Meldrick Taylor
USA
Boxing
Overall Ranks
#40 among American Olympians
#4 among Boxers
#1 among American boxers
Olympic Results
1984
Featherweight - Gold
Total
Events - 1
Gold - 1
Meldrick Taylor was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 19, 1966, and took up boxing at an early age, along with 2 of his brothers. When he qualified to box in the 1984 Olympics, he was only 17 years old, but already had an amateur record of 99-4.
The field for the 1984 Olympics was somewhat watered down due to the Soviet-led boycott, but there were still several strong fighters present, and Taylor had no trouble at all in his first two bouts, winning both by unanimous decision.
He won his third match by TKO, which moved him into the semifinals, and he had no trouble with his opponent there either, winning another unanimous decision to move into the final against Peter Konyegwachie of Nigeria. Once again, he dominated his opponent, earning another unanimous decision and a gold medal.
Right after the Olympics, Taylor turned pro, and earned his first pro victory less than a month after turning 18. He eventually won the IBF light welterweight title in 1988, which he held for 18 months before challenging Julio Cesar Chavez, who held the same title in the WBC. Taylor led throughout the fight, but lost by TKO with just 2 seconds left, giving both titles to Chavez, and leaving Taylor with his first pro loss.
He continued fighting for the next 12 years, and even had a rematch with Chavez for the title in 1994, but he lost again, and he retired after his 8th career loss, when he was 35 years old. Like many boxers, he only competed in the Olympics once, but he left no doubt as to the winner of any of his fights, making him one of the greatest Olympians of all time.
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