TRINIDADIAN Michael Drayton became Patrick Ford’s fourth knockout victim on June 17, 1978, in Georgetown, Guyana. Drayton was stopped in the fifth round by the top Guyanese featherweight who remained unbeaten in seven fights. The Trinidadian was used to being in the ring against Guyanese opponents having fought Terrence Alli, Michael Reid, `Tiger’ Green and Lennox Blackmoore among others. Ford was just off defeating Green for the national featherweight title when he met Drayton.
He was 16-0 when coming up against Mexican Salvador Sanchez. The Mexican was the holder of the World Boxing Council featherweight title. On September 13, 1980 Ford had the distinction of being the first Guyanese to challenge for a world title when he battled Sanchez.
The lanky Guyanese troubled the shorter Mexican for the first seven rounds of the scheduled 15-rounder, but Sanchez used his experience in the latter part of the fight to be adjudged winner by a majority decision. Ford ended an 11-year career in 1987 following a victory over Albert Browne. He died in the USA in November 2011 at age 55.