Don Scott

Don Scott was a prestigious talent from an early age and was just 17 when he reached the final of the ABA (Amateur Boxing Association) championships. Although soundly defeated on that occasion he returned two years later to win the title and earned a spot on Great Britain’s team for the 1948 Olympic Games. At the Games he scored a spectacular upset win over György Kapocsi during his progress to the final but was comfortably outpointed by the more experienced George Hunter and was made to settle for the silver medal. During this time he was serving his compulsory military service and was aiming to turn professional at the completion of this period but a series of injuries of injuries to his nose hampered his progress and he instead aimed for the 1950 British Empire Games. After winning the Empire gold medal he left the amateur ranks and began a professional career. His pro fight was a disaster as he was knocked out but he recovered to post sixteen wins against just five losses although he never fulfilled the promise of his Olympic campaign. Scott worked for a number of electrical and engineering companies until his retirement and coached young boxers in his native Derby. A few months before his death the wheelchair bound Scott carried the Olympic torch around the streets of his hometown.