Frederick ('Fred') Tiedt (1935-1999):FREDERICK ('FRED') TIEDT, amateur boxer, was born 16 October 1935 in Beggar's Bush, Dublin.
He was one of five sons and three daughters of Ernest Tiedt, bus driver, whose father emigrated from Germany, and Eileen Tiedt (née Stewart) of Dublin. Educated at Ringsend technical school, where he began learning carpentry, he worked for Crampton Ltd in Baggot Street, Dublin, and later for Browne Nolan. He was one of a number of brothers who boxed at junior level in the South City club and soon progressed to the senior ranks.
In 1952 he made his debut for the Irish national senior team with a win in Glasgow over the Scottish champion, Charlie Hall. In 1956 Tiedt was beaten in the final of the Irish senior championships at welterweight by his old rival Harry Perry. Nonetheless, Irish boxing officials ordered a trial for that autumn where Tiedt beat Perry for a place in the boxing squad for the Melbourne Olympics.
A supreme stylist in the ring, Tiedt beat Pole Tadeusz Walasek in the opening round. Wins over an American and an Australian followed, ensuring Tiedt a place in the final against the Romanian Nicolae Linca. Here he was the victim of the worst decision of the tournament. Despite the fact the German and Italian judges voted for him, with the Polish judge voting against, the Korean and British judges scored the bout level, but gave their votes to Linca. The Romanian won the gold medal, despite the aggregate points scoring of the judges, which gave Tiedt a two-point winning margin.
The following season he won his first and only Irish amateur senior title, and in 1958 turned professional. He was never at home in the paid ranks and suffered some setbacks, the most prominent being his defeat at the hands of Boswell St Louis. He retired in the early 1960s, after an unfortunate defeat in Milan, Italy.
Tiedt retained his passion for boxing in his retirement. Until his death he was trainer and coach of TCD’s boxing club. He also acted as a referee in professional contests, including those of Barry McGuigan and Wayne McCullough. He was made an honorary member of the Knights of the Campanile and in 1993 received an honorary MA degree from Trinity. He died on 16 June 1999 after a struggle with cancer. He lived in Dundrum, Dublin, for most of his adult life. He married (1957) Phyllis Mooney; they had three sons and two daughters.
Adapted from the Royal Irish Academy’s Dictionary of Irish Biography. See dib.ie
