Barney Eastwood

Bernard Joseph Eastwood[1] (1932 – 9 March 2020) was an Irish bookmaker and boxing promoter. Eastwood was introduced to boxing through weekly shows at a US air base near his home and by the tutelage he received from a school teacher from County Cork.

Eastwood was born in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. By age 19 he was married to his wife Frances and living in Carrickfergus, where he ran a pub and helped operate a local boxing club. In the late 1950s he organised small boxing shows in Belfast.[2]

He later became well known as a successful bookmaker. Among the boxers he promoted were Barry McGuigan and Dave McAuley. After McGuigan's unexpected defeat to Steve Cruz in Las Vegas, their relationship deteriorated, leading to a costly legal dispute.[3] Eastwood was represented by media lawyer Paul Tweed.[4]

During the 1980s and 1990s, Eastwood ran "Eastwood's Gym" along with John Breen on Belfast's King Street.[5] In February 2008 it was announced that Eastwood would be selling his chain of 54 betting shops to the UK chain Ladbrokes for £135 million.[6]

He died in Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, on the outskirts of Belfast on 9 March 2020, aged 87, after a short illness.[7][8][9]

Notable fighters promoted

References

  1. ^ "Bernard Eastwood. Deceased Estates". The Gazette. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  2. ^ "Barney Eastwood obituary: Boxing promoter and savvy businessman". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ^ Tómas Rohan. "Barry McGuigan". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 May 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2006.
  4. ^ "Paul Tweed, UK". Chambers Rankings. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Interview: Belfast Boxing Coach John Breen - Trainer of Five World Champions". Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Thank you very much for the memories, Mr Eastwood". Irish Independent. 22 January 2001. Retrieved 28 May 2006.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ^ "Boxing promoter and bookmaker Barney Eastwood dies". York Press. Retrieved 9 March 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ^ "Barney Eastwood: Boxing promoter and businessman dies". BBC News. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Boxing promoter Barney Eastwood dies aged 87". Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). 9 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.


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