He won the British and Commonwealth heavyweight championship in 1972 when he defeated Jack Bodell in two rounds at Aston Villa football ground.
[4] In 1966, McAlinden represented Northern Ireland at the Kingston British Empire and Commonwealth Games, winning a bronze medal in the heavyweight division.
[5] He turned professional in 1969 and, in his second fight, stopped future British champion Richard Dunn.
On the program of the Joe Frazier versus Muhammad Ali I bout on 8 March 1971 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, McAlinden outpointed Ali's brother, Rahaman, undefeated in seven fights, after six rounds in a contest for rising boxers.
[6] McAlinden was at one time considered a potential opponent for world champion George Foreman's first title defence.