Floyd Havard
Encyclopedia
Floyd Havard is a Welsh
former super featherweight boxer. He was twice British super featherweight champion, from 1988–1989 and 1994-1996. In 1994 he made an unsuccessful bid for the IBF super featherweight title against John John Molina
.
born Havard was a successful amateur boxer. He missed out in representing Britain in the 1984 Olympics to Kevin Taylor, but took the ABA National Championships title in 1985. He turned professional that same year, and began his career with an encounter with journeyman Dean Bramhald at Cardiff. This began a long string of winning results, and by April 1988 he had recorded 17 professional victories. On 18 May 1988, Havard was given a shot at the British super-featherweight title against the holder, Pat Cowdell. Cowdell was a natural featherweight, and past holder of the European featherweight belt, before he moved up to super-featherweight in 1984. Cowdell then took the European super-flyweight title, followed by the British title briefly in 1986 and again in 1987. This was Havard's first professional title fight, and his first scheduled for twelve rounds. The fight only lasted eight rounds, with Havard stopping Cowdell via technical knockout. Cowdell retired from boxing soon after. Havard later stated that beating Cowdell was "...the best night of my career."
Havard followed up his British title win with points victories over Canadian John Kalbhenn
and American Idabeth Rojas, before facing John Doherty in his first defence of his belt. Fought on the 6 September 1989 at Afan Lido in Wales, the twelve round fight ended with Havard's retirement in the eleventh. Ahead on points, Havard broke his hand during the bout, and in pain, turned his back on his opponent and quit the fight.
After losing his belt, Havard took 18 months away from boxing, before returning in March 1991 to face Tony Foster as the main undercard event to the Gary De Roux
vs. Sean Murphy British featherweight title bout. Despite Havard going down in the first round, he recovered to win the encounter on points. Havard built on this result with wins over George Ayeh and Patrick Kamy towards the end of 1991, then stopped Harry Escott via technical knockout in March 1992.
Havard's next fight was a rematch against Escott, 21 months later in December 1993. The match was Havard's only competitive before a big encounter with Puerto Rican John John Molina
the IBF Super featherweight champion. Havard took Escott to the full eight rounds and was awarded the result on points. On the 22 January 1994, Havard and Molina met at the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff. Havard had broken his nose two weeks earlier during sparing, and he later stated that he was in a poor frame of mind during the build up to the fight and should have pulled out. The twelve round match lasted until the sixth when Havard's corner retired him due to cuts.
Despite the loss Havard was back fighting two months later, with a challenge for his old title of British Super featherweight champion. The title was held by fellow Welshman Neil Haddock
, and when Havard stopped Haddock in the tenth he regained his belt. Floyd fought and won on seven more occasions, including two title defences against Dave McHale and Micheal Armstrong. His final bout was the defeat of Carl Allen on 30 November 1996 in Tylorstown
.
and Take That
. He then spent five years working on the railways. Nine years after retiring as a professional boxer, he made an attempt to relaunch himself as a boxing agent, spending time in the Ukraine
in a bid to find boxing talent. By 2009 Havard was back fighting but at a semi-professional winning the Empire Boxing Federation British light-welterweight title.
Haddock is one of only three Welshmen to have won the British super-featherweight title, alongside Robert Dickie
and Neil Haddock
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
former super featherweight boxer. He was twice British super featherweight champion, from 1988–1989 and 1994-1996. In 1994 he made an unsuccessful bid for the IBF super featherweight title against John John Molina
John John Molina
Juan Molina , better known as John John Molina in the world of boxing, is a former boxer whose career transcended boxing in Puerto Rico. A multiple time world champion, this boxer was also known as quite a socialite...
.
Boxing career
SwanseaSwansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
born Havard was a successful amateur boxer. He missed out in representing Britain in the 1984 Olympics to Kevin Taylor, but took the ABA National Championships title in 1985. He turned professional that same year, and began his career with an encounter with journeyman Dean Bramhald at Cardiff. This began a long string of winning results, and by April 1988 he had recorded 17 professional victories. On 18 May 1988, Havard was given a shot at the British super-featherweight title against the holder, Pat Cowdell. Cowdell was a natural featherweight, and past holder of the European featherweight belt, before he moved up to super-featherweight in 1984. Cowdell then took the European super-flyweight title, followed by the British title briefly in 1986 and again in 1987. This was Havard's first professional title fight, and his first scheduled for twelve rounds. The fight only lasted eight rounds, with Havard stopping Cowdell via technical knockout. Cowdell retired from boxing soon after. Havard later stated that beating Cowdell was "...the best night of my career."
