Jackie Beard facts for kids

Jackie Beard was an American professional boxer. He was born on September 10, 1961. He boxed from 1981 to 1995. Jackie Beard twice fought for the WBA super featherweight boxing title. This was in 1989 and 1990.

Before becoming a professional, he was a very successful amateur boxer. He won a gold medal at the 1979 Pan American Games. He also won the 1979 Boxing World Cup. Jackie Beard was the first boxer to win three US amateur championships in a row. He won them all in the same weight class.

Jackie Beard's Early Boxing Career

Jackie Beard grew up in Jackson, Tennessee. He started boxing when he was only eight years old. He followed his brother into the sport. In the late 1970s, he became a top amateur boxer.

Winning National Titles

Jackie Beard won the National AAU bantamweight championship three times. He won in 1978, 1979, and 1980. This made him the first boxer to win three Senior titles in a row in the same weight class. He also won the bantamweight championship at the 1978 National Golden Gloves Tournament. He beat the champion, Wayne Lynumn, early in that tournament. Because of his achievements, Jackie Beard was named the 1978 Tennessee Co-Amateur Athlete of the Year.

International Success

In 1979, when he was 17, Jackie Beard won a gold medal. This was at the Pan American Games in Puerto Rico. He defeated Luis Pizarro in the final match. He also won a gold medal at the Boxing World Cup that same year.

The 1980 Olympics

Jackie Beard was good enough to join the 1980 U.S. Olympic boxing team. However, the United States decided not to send its athletes to the Moscow Summer Games. This was called a boycott. Because of this, Jackie Beard could not compete in the Olympics. In 2007, he received a special Congressional Gold Medal. This medal was given to 461 athletes who could not compete in those Olympics.

Jackie Beard's Professional Boxing Career

Jackie Beard became a professional boxer in 1981. He did not lose any of his first 12 fights. Then, he lost a close fight to Jose Caba. After that loss, Jackie Beard won many more fights. But then he lost another close fight to Johnny De La Rosa.

Fighting for the World Title

He kept working hard and earned a chance to fight for a world title. In 1989, he fought Brian Mitchell for the WBA super featherweight title. Jackie Beard lost that fight. They had a rematch the next year, in 1990. Jackie Beard lost again.

After these title fights, Jackie Beard's boxing career slowed down. He lost most of his remaining professional fights. He retired from boxing in 1995. His final record was 36 wins, 14 losses, and 22 knockouts. Jackie Beard lives in Jackson, Tennessee.