Villanueva also receiving a public warning. The bout then erupted into an extraordinary exchange in which a frenzy of uncountable punches were traded. The strength and combination punching of Villanueva eventually took its toll: Elliott was rescued by two standing counts, and in the final round, having allowed himself to be caught on the ropes where he was battered, the referee stopped the bout.