Dick McTaggart dead aged 89: Tributes pour in after Britain’s best-ever amateur boxer and Olympic gold medallist dies
BRITAIN'S greatest amateur boxer Dick McTaggart has sadly passed away aged 89.
The Scottish slugger's passing was announced by his family in an emotional social media statement.
It 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.”
Tributes poured in for the late McTaggart from around the boxing world.
Boxing commentator Andy Clarke said of McTaggart at the BBBOC Awards in London: “He was a phenomenon."
McTaggart had a truly incredible career, which consisted of a whopping 634 fights.
His finest achievement came at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, where he became the first Scottish boxer to win a gold medal.
McTaggart made Scot's Olympic history at the tender age of 21.
Recalling his triumph in a 2021 interview with The Courier, he 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.”
He'd competed at the Rome Olympics four years later but left the Eternal City with a bronze.
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