Well done John McDermott
Posted: 12 Jun 2004, 06:51
Recognition for one of Scotlands best boxing servants..
McDermott joins boxing MBEs
Trainer John McDermott feels humble at joining the list of Scottish boxing greats to have received an MBE.
The 65-year-old won Commonwealth gold for his country as a featherweight in 1962 before guiding Pat Clinton to a world title in his coaching career.
"It is a great honour to get the MBE after Dick McTaggart, Walter McGowan, Ken Buchanan and Jim Watt," he said.
"I am really over the moon about this. They are four real friends and it is great to follow them with an Honour."
McDermott's current protégé is Commonwealth super-featherweight champion Craig Docherty.
"They got their MBEs for winning world championships, while I got it for services to boxing in Scotland," the Lanarkshire man said about appearing in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
"My gold medal was my highlight as a boxer and training Pat Clinton to the world title in 1992. They were tremendous nights."
McDermott dedicated his MBE to long-time friend and mentor Charlie Hill, who took the youngster under his wing at the age of 10.
"I come from a boxing family and the greatest influence on my career was Charlie Hill, who lived nearby in Cambuslang," he said.
"He was training me when I won the gold medal. I idolised Charlie, who won a British title and a Lonsdale belt during his career.
"If he had told me to dive off the roof, I would have done so.
"He is in Australia now and I think he will be pleased. It is very humbling when guys like that don't get anything and I do."
McDermott joins boxing MBEs
Trainer John McDermott feels humble at joining the list of Scottish boxing greats to have received an MBE.
The 65-year-old won Commonwealth gold for his country as a featherweight in 1962 before guiding Pat Clinton to a world title in his coaching career.
"It is a great honour to get the MBE after Dick McTaggart, Walter McGowan, Ken Buchanan and Jim Watt," he said.
"I am really over the moon about this. They are four real friends and it is great to follow them with an Honour."
McDermott's current protégé is Commonwealth super-featherweight champion Craig Docherty.
"They got their MBEs for winning world championships, while I got it for services to boxing in Scotland," the Lanarkshire man said about appearing in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
"My gold medal was my highlight as a boxer and training Pat Clinton to the world title in 1992. They were tremendous nights."
McDermott dedicated his MBE to long-time friend and mentor Charlie Hill, who took the youngster under his wing at the age of 10.
"I come from a boxing family and the greatest influence on my career was Charlie Hill, who lived nearby in Cambuslang," he said.
"He was training me when I won the gold medal. I idolised Charlie, who won a British title and a Lonsdale belt during his career.
"If he had told me to dive off the roof, I would have done so.
"He is in Australia now and I think he will be pleased. It is very humbling when guys like that don't get anything and I do."