A Boxing Memory: Mark Kaylor
A schoolboy champion, an ABA champion, a Quarter-Finalist in the 1980 Olympics, denied a medal only by a split decision, Mark Kaylor turned professional the same year with much hope that he could achieve glory on the world stage. But sadly, for Kaylor, it never quite happened for him. A very good fighter nonetheless, but one who just fell short at the final hurdle in the big fights too many times.
Kaylor is perhaps one of those fighters who is harshly remembered for the fights he didn't win. But amongst his many wins, he had two very good wins. One we remember. Another we don't. A fight lost in time, but equally memorable. A win over domestic rival Errol Christie against a backdrop of racial tension is fondly remembered for the timeless fight the two middleweights served up. But the night when Kaylor became a double champion against Roy Gumbs we forget. We shouldn't. It was some night. Some fight.
Kaylor, born in 1961 in Canning Town, was part of the famed Terry Lawless stable when he started his professional journey aged just 19. He was in truth, somewhat overshadowed by the likes of Frank Bruno and others. A star-studded stable of world champions, John H Stracey, Jim Watt, Maurice Hope and Charlie Magri and many other fighters that frequented that legendary gym of champions. Kaylor was in good company. But he couldn't quite emulate many from that old gym above the Royal Oak pub on Barking Road.
By 1983, Kaylor was 23-0 when he challenged Gumbs for the British and Commonwealth titles in a red-hot pulsating atmosphere at the Alexandra Pavilion in London.
Lawless said on the day of the fight:
"Even if you drop your wallet, don't take your eyes off the fight." He was right.
The fight matched the atmosphere and more. Kaylor was badly hurt and put down towards the end of the 4th round, but in a style that he would make his own, he got up to batter Gumbs to defeat in five incredible rounds. A forgotten gem of a fight.
A disqualification to Tony Cerda in the very night fight cost Kaylor his unbeaten record, but a more shocking loss two fights later in 1984 was more worrying. On a night where stablemate Bruno lost his unbeaten record to a big punching American, Kaylor suffered a similar devastating defeat to the dangerous American Buster Drayton in seven rounds. It was a big setback. And when Tony Sibson beat him on points the same year with the British, Commonwealth and European titles on the line, a familiar pattern was being set. It was close, but Kaylor had suffered his third defeat in a year. But two more wins landed Kaylor the big domestic dust-up with Christie in 1985 at Wembley Arena. It was billed as a final eliminator for the British title. But in truth, it was about much more than that.
A then-record purse bid for a non-title fight of £82,000 got the fight made. A divided nation, a fight with race at the very heart of the fight. An alcohol-free night, did much to keep emotions in check. It was very much needed.
It started on the cobbles at a heated press conference to announce the fight, which resulted in fines for both and calls to call the fight off, and ended after one of the greatest fights of its time. Kaylor dropped Christie in the opening seconds, he was down himself in the very same round. But despite another trip to the canvas, Kaylor stopped Christie after 8 incredible and bruising rounds.
It would prove to be the pinnacle of Kaylor's career. He got revenge of sorts against Cerda the following year, but when he found Herol Graham too slippery and too good, his career had peaked. Kaylor soldiered on, he kept winning until Tom Collins stopped him in a European title challenge up at light-heavyweight. Kaylor was brave as ever, and had his moments until Collins wore him down.
The end was near, but Kaylor was still hoping for that elusive world title, he had two further attempts at European honours, this time at super-middleweight. A close decision loss to Mauro Galvano in 1990 was followed by a 6th-round stoppage defeat to James Cook the following year, which prompted Kaylor to finally call it a day. He left the sport with a 40-7-1 record.
No comments:
Post a Comment