Bernard Taylor (born June 26, 1957) is an American former

professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional fights are supervised by a regulatory auth ...

. As an amateur, he won a gold medal at the

1979 Pan American Games The 1979 Pan American Games, officially the VIII Pan American Games () and commonly known as San Juan 1979, were a multi-sport event governed by the Panam Sports Organization (PASO), and were held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from July 1 to Jul ...

and a silver at the

1975 Pan American Games The 1975 Pan American Games, officially known as the VII Pan American Games () and commonly known as Mexico 1975 (), were held in Mexico City, Mexico, from October 12 to October 26, 1975, exactly twenty years after the second Pan American Games ...

Amateur career

Taylor had an incredible career as an amateur boxer, compiling a record of 481–8. Taylor qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team but was unable to compete due to the

1980 Summer Olympics boycott The 1980 Summer Olympics boycott was the largest boycott in Olympic history and one part of a number of actions initiated by the United States to protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The Soviet Union, which hosted the 1980 Summ ...

. In 2007, he received one of 461

Congressional Gold Medal The Congressional Gold Medal is the oldest and highest civilian award in the United States, alongside the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is bestowed by vote of the United States Congress, signed into law by the president. The Gold Medal exp ...

s created especially for the spurned athletes.

Amateur Highlights

*1972 National Junior Olympics Light Flyweight champion *1976 Duel Soviet Union vs USA-Moscow January 24 *1976 National AAU Bantamweight champion *1976 National Golden Gloves Bantamweight champion *1977 National Golden Gloves Featherweight champion *1978 National Golden Gloves Featherweight champion *1979 National AAU Featherweight champion *1980 National Golden Gloves Featherweight champion.

Professional career

Taylor turned pro in 1980 and was undefeated in 18 fights when he was given a shot at Panama's

Eusebio Pedroza Eusebio Pedroza (March 2, 1956 – March 1, 2019) was a Panamanian boxer who held the World Boxing Association, WBA and lineal featherweight championship from 1978 to 1985, having defended the title against 18 different contenders, more than any ...

for the W.B.A. featherweight championship of the world. The fight took place in Taylor's hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina in October 1982. After building a lead in the first ten rounds of the fight, Taylor faded down the stretch and had to settle for a draw. Three years later, Taylor was still undefeated in 34 fights (33-0-1) when he was given another shot at the WBA featherweight championship. This time, the champion was Ireland's

Barry McGuigan Finbar Patrick "Barry" McGuigan MBE (born 28 February 1961) is an Irish boxing promoter and former professional boxer. Born in Clones, County Monaghan, McGuigan was nicknamed ''The Clones Cyclone'' and held the WBA and lineal featherweight ...

, who had dethroned Pedroza 3 months earlier. Taylor failed to come out for the 9th round, and lost via TKO. After several years and a couple of lengthy layoffs, Taylor earned a 3rd opportunity at a world championship against IBF junior lightweight champion

John John Molina Juan Molina (born March 17, 1965), better known as John John Molina in the world of boxing, is a former boxer whose career transcended boxing in Puerto Rico. A multiple time world champion, this boxer was also known as quite a socialite. Molina ...

in 1993. Taylor again came up short via TKO in the 8th round. He retired following a loss in his next bout in 1994. Taylor did manage to win the NABF featherweight and the USBA junior lightweight titles, coming from behind to stop Calvin Grove in the latter fight.

References

* 1957 births Living people Boxers from North Carolina Featherweight boxers Super-featherweight boxers Boxers from Charlotte, North Carolina American male boxers African-American boxers Boxers at the 1975 Pan American Games Boxers at the 1979 Pan American Games Medalists at the 1975 Pan American Games Medalists at the 1979 Pan American Games Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in boxing Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States in boxing 21st-century African-American sportsmen 20th-century African-American sportsmen {{US-boxing-bio-stub