|
|
||||
|
Meldrick Taylor entered the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame Thursday night at the annual banquet honoring outstanding athletes in a variety of sports. The event was held at the Sheraton Society Hill in Philadelphia. Taylor is the sixth boxer to be honored in the PSHOF's eleven year history, joining Joe Frazier, Tommy Loughran, Joey Giardello, Jersey Joe Walcott, and Harold Johnson in the Hall's boxing wing.
Taylor went on to recap his boxing career, which included an Olympic Gold Medal (at age 17), two professional world titles, several major amateur championships, and that infamous loss to Julio Cesar Chavez, when what would have been his greatest ring victory was snatched away with just two seconds remaining in the final round of their historic bout. In all, seventeen inductions made up the 11th class of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. The other standouts honored were Curt Schilling (baseball), Eric Allen (football), Brian Propp (hockey), Mike Richter (hockey), Bobby Walston (football), By Saam (broadcasting), Charles "Chief" Bender (baseball), Chet Walker (basketball), Ellie Daniel (swimming), Frank Dolson (writing), Geoff Petrie (basketball), Herb Penncock (baseball), Jean Shiley (track & field), Marvin Harrison (football), Paul Costello (rowing), the 1972-74 Immaculata Mighty Macs (team / basketball) and Shibe Park (venue). |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
"I
started boxing when I was eight years old," Taylor told the
crowd. "I loved boxing and I still do. Boxing became
my life."