Peter Foran was from Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, and grew up in Mullingar, Westmeath. He started boxing at a young age and won a national junior welterweight title in 1946. Two of his brothers, Tommy and Sean also were active in boxing and winners of national junior titles in 1940 and 1954.
A member of St Andrews Boxing Club in Dublin, Foran competed in the 1947 National Irish championships and gained notice after defeating the defending welterweight titleholder, Tom Hyde, but ultimately lost in his quest for the championship title. The next year, he won the Irish Championship in the welterweight division, defeating George Scanlon of Whitehall Boxing Club. Foran was also selected for the Irish Olympic boxing delegation that year and competed in the welterweight division, defeating Egyptian Gharib Afifi in the first round, but eventually losing to eventual bronze medal winner Hank Herring in the second round. He later worked in the radio and television industry in Dublin.
Boxing
