James LLOYD

The youngest of a trio of boxing brothers, Liverpool’s Jim Lloyd earned the right to represent Great Britain at the 1960 Olympic Games on the back of a series of victories in international dual matches. Lloyd created an upset in the quarter-finals in Rome by narrowly outpointing US team captain Phil Baldwin to ensure himself a medal but home favourite Nino Benvenuti proved to be a class apart from Lloyd in his next bout and the Englishman would have to settle for bronze.

Lloyd repeated his victory over Baldwin a year later as part of Great Britain’s historic 10-0 whitewash of the USA but he was less successful on his European Championships debut and was eliminated at the quarter-final stage. He won his only national amateur title in 1962 and, after completing his compulsory military service, he switched to the professional ranks. His pro career began badly, with a draw and defeat, and never threatened to reach the heights that had expected for him. He retired from the ring in 1969 having won 10 of his 20 bouts (3 draws) and having briefly held the South of England middleweight title. Lloyd worked as a truck driver and security guard until his retirement and was one of the founders of the local boxing club in his adopted hometown of Skelmersdale. He trained the club’s young fighters for 35 years.