Ricky Anderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ricky Anderson |
|
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | The Gentleman |
| Rated at |
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| Nationality |  Canadian |
| Born | October 28, 1960 Africville, Nova Scotia |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 21 |
| Wins | 19 |
| Wins by KO | 13 |
| Losses | 2 |
Ricky Anderson is a famous former Canadian professional boxer. He was born in Africville, Nova Scotia. Ricky became a two-time Canadian welterweight champion.
He was supposed to represent Canada at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. However, the Canadian team did not go because of a boycott. Ricky went on to become a top amateur boxer. As a professional, he won 19 of his 21 fights.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Ricky Anderson was born in Africville, Nova Scotia. This was a special Black community in Canada. Later, his family moved to North End, Halifax. This happened when the City of Halifax took over the land.
Amateur Boxing Journey
Ricky Anderson started his amateur boxing career in 1974. In his first year, he won the Nova Scotia flyweight title. His coach was Taylor Gordon.
Early Wins and Medals
In 1975, Ricky won a silver medal. This was in the light flyweight division at the 1975 Canada Winter Games. These games were held in Lethbridge, Alberta. In May 1977, he was named the best intermediate boxer. This was at the Nova Scotia Amateur Boxing Championships.
He then represented Nova Scotia at the Canadian National Intermediate Amateur Boxing Championships. He won a gold medal in the lightweight division. Ricky was the first Canadian-born boxer to beat a Cuban fighter. This happened at an international tournament in Cuba in 1977.
In 1978, he reached the finals of the Canadian National Amateur Boxing Championships. He lost that fight by decision. In February 1979, he beat Dominique Durand in Halifax. This was against the French national team.
World Junior Championships
In December 1979, Ricky took part in the Levi's Cup. This was the first World Junior Championships. It was held in Yokohama, Japan. He won a silver medal, losing in the final round. He was the first Canadian to win a silver at this level.
Olympic Dreams and Other Successes
On April 13, 1980, Ricky won the Canadian National Amateur Boxing Championship. This was in Halifax. Soon after, Canada announced it would boycott the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
The next month, Ricky won a gold medal. This was in the light welterweight division. It happened at the 6th International Acropolis Cup tournament. This event was held in Athens, Greece.
On June 26, 1980, Ricky was chosen for the Canadian Olympic boxing team. But he could not compete due to the boycott. Canadian boxers then prepared for other competitions. In October 1980, he fought in London at Wembley Stadium.
North American and World Success
In April 1981, Ricky won another Canadian National Amateur Boxing Championship. This time it was in Toronto. He then competed in Shreveport, Louisiana. He won the North American Light Welterweight title there. He knocked out the U.S. National boxing champion, James Mitchell.
After beating Mitchell, he was named Canadian Athlete of the Month. This was for September by the Canadian Sports Federation. Ricky also took part in the 1981 Boxing World Cup. This was held in Montreal's Maurice Richard Arena.
Fighting for Canada, he reached the world championship final. He faced Vasily Shyshev from the Soviet Union. Ricky was narrowly defeated and won the silver medal.
His total amateur record was 97 fights. He won 85 of them and lost 12.
Professional Boxing Career
Ricky Anderson's first professional fight was on June 1, 1982. It was against Averell Brady at the Halifax Forum. Over the next three years, Ricky won many fights. He beat boxers like Clyde Graves, Reggie McLean, and Bobby Buscombe. He won 12 fights in a row. Only two of his opponents, Graves and Vera, lasted the whole fight.
In 1984, he had his first professional loss. It was against Ray Chavez Guerrero, a very experienced boxer.
Ricky was given the nickname "The Gentleman." This name was given to him by CFL Executive J. I. Albrecht.
Becoming Canadian Welterweight Champion
Ricky won against Jamey Ollenberger in December 1984. He also beat John Herbert in February 1985. These wins set up a rematch with Ray Chavez Guerrero. Ricky wanted to get revenge for his first loss.
On April 30, 1985, Ricky Anderson faced Ray Chavez Guerrero again. Ricky had a record of 14 wins and 1 loss. This fight was for the Canadian Welterweight Championship. Ricky, who fought left-handed, knocked Chavez down in the eighth round. Ricky became the new Canadian welterweight champion.
In July 1985, he lost his title to Donnie Poole from Toronto. Poole then retired from boxing. Ricky returned to the ring in November 1985. He won by knockout in the second round against Juan Cantres.
By December 1985, the Canadian welterweight title was open again. Ricky won it back in March 1986. He became a two-time Canadian welterweight champion. This was after his second win over John Herbert. Ricky even trained for this fight at a jail in New Jersey.
He successfully defended his Canadian title in December 1986. He beat Denis Sigouin by a unanimous decision at the Halifax Forum. His next title defense was planned against Chris Clarke.
Ricky, who was 26, had to stop boxing early in May 1987. He was still the champion. A knee injury forced him to retire.
His professional record was 19 wins (13 by knockout) and 2 losses.
In May 1990, Ricky Anderson was honored. He was inducted into the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame.
Education and Work
Ricky finished high school at St. Patrick's High School in 1978. While he was a professional boxer, he also went to Saint Mary's University. He earned a degree in Sociology in 1988.
After his 12-year boxing career, he started a new job. The Nova Scotia Government hired him. He worked as a Drug Prevention Information Officer.
In 1993, Ricky got a part-time job in sports broadcasting. He worked as a weekend sportscaster for CTV Atlantic until 1995. He kept his full-time job as a Drug Prevention Specialist. He retired from that job in 2015.
Ricky also started his own business called Go Ricky Motivational Services. On September 1, 2003, he released a self-help book. It was titled "Win in the Arena of Life: Living a Life You Love Is Worth Fighting For."
He also worked with boxing organizations. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Combat Sports Authority. He was also part of the Canadian Boxing Federation. These groups help control professional boxing events. Ricky was on the board of the Nova Scotia Boxing Authority for 22 years. He even became vice-chairman.
Community Involvement
Ricky Anderson volunteered for 10 years. He helped at the Ward 5 Community Centre in Halifax. For two of those years, he was the chairman of the board.
Awards and Achievements
Ricky Anderson has received many honors for his boxing and community work:
- Nova Scotia Amateur Fly Weight Champion (1974)
- 1975 Canada Winter Games Silver Medalist (1975)
- Canadian Amateur Junior Featherweight Champion (1976)
- World Amateur Boxing Championships Silver Medalist (1979)
- 1980 Summer Olympics Team Canada Member (1980)
- Sport Nova Scotia's Male Athlete of the Year Award (1980)
- 1981 North American Championships Light-Welterweight Gold Medalist (1981)
- 1981 Boxing World Cup Light-Welterweight Silver Medalist (1981)
- Canadian Sports Federation's Canadian Athlete of the Month for September (1981)
- Two-time Sport Nova Scotia's Male Athlete of the Year (1981)
- Two-time Canadian Welterweight Champion (1985 & 1986)
- Inducted into the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame (1990)
- Inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame (2003)
- Inducted into the Black Ice Hockey and Sports Hall of Fame (2007)
