[extracts from the Appletree Press title Legends of Irish Boxing published by Appletree Press]

Tiedt was descended from Austrian immigrants who came to Ireland in the 1930s. He was born in Dublin in October 1935, one of four brothers who all made a name for themselves at the South City Boxing Club. By 1956, Tiedt had made his mark in Irish boxing and duly qualified to meet Harry Perry in the Irish welterweight decider.
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At the 1956 Olympics Tiedt, in his opening bout, saw off on points the fancied Pole, Tadeusz Walasek - a skilled fighter who would go on to win both silver and bronze medals at the two succeeding Games. The Dubliner was then drawn to meet the American representative Pearce Lane. The American was the reigning US Army and Services champion, and was considered to be a tough opponent. However, it was Tiedt who made all the running in the fight and he was not troubled by Lane throughout the three rounds. Tiedt's cat-like footwork and ability to find his punches from range saw him home on a unanimous decision.
By now, Ireland had John Caldwell, Freddie Gilroy, Tony Byrne and Fred Tiedt all through to the semi-finals of the boxing event. Tiedt was to meet the Australian Kevin Hogarth in front of a partisan home crowd for the right to qualify for the final. In the end, Tiedt put on an exemplary display as he kept out of the Australian's reach for the duration of the fight. He adopted a defensive mode as he baffled Hogarth by bobbing and weaving on the ropes, then launched his own blistering attacks on the counter. A carpenter by trade, Tiedt displayed excellent boxing craftsmanship as he waltzed into the final where he would meet the Romanian, Nicolas Linca.
As Ireland’s boxers fell one by one, Tiedt found himself the country s sole representative in the Olympic finals. In his semi final, Linca had beaten the fancied Commonwealth champion Nick Gargano. The press had considered the Romanian as fortunate to come through that bout, a fact that made Tiedt favourite going into the final, which was held on 1st December 1956.
History records that Tiedt was beaten on a split decision, but that result was very hotly disputed. The Romanian was awarded a three-to-two verdict and immediately there were howls of derision around the arena. The anomaly was that Tiedt had been awarded more points in total than the Romanian, but was denied on the majority verdict.
It was said that Lord Killanan (President of the Irish Olympic Council) had been asked by an Olympic official at the end of the bout to make his way to the ring, in the belief that the result had gone in Tiedt's favour. Wisely, not counting his chickens, the noble Lord retained his seat, not wishing to tempt fate. A Romanian referee was heard to say to Lord Killanan that Linca had been well beaten. However, it was Tiedt who took the verdict square on the chin.
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Interestingly, in the Official Report on the 1956 Games, as produced by the International Olympic Committee, the fight between Tiedt and Linca was mentioned specifically in dispatches:
Welterweight Probably the most unlucky boxer was Tiedt (Ireland) who lost a close final to Linca (Romania) after he had come through three very hard fights in his division against Aaleskra (Poland), Lane (USA) and Hogarth (Australia)
[Back home]…Tiedt was presented by a gold medal for his achievements in Melbourne, when Pat Donovan gave him the Athletic Union of Merit Medallion. On handing over the award Donovan, the President of the University College Boxing Club, told Tiedt that while he had been denied a gold in Melbourne, the University would not deny him an award.
[In the years that followed, Fred Tiedt moved from boxing as a professional of mixed fortune to ringside, playing]…an active role in his beloved sport and oversaw the Trinity College Boxing Club for many years. That dedication was eventually rewarded by an honorary degree from the Dublin institution. He also became renowned as a respected referee in the professional ring, and was known as the consummate gentleman in his attitude and appearance. On the morning that Michael Carruth made history by claiming Olympic gold in Barcelona, Fred Tiedt was a special guest of the Carruth family in their Dublin home. The man who should have been the first gold medallist sat enthralled, as he watched Carruth take that honour thirty-six years later.
Fred Tiedt succumbed to illness at an all too early age 16th June 1999. His passing robbed Irish boxing of his wisdom and personality. On that famous December day in 1956, he was, in essence, the winner of Ireland s first boxing gold medal.However, at the end of the day, this gentleman will go down in history as another Irish fighter who never got the ultimate accolade he so richly deserved.

From the Appletree Press title: Legends of Irish Boxing by Barry Flynn.