Jackie Beard is a former American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 amateur boxer

Boxing

Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...

, hailing from Jackson, Tennessee

Jackson, Tennessee

Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. The total population was 65,211 at the 2010 census. Jackson is the primary city of the Jackson, Tennessee metropolitan area, which is included in the Jackson-Humboldt, Tennessee Combined Statistical Area...

.

Amateur career

Beard was an amateur boxing standout in the late 1970s. He won the National AAU in the bantamweight division three times 1978, 1979, and 1980. He also won the bantamweight championship in the 1978 National Golden Gloves Tournament. Beard qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic boxing team, but the U.S. boycott of the Moscow summer games prevented him from the international competition.

Pro career

Beard turned professional in 1981 and was undefeated in his first 11 fights before losing a decision to contender Jose Caba. Following the loss Beard put together another string of wins but then lost a close decision to Johnny De La Rosa. He worked his way up to a title match against WBA World super featherweight title holder Brian Mitchell

Brian Mitchell

Brian Keith Mitchell is a former American football running back and return specialist in the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round of the 1990 NFL Draft...

 in 1989, but lost a technical decision. They rematched the following year and Mitchell won a unanimous decision. Following the loss, Beard's career declined and he lost most of his remaining professional fights. Beard retired in 1995 with a record of on 36 Wins, 14 Losses and 22 KO's. He resides in Jackson, Tennessee.