Dicky Eklund

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Dicky Eklund

Eklund in 2010.
Statistics
Real name Richard Eklund,Jr.
Nickname(s) Dicky
The Pride of Lowell
Rated at Welterweight
Light Welterweight
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Reach 70 in (178 cm)
Nationality United States American
Born (1957-05-09) May 9, 1957
Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 29
Wins 19
Wins by KO 4
Losses 10
Draws 0
No contests 0

Richard "Dicky" Eklund, Jr. (born May 9, 1957) is an American former professional boxer in the Welterweight division. A former New England Welterweight Champion,[1] Eklund was known as "The Pride of Lowell". He is the half-brother and former trainer of former WBU World Champion Micky Ward.[2] The 2010 biopic The Fighter is based on the two brothers' fall and rise to the boxing title.

Boxing career

After an amateur boxing career of 200 bouts,winning 194, Eklund turned professional on August 26, 1975. After losing his debut by 6-round decision to Joe DeFayette, Eklund won 10 straight fights; defeating such opponents as Doug Romano, Terry Rondeau, Carlos Garcia, Randy Milton, and Mike Michaud.[3]

He fought professionally as Dick Eklund; "Dicky" was a nickname used by his family and friends. Before his 1978 match with future world boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard, Eklund's most impressive victory was over undefeated Rufus Miller (6–0–1) in 1976.

Eklund's most notable fight was on July 18, 1978, against Sugar Ray Leonard at the Hynes Memorial Auditorium in Boston, Massachusetts. He went the distance against Leonard, who eventually won the fight by unanimous decision. During the fight, Eklund was knocked down twice. In the ninth round, the fighters got wrapped up and Leonard tripped, which was counted as a trip by the referee. In the movie, The Fighter, Eklund claims to have knocked down Leonard in their match. A video of the fight shows a punch/push and Leonard falling to the canvas on his back. The official verdict by the referee Tommy Rawson was a slip. In an interview regarding the knockdown, Leonard said, "I slipped."[4]

Eklund's fastest victory was a first round knockout over C.J. Faison in Montreal, Canada on February 10, 1981.[5]

According to the 1983 Ring Record Book, Eklund knocked out Canada's Allan Clarke in 9 rounds on August 25, 1981. Clarke's record was listed by the Ring as 21–4–1.

On October 25, 1983, Eklund defeated James Lucas to win the USA New England Welterweight Title. Following a rematch victory over Lucas in 1985, Eklund never fought again.

Eklund's fighting career spanned 10 years from 1975 to 1985, during which he compiled a professional career record of 19 wins, including four by knockout, and 10 losses.[6]

After Eklund's fighting career ended, he became the trainer of his half-brother, noted former boxer Micky Ward. Eklund was Ward's full-time trainer for 26 fights, from Ward's professional debut in 1985 until his first retirement in 1991. Three of Ward's post-retirement fights were voted fight of the year by The Ring. Eklund served as Ward's trainer until his second retirement, after his third fight with Arturo Gatti on June 7, 2003. Ward's biography, written by Bob Halloran and titled Irish Thunder: The Hard Life and Times of Micky Ward, discusses much of Eklund's life and career.

Eklund now works as a personal trainer and boxing coach in New England. He also travels the United States with Micky Ward, giving motivational speeches to college students.

Personal life

In the 1980s, Eklund became addicted to crack cocaine, effectively ending his fighting career in 1985. To support his habit, he turned to crime. Eklund was sentenced to 10-to-15 years in prison for breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony, kidnapping, masked armed robbery, and several other crimes; he was paroled in 1999.

Eklund has two sons, Dicky III and Tommy, and a daughter, Kerry.

In film

HBO's America Undercover documented Eklund's life for a period of 18 months. The resulting 1995 documentary, High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell, followed Eklund and two other crack addicts in Lowell as their lives spiraled out of control. The documentary ends with Eklund being sentenced to prison.[7]

Paramount Pictures' 2010 drama The Fighter chronicles the rise of Eklund's younger half-brother Micky Ward. Directed by David O. Russell, the film stars Christian Bale as Eklund and Mark Wahlberg as Ward. At the 2011 Screen Actors Guild Awards, Eklund made a surprise appearance on stage with Christian Bale as the latter accepted the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Eklund. Bale also won a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for his performance. During his Academy Award acceptance speech, he thanked Eklund and Ward, who were in the audience.[8]

Professional boxing record

19 Wins (4 knockouts), 10 Losses, 0 Draw
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 19–10–0 United States James Lucas UD 10 (10) May 30, 1985 MaineCumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18–10–0 United States James Lucas UD 12 (12) October 15, 1983 MaineCumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine Won the New England Welterweight Championship
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 17–10–0 United States Reggie Miller UD 10 (10) September 23, 1983 LouisianaLake Charles, Louisiana Miller was undefeated (12–0) going in.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17–9–0 United States Terry Crawley UD 10 (10) August 11, 1983 MassachusettsYarmouth, Massachusetts
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 16–9–0 United States Robert Sawyer UD 12 (12) September 16, 1982 New JerseySands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey For the ESPN Welterweight Championship
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16–8–0 United States Jeff Passero UD 8 (8) July 31, 1982 New JerseyBallys Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15–8–0 Puerto Rico Cesar Guzman UD 8 (8) July 14, 1982 MassachusettsDorchester, Massachusetts
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 14–8–0 United States Kevin Howard UD 10 (10) January 7, 1982 New JerseySands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 14–7–0 Canada Chris Clarke SD 10 (10) October 27, 1981 Nova ScotiaHalifax Metro Center, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14–6–0 Canada Allen Clarke KO 9 (0:15) August 25, 1981 Nova ScotiaHalifax Metro Center, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13–6–0 United States C.J. Faison KO 1 (2:58) February 10, 1981 QuebecPaul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 12–6–0 United States Fernando Fernandez SD 10 (10) June 20, 1980 MassachusettsBoston, Massachusetts
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 12–5–0 England Dave Boy Green UD 10 (10) December 4, 1979 EnglandEmpire Pool, Wembley, London, England Green was (32–2) going in.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12–4–0 United States Fernando Fernandez UD 10 (10) August 18, 1979 MassachusettsLowell, Massachusetts
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 11–4–0 United States Sugar Ray Leonard UD 10 (10) July 18, 1978 MassachusettsHynes Auditorium, Boston, Massachusetts
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 11-3–0 United States Willie Rodriguez PTS 8 (8) March, 1978 Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11-2-0 United States Al Cruz KO 5 January 16, 1978 United States, Latham

See also

  • Notable boxing families

References

  1. ↑ Graham, Bryan Armen (December 14, 2010). "Q&A with Christian Bale". SI.com. Retrieved January 28, 2011. 
  2. ↑ Johnson, O'Ryan (December 4, 2010). "Dicky Eklund spars with fame’s curse". BostonHerald.com. Retrieved January 28, 2011. 
  3. ↑ Ring Record Book, 1983, page 112)
  4. ↑ http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=27219&more=1
  5. ↑ Ring Record Book, 1983, page 112
  6. ↑ "BoxRec profile". Boxrec.com. Retrieved January 28, 2011. 
  7. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1052003/
  8. ↑ "Christian Bale wins Oscar for 'The Fighter'". MoneyControl.com. February 28, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011. 

External links

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