SCOTLAND’S only Olympic boxing champion Dick McTaggart has died at the age of 89.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest amateur boxers that Great Britain has ever produced the Dundonian clinched lightweight gold at the Melbourne Games in 1956 at just 21 years old. His performance in the competition also earned him the prestigious Val Barker trophy awarded to the most outstanding boxer of the Games across all weight classes.
McTaggart along with Terry Spinks, John McCormack, Tommy Nicholls and Nicky Gargano all returned home with medals making it a stellar year for British amateur boxing.
In an interview with The Courier in 2021 McTaggart said, “I had collected my gold medal and wanted to go away and celebrate with Terry Spinks, who had also won gold, but I was told by the officials: ‘Do not leave the hall, there might be a wee surprise for you’.
“Then, later on, they announced that I had won the Val Barker Trophy and that meant more to the British delegation that any of the other medals and prizes, because no British competitor had ever won it before.
“And I reckon that I must have filled the trophy up with champagne about 150 times that night as everybody celebrated.”
The Scot would compete at two more Olympics winning bronze at the 1960 Games in Rome but in Tokyo four years later he was eliminated in the third round by eventual champion, Jerzy Kulej.
McTaggart’s amateur record read 634 bouts with an astonishing 610 wins. In 1965 he would retire at the age of 30 having won a number of competitions including Armed Force titles during his time in the RAF, ABA titles, gold at the 1960 British, Empire and Commonwealth Games, the European amateur title and many more.
In 2019 McTaggart received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards in recognition of his amazing boxing career.
Nowadays, a boxer of his talent and ability would have promoters lined up around the world to sign him but McTaggart never did turn professional.
The McTaggart family confirmed to The Courier he had passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning. Their statement read, “In loving memory of Dick McTaggart, a cherished husband, father, grandfather and friend.
“A true gentleman and legend in the boxing world.
“His kindness determination, humour and spirit will never be forgotten.
“He will be deeply missed but forever in our hearts. Rest peacefully.”
Boxing commentator Andy Clarke announced the news at today British Boxing Board of Control Awards in London and paid tribute to McTaggart.
“He was a phenomenon,” before asking the audience to stand and applaud the great man.
Main pic: McTaggart (L) pictured with Anthony Joshua – Photo by Philip Sharkey
