REGINALD `Reggie’ Ford was 24 years old when he tackled Morris Watkins on January 27, 1978. Ford was declared the winner on points at the end of the six-round contest held at the Calderon Theatre in New York.The Guyanese middleweight took a dive in his next bout as he lost to the much-feared and undefeated Ayub Kalule in September of the same year. The fight was held in Denmark and had the Commonwealth title at stake.
Kalule, who hailed from Kampala, Uganda, won the bout via a fifth round knockout and later captured the World Boxing Association (WBA) junior middleweight title. A dedicated southpaw, Ford never ducked an opponent and in an eventful career matched gloves with the likes of Marvellous Marvin Hagler and Mike `The Body Snatcher’ McCallum
Ford ended a nine-year career in 1984 when he was two months shy of 31 years. He had lost eight consecutive bouts leading up to his departure from the ring, and left with a record of 27 victories, 15 defeats and one draw.