The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
McTaggart still lord of the ring in major exhibition
Dundee legend’s legacy proving a draw for fans after 60 years
Dundee’s greatest sportsman proved he can still pack a punch after generating huge interest in a major boxing exhibition.
Following a funding award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Stirling University created Tales from the Ring: Celebrating Scotland’s Boxing Heritage.
Dick McTaggart, gold medallist at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and 1958 Cardiff Commonwealth Games, was among the ex-boxers and their families who helped create the archive of material and oral histories which opened in January.
The lightweight fighter’s items attracted much interest and also prompted other boxing heroes to come forward to donate memorabilia.
Dundee boxer Mike Towell, who died after suffering severe bleeding and swelling to his brain after a fight in 2016, could also feature in the archive at a later date.
Project officer Ian Mackintosh said: “Dick McTaggart’s items which are on display have attracted quite a bit of interest because of his boxing legacy.
“All new items received will add to the heritage of Scottish boxing and help historians and researchers understand the impact of the sport in Scotland.”
McTaggart twice returned to the Olympic arena and won bronze in Rome in 1960 and he donated a navy blue gown and white boxing boots which were presented to him by Dundee Amateur Boxing Club.
The gown which was given to him before competing in Rome has the club crest on the front and the five Olympic rings stitched into the bottom left fold.
On the reverse of the gown reads: Dick McTaggart, Dundee ABC, Scotland in white thread.
McTaggart remains the only Scottish boxer to win Olympic gold to date and is regarded as the finest amateur boxer Britain has ever produced.
The legendary BBC boxing commentator Harry Carpenter described McTaggart as “the greatest amateur I ever saw” but he was never tempted to turn professional.
Dundee-born broadcaster and author Frank Gilfeather, whose family are steeped in boxing tradition, donated an England versus Scotland programme from 1964.
Frank and former undisputed world lightweight champion Ken Buchanan both competed in the international match. He also donated photographs from his career as a sports journalist.
Other items include a pair of boxing gloves worn by 1908 Olympic bronze medallist Hugh Roddin of Musselburgh.
The Scottish Boxing Archive has also received donations from 1990 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Charlie Kane and the family of Tommy Speirs from Alloa.