Mark Kaylor dead: Boxing hero, 64, dies as Frank | Boxing News

Boxing legend Frank Bruno has spoken of his devastation following the death of his close buddy and former ring warrior Mark Kaylor. Mark, who received the distinguished ABA (England Boxing National Amateur Championships) title in 1980 and represented Britain at that 12 months’s Moscow Olympics, handed away on Sunday, at the age of 64.

Kaylor and Bruno rose through the ranks together, training alongside each other and incessantly showing on the same struggle playing cards. The tragedy occurred on Frank’s birthday, when he also reached 64, leaving the boxing icon heartbroken. The former heavyweight champion said: “RIP Mark Kaylor – we trained together in various gyms and were quite often on the same bill when I was going through the ranks. From memory, a big West Ham United fan. Very poignant for me as he passed away on my birthday aged 64 – the age I am now.”

Kaylor got here agonisingly close to claiming an Olympic medal in Moscow after a controversial split-decision defeat in the quarter-finals. Born in Canning Town, east London, Mark subsequently captured British and Commonwealth titles before retiring from boxing in 1996 and relocating to California, where he taught boxing and even served as an aerobics teacher.

Reflecting on his profession in one of his first post-retirement interviews, Kaylor said: “Boxing was such a fantastic part of my life. I met so many decent people. The good far outweighed the bad. I just feel so blessed to have done something I loved so much for such a large part of my life.”

A passionate West Ham United fan, Kaylor was born in Canning Town and raised in Stanford-le-Hope in Essex before returning to his birthplace as a teenager to pursue his boxing goals.

Joining West Ham Boxing Club, he received the distinguished ABA England Boxing National Amateur Championships trophy in 1980 and competed in the Moscow Olympics the same 12 months, reaching the quarter-finals.

Kaylor’s skilled profession noticed him proudly sporting claret and blue trunks in the ring, backed by a legion of fellow West Ham followers.

His notable victories embody defeating Roy Gumbs within 5 rounds to declare the British and Commonwealth titles in September 1983, and a knockout victory over Errol Christie in November 1985 following a heated rivalry.

In 1991, Kaylor retired with an spectacular file of 40-7-1 (34 KOs).

West Ham United issued a heartfelt assertion yesterday, expressing their deep unhappiness at the news of Kaylor’s passing: “Everyone at West Ham United has been deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former British and Commonwealth middleweight boxing champion Mark Kaylor at the age of 64.

“An ardent Hammers supporter, Kaylor was born in Canning Town and introduced up in Stanford-le-Hope in Essex before shifting back to Canning Town as a teenager to improve his boxing prospects.

“Having joined West Ham Boxing Club, he claimed the revered ABA England Boxing National Amateur Championships trophy in 1980, and then competed at that year’s Moscow Olympics, where he reached the quarter-finals,” the tribute continued.

“Kaylor went on to forge a successful professional career, during which he sported claret and clue trunks in the ring and was duly backed by huge numbers of his fellow West Ham fans.

“He beat Roy Gumbs within 5 rounds to declare the British and Commonwealth titles in September 1983, and loved a feisty rivalry with Errol Christie which culminated in a knockout-victory over his fellow Brit in November 1985.

“In 1991, Kaylor retired with a record of 40-7-1 (34 KOs), before moving to the USA and working as an aerobics instructor in California. Everyone at West Ham United would like to express their sincere condolences to Mark’s family and friends at this sad time.”