ImaSportsphile receive lots of comments about our boxing libray….which will eventually feature 620 vintage world championship title fights from the golden age of boxing (1964 – 1995)….but surprisingly enough, many are in regards to the amateur boxing videos we post….so, we are sure that this one herewith will bring us some more comments….for these are three pretty darn good amateur boxers in Jackie Beard, Richard Sandavol and Benard Taylor….who are competing in the 1983 Pan American Games.
Jackie Beard was an amateur boxing standout in the late 1970s….who won the National AAU in the bantamweight division in 1978, 1979, and 1980….and the bantamweight championship in the 1978 National Golden Gloves Tournament. Beard qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic boxing team….but like so many athletes who got their dreams robbed by a “peanut farming politician’s presidential edict” that dictated the U.S. boycott of the Moscow summer games….preventing him and the rest of the 1980 US Olympic Boxing Team from the international competition….as Beard initially was supportive of the boycott….but later expressed disappointment that athletes were denied the opportunity to showcase their talents….to which this lil ole chiweenie Sportsphile believes the boycott was the worst decision ever made by a US President. In 2007, Jackie Beard received one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the spurned athletes….which is like kissing your sister….there just ain’t much to it.
Richard Sandoval was a two-time National Golden Gloves Champion in 1979 and 1980….who went on to win the National AAU Championship at Light Flyweight….and then in the Flyweight division….who also qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team but “robbed by a peanut farmer”….who received his “political congressional token” for the atrocity of the boycott.
Bernard Taylor had an incredible career as an amateur boxer, compiling a record of 481-8….who won the 1972 National Junior Olympics Light Flyweight champion….the 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….and guess what!?!….he too got “stripped of his dreams” and attempted to be bought off by a congressional medal.
Any way you cut the pie….this video is footage of three truly talented boxers is a rare treasure in our boxing library vault at ImaSportsphile….which makes it MUST SEE TV for any and all boxing fans.
