Wilson was a member of Immaculata Boxing Club of Belfast.[1] He represented Ulster and Ireland and was the Ulster middleweight champion.[2]
In March 1962, Wilson a bricklayer at the time, reached the final of the Irish middleweight championships, losing out to Willie Byrne in the final bout.[3]
He was selected for the 1962 Northern Irish team[4] for the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia.[5] He competed in the welterweight category[6] where he lost to eventual silver medallist Thomas Arimi of Ghana in the quarter-final round.[7]
Wilson turned professional and was the heavyweight champion of Northern Ireland in 1966.[8]
After retiring from boxing he took up refereeing until 2000[9] but struggled with illness afterwards.[10]
