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 bouts are supervised by a regulatory autho ...

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

1979 Pan American Games The 1979 Pan American Games (Spanish: ''Juegos Panamericanos de 1979''), officially the VIII Pan American Games were a multi-sport event governed by the Panam Sports Organization, and were held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from July 1 to July 15 ...

and a silver at the

1975 Pan American Games The 1975 Pan American Games were held in Mexico City, Mexico, from October 12 to October 26, 1975, exactly twenty years after the second Pan American Games were held there. It was the third major sporting event held in the Mexican capital in se ...

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 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 Summer Olympics in Moscow, and its allies later ...

. In 2007, he received one of 461

Congressional Gold Medal The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress. It is Congress's highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions. The congressional pract ...

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 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 McGuigan MBE (born 28 February 1961) is an Irish boxing promoter and former professional boxer. Born in Clones, Ireland, McGuigan was nicknamed ''The Clones Cyclone'' and held the WBA and lineal featherweight titles from 198 ...

, 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 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

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