By Peter Silkov
Pat Ford was a clever and strong
featherweight, with a rangy style that made full use of his height of
5' feet 10” inches. Born, Patrick Forde, on December 17, 1955, in
Georgetown, Guyana, Ford turned professional in 1976. He would become known as one of
Guyana's greatest fighters of all-time.
Ford quickly moved up
the world rankings, winning the Guyanese featherweight title on
February 4, 1978, by out-pointing Tony Greene over 15 rounds. On May
20, 1979, he added the WBC Fecarbox Featherweight title by
out-pointing Enrique Solis over 12 rounds. Then on August 1, 1980,
Ford won the Commonwealth featherweight title, by stopping Eddie
Ndukwu in 8 rounds.
On September 13, 1980,
Ford challenged Salvador Sanchez for the WBC world featherweight
title, and gave the great Sanchez one of his toughest fights, before
being defeated by a close point's decision after 15 rounds.
Five
months later, Ford challenged Eusebio Pedrosa for the WBA world
featherweight championship, and was knocked out in the 13th
round, after another tough fight. After
the fight, Ford said he had difficulties making the weight in the
build up to the bout.
After his brave
challenges for the world title, against two all time greats, Ford’s
form dipped and he lost his next two fights, losing over 10 rounds on
points to David Brown on April 17, 1982. One month later he was
stopped in 3 rounds by Isidro Perez.
Ford
stayed out of the ring for 3 years, then returned and had three
fights from 1985 to 1987, winning all three, but then retired from
the ring, with a final record of (19-4, 12koes).
After
his retirement from fighting, Ford, who by how had moved permanently
to America, became a trainer at the renowned Gleasons Gym in Dumbo,
Brooklyn, New York, where he was highly respected for his knowledge
and his humble demeanor.
Pat
Ford died on November 13, 2011, aged 55 years old, after suffering a
heart attack as a result of complications arising from diabetes.
Salvador Sanchez Vs. Pat Ford fight:
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Such a legendary sport and so many memories with it. Boxing was a really big thing back then and still is. But no one can reach the class it had.
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