John Taylor

As a member of the St. James’s ABC, John Taylor failed to progress beyond the second round of the featherweight division at the ABA Championship in 1885 and 1887. He went all the way to the final in 1888, however, and beat T. J. McNeill of the Cestus BC to lift the title. Taylor also boxed for the Clarence Athletic Club, a club exclusively for Post Office employees, and he was at one time the club captain. He was an assistant superintendent in the London Postal Service. and such was his popularity that when he died in 1912, at the age of 49, over 300 fellow workers attended his funeral.

After his boxing days ended, Taylor became a master of ceremonies (MC) at the Clarence Club and was also a boxing judge and referee. At the 1908 London Olympics, he officiated in five bouts, two as a referee and three as a judge, including the Frank Parks - Bert Brewer heavyweight quarter-final.