News Americas, BROOKLYN, NY, Weds. Nov. 16, 2011: A Guyana-born, former world rated boxer Patrick Forde, was laid to rest following a funeral in Brooklyn, NY this morning.
Forde, 55, died at the King’s County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York early Monday morning. A wake was held last night followed by a funeral at the John’s Funeral Home, 509 Liberty Avenue in Brooklyn, NY today.
Forde was the first Guyanese boxer to fight for a world title under the Golden Arrowhead. He was one of Guyana’s finest boxers who once went 15 rounds with Salvador Sanchez for the WBC featherweight championship of the world on September 13, 1980.
He was unsuccessful after suffering a controversial split decision loss to Sanchez in San Antonio Texas USA. Four months after his match-up with Sanchez, he fought Eusebio Pedroza for the World Boxing Association version of the title on Valentine’s Day in 1981 but failed once again, this time by a knockout.
Though unsuccessful in his bid, Ford’s feat has been the catalyst to the acquisition of numerous titles starting with the historic feat of Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis against James Page in 2001 as well as countless other pugilists the likes of Gwendolyn O’Neil, Vivian Harris, Wayne Braithwaite, Gary StClair and quite recently, Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred.
Forde ended his professional career in 1987 with a record of 174 (11 KO’s).
