Al Ford
Encyclopedia
Al Ford is a former lightweight
professional boxer
from Edmonton, Alberta
, Canada
.
win over Joe Hogue, who was also making his professional debut. Two months later Ford defeated Ron Lyke
by first-round knockout. Ford fought an opponent with a winning record for the first time in his fifth fight, defeating 4-0 Mickey McMillan by split decision
after eight rounds. Ford would win his first 37 fights, picking up the vacant Canadian lightweight title with a win against 9-1 Julie Mandell and successful defending it several times. Ford's first truly notable win was a 10 round decision against 30-3-1 Raul Montoya on October 27, 1970. The first loss of Ford's professional boxing career came against 24-22-5 Percy Hayles in Kingston, Jamaica
in a contest for the Commonwealth (British Empire) lightweight title. Hayles outboxed Ford in a 15 rounder to take the decision. Ford would continue to fight, winning his next four bouts before back-to-back loses to Ken Buchanan
(points) and Alfonso Frazer (knockout). Later Ford would lose a rematch with Percy Hayles by TKO
and would finally lose his Canadian lightweight title to Johnny Summerhays in November of 1975. Ford was still winning more often than he was losing, but he lost to most of his notable opponents, including to 15-4 Ralph Racine, to 15-0 Rick Folstad
in 1978, and to 17-0 Aaron Pryor
in 1979. Ford also fought Nick Furlano of Toronto for the Canadian junior welterweight title in 1979, losing by 14th round knockout. Near the end losses became more frequent, but Ford's impressive record continued to get him paydays. He would lose again to Summerhays in 1980 and dropped a decision to 17-0 Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini
in 1981. After losing six of his last seven fights, capped by a brutal decision loss to future prospect Michael Olajide on June 17, 1982, Ford finally retired with a final record of 55-19 with 19 wins coming by knockout.
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
professional 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...
from Edmonton, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Professional Boxing Career
Ford made his debut as a professional boxer on October 20, 1967 (shortly after his seventeenth birthday), a 3rd round knockoutKnockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
win over Joe Hogue, who was also making his professional debut. Two months later Ford defeated Ron Lyke
Ron Lyke
Ron Lyke is a retired professional boxer and currently a boxing trainer and coach from Minneapolis, Minnesota.-Boxing career:After turning pro on June 15, 1967, Lyke boxed just seven professional bouts in a career that spanned three years. He compiled a record of 6-1 with 1 knockout...
by first-round knockout. Ford fought an opponent with a winning record for the first time in his fifth fight, defeating 4-0 Mickey McMillan by split decision
Split decision
A split decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking in which two of the three judges score for the same fighter as the winner, while the third judge scores for the other...
after eight rounds. Ford would win his first 37 fights, picking up the vacant Canadian lightweight title with a win against 9-1 Julie Mandell and successful defending it several times. Ford's first truly notable win was a 10 round decision against 30-3-1 Raul Montoya on October 27, 1970. The first loss of Ford's professional boxing career came against 24-22-5 Percy Hayles in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
in a contest for the Commonwealth (British Empire) lightweight title. Hayles outboxed Ford in a 15 rounder to take the decision. Ford would continue to fight, winning his next four bouts before back-to-back loses to Ken Buchanan
Ken Buchanan
Ken Buchanan is a former boxing undisputed world lightweight champion. Many consider Buchanan to be the best boxer ever to come out of Scotland.- Early career :...
(points) and Alfonso Frazer (knockout). Later Ford would lose a rematch with Percy Hayles by TKO
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
and would finally lose his Canadian lightweight title to Johnny Summerhays in November of 1975. Ford was still winning more often than he was losing, but he lost to most of his notable opponents, including to 15-4 Ralph Racine, to 15-0 Rick Folstad
Rick Folstad
Rick Folstad is a retired light welterweight professional boxer from Minneapolis, Minnesota.-Professional career:Folstad made his professional debut on January 29, 1975 with a decision win against Robert Bo Moody...
in 1978, and to 17-0 Aaron Pryor
Aaron Pryor
Aaron Pryor is a former boxer from Cincinnati, Ohio, and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He is the former world Junior Welterweight champion, and regarded as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the weight class.-Amateur career:Pryor, nicknamed The Hawk, had a record of...
in 1979. Ford also fought Nick Furlano of Toronto for the Canadian junior welterweight title in 1979, losing by 14th round knockout. Near the end losses became more frequent, but Ford's impressive record continued to get him paydays. He would lose again to Summerhays in 1980 and dropped a decision to 17-0 Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini
Ray Mancini
Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini is a retired Italian-American boxer. He held the World Boxing Association lightweight championship from 1982 to 1984. Mancini inherited his distinctive nickname from his father, veteran boxer Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini, who laid the foundation for his son's career...
in 1981. After losing six of his last seven fights, capped by a brutal decision loss to future prospect Michael Olajide on June 17, 1982, Ford finally retired with a final record of 55-19 with 19 wins coming by knockout.