Jackie Beard

Jackie Beard (born September 10, 1961) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 1995, twice challenging for the WBA super featherweight title between 1989 and 1990. As an amateur, he won a gold medal at the 1979 Pan American Games and the 1979 Boxing World Cup. He was also the first boxer to win three consecutive US amateur championships in the same weight class.

Amateur career

A native of Jackson, Tennessee, Beard began boxing at the age of eight, following his brother into the sport.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/283138895/?terms=%22Jackie%20Beard%22&match=1&clipping_id=110880339|title='Too Tall' goes to see Jackie fight|work=The Jackson Sun|date=October 16, 1979|access-date=October 7, 2022|page=13|via=Newspapers.com}} He became an amateur standout in the late 1970s. He won the National AAU bantamweight championship three times (1978, 1979, and 1980), becoming the first boxer to win three straight Senior titles in the same weight class.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/297563050/?terms=%22Jackie%20beard%22&match=1&clipping_id=110883666|title=Beard wins record third AAU title|work=The Jackson Sun|first=Dan|last=Morris|date=May 11, 1980|access-date=October 7, 2022|page=25|via=Newspapers.com}} He also won the bantamweight championship in the 1978 National Golden Gloves Tournament,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/771916334/?terms=%22Jackie%20Beard%22&match=1&clipping_id=110880630|title=Tennessee Boxers Bring Glove Titles Back To Mid-South|work=The Commercial Appeal|date=March 27, 1978|access-date=October 7, 2022|page=20|via=Newspapers.com}} upsetting defending champion Wayne Lynumn early in the tournament.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/284372593/?terms=%22Jackie%20Beard%22&match=1&clipping_id=110881133|title=Jackie Beard Scores Upset|work=The Jackson Sun|first=Dan|last=Morris|date=March 23, 1978|access-date=October 7, 2022|page=19|via=Newspapers.com}} For his achievements, Beard was named the 1978 Tennessee Co-Amateur Athlete of the Year.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/283065165/?terms=%22Jackie%20Beard%22&match=1&clipping_id=110881367|title=Beard to be honored|work=The Jackson Sun|date=November 9, 1979|access-date=October 7, 2022|page=21|via=Newspapers.com}}

Beard won the bantamweight gold medal at the 1979 Pan American Games in Puerto Rico as a 17-year-old, defeating Luis Pizarro in the final.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/283565645/?terms=%22Jackie%20beard%22&match=1&clipping_id=110882481|title=Beard wins Pan Am gold|work=The Jackson Sun|date=July 15, 1979|access-date=October 7, 2022|page=25|via=Newspapers.com}} He also won a gold medal at the Boxing World Cup.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/772114153/?terms=%22Jackie%20beard%22%20world%20cup&match=1&clipping_id=110884115|title=Beard Takes Title in Bantam Class|work=The Commercial Appeal|date=October 20, 1979|access-date=October 7, 2022|page=34|via=Newspapers.com}}

Beard qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic boxing team, but the U.S. boycott of the Moscow summer games prevented him from the international competition.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/297695139/?terms=%22Jackie%20beard%22&match=1&clipping_id=110883119|title=Olympians' reward|work=The Jackson Sun|date=July 28, 1980|access-date=October 7, 2022|page=3|via=Newspapers.com}} In 2007 Beard received one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the spurned athletes.{{cite book|last1=Caroccioli|first1=Tom|last2=Caroccioli|first2=Jerry|title=Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games|date=2008 |publisher=New Chapter Press|location=Highland Park, IL|isbn=978-0942257403|pages=243–253}}

Professional career

Beard turned professional in 1981 and was undefeated in his first 12 fights before losing a split decision to contender Jose Caba. Following the loss Beard put together another string of wins but then lost a close decision to Johnny De La Rosa. He worked his way up to a title match against WBA super featherweight title holder Brian Mitchell in 1989, but lost a technical decision.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/284012896/?terms=%22Jackie%20beard%22%20brian%20mitchell&match=1&clipping_id=110884337|title=Beard loses on technicality|work=The Jackson Sun|date=July 3, 1989|access-date=October 7, 2022|page=21|via=Newspapers.com}} They rematched the following year and Beard lost via unanimous decision.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/283769633/?terms=%22Jackie%20beard%22%20brian%20mitchell&match=1&clipping_id=110884504|title=Beard loses title rematch to Mitchell|work=The Jackson Sun|date=March 15, 1990|access-date=October 7, 2022|page=21|via=Newspapers.com}} Following the loss, Beard's career declined and he lost most of his remaining professional fights. Beard retired in 1995 with a record of 36 Wins, 14 Losses and 22 KO's. He resides in Jackson, Tennessee.