John McDermott (featherweight boxer)

For the English boxer, see John McDermott (boxer).

John McDermott

Personal information
Nationality	British (Scottish)
Born	c.1939 Scotland
Sport
Sport	Boxing
Event	featherweight
Club	Scottish National, Glasgow
Medal record Representing   Scotland Commonwealth Games 1962 Perth featherweight

John McDermott (c.1939) was a boxer who competed for Scotland and won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Biography

While living in Cambuslang and serving his national service with the Royal Scots in Benghazi, Libya, McDermott and fellow boxer Tommy McGuinness formed a boxing club for the regiment. ^[1]

In 1962 boxing for Scottish National, he defeated Ronnie Lendrum in the semi-finals of the prestigious ABA Championships but lost the final to Billy Wilson. ^[2] However, he did win the Scottish featherweight title and defeated Evan Armstrong in the Empire Games eliminator. ^{[3] [4]}

He represented the 1962 Scottish team ^[5] for the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia. He competed in the featherweight category, ^[6] where he won the gold medal, defeating Ali Juma of Kenya in the final. ^[7]

McDermott turned professional and fought nine bouts in 1963. ^[8] He then switched to becoming a boxing trainer, a position he held for decades, earning an MBE in the 2004 Birthday Honours, for services to the sport and working with youngsters at Blantyre Miners' Welfare Gym. ^[1]

References

1. "John McDermott MBE". Blantyre Project. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
2. "Liverpool's A.B.A. title double" . Liverpool Echo. 28 April 1962. Retrieved 3 January 2022– via British Newspaper Archive.
3. "mcDermott wins eliminator" . The Scotsman. 31 August 1962. p. 18. Retrieved 24 October 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
4. "John proves he is best" . Daily Record. 23 February 1962. p. 26. Retrieved 24 October 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
5. "Scotland's 35-strong team for Perth" . The Scotsman. 12 September 1962. p. 14. Retrieved 24 October 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
6. "Scotland Perth 1962". Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
7. "Commonwealth Games - Perth, Australia - November 22 - December 1 1962". Amateur Boxing. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
8. "John McDermott". Box Rec. Retrieved 24 October 2025.