Mark Kaylor

Background

Kaylor was born in Canning Town but from the age of nine was brought up in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex.

Career

Kaylor represented Great Britain in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, losing on a split decision in the quarter-finals. Perhaps his most famous fight came in 1985, when he defeated Errol Christie in the eighth round of a hard-fought match, marred with controversy due to a pre-fight punch-up between the pair, and by death threats from racist fans against Christie. Despite the controversy, Kaylor and Christie in fact showed great respect for each other after the match.

Kaylor later commented, "Back then, I had a quick temper that I’d rather not have had.

There was always this spark in my head! Today, I’m embarrassed by lieutenant Errol was a nice guy.

There’s no way I could behave like that now."

Kaylor had a role in a 1991 film entitled Real Money, directed by Ron Peck, and starring Jimmy Tibbs, Jimmy Flint, Steve Roberts and Jason Rowland. He now coaches boxing and is an aerobics instructor at a gym in Chino.

Achievements

• Kaylor won the British schoolboy title the first year he was eligible to take part and at the age of 16, moved back to Canning Town to live with his grandmother so that he could join a bigger boxing club at West Ham. In 1979, at the age of 17, Kaylor won the National Association of Boys Clubs Championships and the London senior title. In 1980, Kaylor won the British Amateur Boxing Association Championships and went to the European Junior championships in Rimini, Italy.