Havard followed up his British title win with points victories over Canadian John Kalbhenn
John Kalbhenn
John Kalbhenn is a retired boxer from Canada, who competed for his native country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California...
and American Idabeth Rojas, before facing John Doherty in his first defence of his belt. Fought on the 6 September 1989 at Afan Lido in Wales, the twelve round fight ended with Havard's retirement in the eleventh. Ahead on points, Havard broke his hand during the bout, and in pain, turned his back on his opponent and quit the fight.
After losing his belt, Havard took 18 months away from boxing, before returning in March 1991 to face Tony Foster as the main undercard event to the Gary De Roux
Gary De Roux
Gary De Roux is a boxing trainer and former professional boxer.He was born in Manchester, though is most closely associated with Peterborough, where he was trained by Kevin Sanders, who went on to train Nigel Benn and several other world title holders. The peak of his boxing career was a brief...
vs. Sean Murphy British featherweight title bout. Despite Havard going down in the first round, he recovered to win the encounter on points. Havard built on this result with wins over George Ayeh and Patrick Kamy towards the end of 1991, then stopped Harry Escott via technical knockout in March 1992.
Havard's next fight was a rematch against Escott, 21 months later in December 1993. The match was Havard's only competitive before a big encounter with Puerto Rican John John Molina
John John Molina
Juan Molina , better known as John John Molina in the world of boxing, is a former boxer whose career transcended boxing in Puerto Rico. A multiple time world champion, this boxer was also known as quite a socialite...
the IBF Super featherweight champion. Havard took Escott to the full eight rounds and was awarded the result on points. On the 22 January 1994, Havard and Molina met at the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff. Havard had broken his nose two weeks earlier during sparing, and he later stated that he was in a poor frame of mind during the build up to the fight and should have pulled out. The twelve round match lasted until the sixth when Havard's corner retired him due to cuts.
Despite the loss Havard was back fighting two months later, with a challenge for his old title of British Super featherweight champion. The title was held by fellow Welshman Neil Haddock
Neil Haddock
Neil Haddock is a Welsh former lightweight and super featherweight boxer. Before turning professional he won a silver medal as a lightweight at the 1986 Commonwealth Games. His early career as a professional lightweight was not very notable, but after a year out from boxing caused by an eye...
, and when Havard stopped Haddock in the tenth he regained his belt. Floyd fought and won on seven more occasions, including two title defences against Dave McHale and Micheal Armstrong. His final bout was the defeat of Carl Allen on 30 November 1996 in Tylorstown
Tylorstown
Tylorstown is a village located in the Rhondda valley, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It was founded by Alfred Tylor who set up an early coal mining operation in the location in the mid-19th century....
.
Later career
After leaving boxing, Havard worked in factories and carried out some security work for bands, such as the Spice GirlsSpice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
and Take That
Take That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
. He then spent five years working on the railways. Nine years after retiring as a professional boxer, he made an attempt to relaunch himself as a boxing agent, spending time in the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
in a bid to find boxing talent. By 2009 Havard was back fighting but at a semi-professional winning the Empire Boxing Federation British light-welterweight title.
Haddock is one of only three Welshmen to have won the British super-featherweight title, alongside Robert Dickie
Robert Dickie
Robert Dickie was a Welsh professional boxer, fighting at both featherweight and super-featherweight. He was Scottish champion at featherweight, British champion at both weights and became WBC International super-featherweight champion in 1988...
and Neil Haddock
Neil Haddock
Neil Haddock is a Welsh former lightweight and super featherweight boxer. Before turning professional he won a silver medal as a lightweight at the 1986 Commonwealth Games. His early career as a professional lightweight was not very notable, but after a year out from boxing caused by an eye...
.