JAMES RODRICK LAMONT

“Rod” Lamont loved the sport of boxing. He started with the ‘sweet science’ at the tender age of 12, but for this skinny 100 pound kid, it was only the beginning. By the time he reached 105 pounds he was an Ontario Champion. Later fighting at 112 pounds, he won the Ontario Flyweight belt. He went on to box as a pro out of Detroit and Buffalo racking up over 150 fights.

After Lamont hung up his gloves, he put all his experience to work as a coach. He worked out of clubs at the Guelph YMCA, another on MacDonell St., the Ontario Agricultural College and the Cambridge Street Arena where they held many cards.

In 1936, he was instrumental in the formation of the Guelph Boxing Club. He saw an opportunity to help the youth of Guelph and worked with others to ensure they had a place to practice and learn the sport he loved. It was his combined love of boxing and kids that made him stand above the rest.

In 1936, he was appointed as a Coach for the Canadian Olympic team. He trained another Guelph Sports Hall of Famer, Jackie Keegan, who won the Canadian Welterweight title in 1938.

Inducted into the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame – Athlete and Builder categories – on June 2, 1999