Taylor Gordon (d. May 31, 2016) was a Canadian boxer, Olympic boxing coach and trainer. He was a prominent figure in Canadian amateur sports.
Taylor Gordon | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Died | May 31, 2016 |
| Nationality |  Canadian |
| Occupation | Boxing coach |
Early history
Taylor Gordon was born in the province of Saskatchewan.
In the mid-1940s, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy, where he served for 25 years.
Amateur boxing career
In 111 amateur boxing matches, he won 101 of them.
In February 1950, he competed at an amateur boxing event in Regina with the Melfort Boxing Club.[1]
He won the Canadian Forces title in 1950 in the lightweight division.
Coaching career
In 1967, he coached the Coverdale Boxing Club in New Brunswick.[2]
Gordon was appointed as the Canadian national Olympic boxing team's coach for the 1968 Olympics. After being relocated to Nova Scotia with the Navy in the early 1970s,[3] he opted to stay and founded the Citadel Amateur Boxing Club in 1972.[4] He was selected as the national team's head coach for four consecutive Olympics: 1980 in Moscow (which Canada boycotted),[5] 1984 in Los Angeles, 1988 in Seoul, and 1992 in Barcelona.[6] He resigned as the head coach after the 1992 Olympics[7] and served as an Olympic assistant coach in 1996 Olympics and 2000 Olympics.
He was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1996.[8]
Personal life
Wayne Gordon, a former Canadian welterweight boxer, is his son.
Death
Gordon died on Wednesday, May 31, 2016, at the age of 84 years old.[9]
Honors and awards
- Canadian Forces Lightweight Champion. (1950)
- Inductee of the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. (1996)
- 5-time Olympic boxing coach.