Guyanese lightweight champion Patrick Forde passed away at 6.45 am yesterday in a New York hospital according to his brother Reginald.
Stabroek News learnt that Patrick, 54, suffered a heart attack last Tuesday and succumbed yesterday at the facility. Forde is considered among Guyana’s greatest boxers,
having the distinction of being the first Guyanese to fight for a world title under the Golden Arrowhead.
Forde first fought Salvador Sanchez, of Mexico, for the WBC featherweight title in September of 1980 and lost by a majority decision. His next fight was also for a world title, this time against Eusebio Pedroza of Panama who knocked him out in the 13th round for the WBA featherweight title.
Prior to these memorable bouts Forde won the Commonwealth featherweight title in August of 1980, recording a TKO victory over Nigeria’s Eddie Ndukwu in Lagos, Nigeria. He also held the WBC FECARBOX featherweight title, winning it first against Enrique Solis in 1979 and then successfully defending it against Nelson Cruz Tamariz in May of 1980.
Forde, who was also an amateur champion before making his professional debut in April 1976 against Roy Smith, retired in May of 1987 with a win against Albert Browne by a unanimous decision.
In his 23-fight professional career he won 19 bouts, lost four and had a 52% knockout rate.
Forde, born December 17, 1955, has left a dent in the boxing fraternity, according to Reginald, who represented Guyana at the 1980 Commonwealth Games in Nigeria. Reginald posited that the world has lost two great fighters in the space of six days: “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier, last Monday, and now Patrick.
The older brother said that he was close to Patrick, acting many times as his assistant trainer. Reginald said that Patrick was cheerful and vibrant but he was extremely plain spoken. He pointed out that Patrick, who attended the St. Ambrose Anglican School, was well loved and will be greatly missed.
He also mused that his brother was a beauty to watch in the ring and this was as a result of his commitment to work in the gym. Remembering Patrick’s first world title fight against Sanchez, Reginald said that many who watched that fight felt that Patrick was the winner.
President of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) Steve Ninvalle who covered boxing as a journalist, said that he idolised Patrick Forde, stating that with the crop of fighters produced in Guyana Forde is in the top three. Ninvalle remembered Forde as “fearless and as the epitome of a good fighter.”
This fearlessness in the ring mirrored Forde’s life out of the ring according to Ninvalle, who said that he “always called a spade a spade and gave good advice.” He also believes that Forde fought some of the toughest world title fights, saying that Forde’s fight against Sanchez could have gone either way.
Ninvalle also believes that Forde’s passing is a great loss and he extended condolences to his family on behalf of GABA, the Sport Ministry and the Government of Guyana.
Eion Jardine, one of the country’s top professional referees, remembers Forde as an exciting fighter and probably one of the bigger featherweights, even as an amateur, he has encountered. Jardine said that even in his world title bout with Sanchez, Forde was the bigger fighter in terms of reach and height.
Jardine said that that fight was a barnburner and it is still baffling to him to this day why Forde did not get a return fight with Sanchez. He posited that with that performance he would have loved to see Forde move up in another division and perhaps win other titles.
Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) president Peter Abdool said that he was stunned to hear of the passing and stated that Patrick is held in high regard, historically, and considered as boxing royalty by pundits of the fistic sport. According to Abdool, Forde contributed something special when he was in the ring and at the time of his passing he was still involved in helping to develop young pugilists at the world renowned Gleason Gym in New York.
Abdool also said that the GBBC will find some way to pay tribute to Forde for his contribution to the sport. He sent condolences to Forde’s family on behalf of the GBBC.
