Dicky Eklund
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Dicky Eklund | |
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 Eklund in 2010 | |
| Born | Richard Eklund Jr. May 3, 1957 Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Other names | Dicky The Pride of Lowell |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Welterweight |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 29 |
| Wins | 19 |
| Wins by KO | 4 |
| Losses | 10 |
Richard Eklund Jr. (born May 3, 1957) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1975 to 1985. Known as "The Pride of Lowell", he held the USA New England welterweight title twice between 1979 and 1983.[1] He is the half-brother and former trainer of former WBU champion Micky Ward.[2] The 2010 biopic The Fighter is based on the two brothers' fall and rise to a boxing title.
Boxing career
[edit]Eklund grew up in Lowell along side his half brother Micky along with 7 sisters. He started boxing when at the age of 12 in the streets of Lowell. He then began to fight older adults nearly twice his age.[3]
After an amateur boxing career of 200 bouts, winning 194, including 2 New England Golden Glove championships.[4] 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.[5]
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 film The Fighter, Eklund claims to have knocked down Leonard in their match. While the film acknowledges the slip, 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."[6]
After his bout with Leonard he then fought Fernando Fernandez for the vacant USA New England welterweight title the bout took place in his hometown of Lowell. Eklund won the title defeating Fernandez on PTS. In his next 8 fights Eklund went on a streak of losing 2, winning 2, losing 2 and winning 2. He then fought Robert Sawyer for the ESPN welterweight title but lost via unanimous decision, then splitting his next 2 fights.
Eklund's fastest victory was a first-round knockout over C.J. Faison in Montreal, Canada on February 10, 1981.[7] 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 for a second time. 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.[8] Durings his career Dicky’s fame got him got him in trouble with drugs specifically crack, which began to slowly decline his boxing career. Eventually leading to him being arrested and sentenced to prison for 10-15 years.[3]
Training career
[edit]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. After Eklund was released from prison in the mid 90s he helped convince Ward to come out of retirement and began to train him again.[9] 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 alongside Ward would also help train their nephew Sean Eklund who also went on to become a professional boxer.[10][11]
Eklund now works as a personal trainer and boxing coach in New England. Helping train boxers at Wards boxing gym in Westford.[12] He would also travel the United States with Micky Ward, giving motivational speeches to college students. The two would even do a 3 day tour of the UK in 2012 telling their story’s with all the proceeds going to charity.[13]
Personal life
[edit]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. The movie received critical acclaim. 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.[14]
Eklund was also featured on the HBO documentary High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell which showed his fall from boxing grace because of his addiction to crack cocaine. In the documentary, Eklund was sentenced to a long prison term for crimes he committed to feed his crack addiction. Eklund has reportedly been arrested 66 times but has since cleaned up as he has gotten older.[15]
Eklund was named to Irish America’s top 100 in 2011 along side his brother Micky.[16] The two would also serve as the grand Marshall’s at that year’s international boxing hall of fame parade.[17]
His son Dicky Jr is a former actor, turned boxing trainer in California.[18]
Acting career
[edit]Eklund made his acting debut in the 2014 independent Massachusetts mafia film Portico where he plays himself.[19]
Professional boxing record
[edit]| 29 fights | 19 wins | 10 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 4 | 0 |
| By decision | 15 | 10 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Win | 19–10 |  James Lucas
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UD | 10 | May 30, 1985 | Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine, U.S.
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| 28 | Win | 18–10 | James Lucas
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SD | 12 | October 25, 1983 | Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine, U.S.
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Won USA New England welterweight title |
| 27 | Loss | 17–10 | Reggie Miller
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UD | 10 | September 22, 1983 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S.
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| 26 | Win | 17–9 | Terry Crawley
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SD | 10 | August 11, 1983 | Yarmouth, Massachusetts
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| 25 | Loss | 16–9 | Robert Sawyer
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UD | 12 | September 16, 1982 | Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
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For ESPN welterweight title |
| 24 | Win | 16–8 | Jeff Passero
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MD | 8 | July 31, 1982 | Ballys Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S
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| 23 | Win | 15–8 |  Cesar Guzman
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PTS | 8 | July 14, 1982 | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| 22 | Loss | 14–8 | Kevin Howard
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SD | 10 | January 7, 1982 | Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
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| 21 | Loss | 14–7 |  Chris Clarke
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SD | 10 | October 27, 1981 | Halifax Metro Center, Halifax, Canada
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| 20 | Win | 14–6 | Allen Clarke
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KO | 9 (10) | August 25, 1981 | Halifax Metro Center, Halifax, Canada
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| 19 | Win | 13–6 | C.J. Faison
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KO | 1 (8), 2:58 | February 10, 1981 | Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Canada
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| 18 | Loss | 12–6 | Fernando Fernandez
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SD | 10 | June 20, 1980 | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| 17 | Loss | 12–5 |  Dave Boy Green
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PTS | 10 | December 4, 1979 | Empire Pool, London, England
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| 16 | Win | 12–4 | Fernando Fernandez
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PTS | 10 | August 18, 1979 | Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
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Won USA New England welterweight title |
| 15 | Loss | 11–4 | Sugar Ray Leonard
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UD | 10 | July 18, 1978 | Hynes Auditorium, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| 14 | Loss | 11–3 | Willie Rodriguez
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SD | 8 | March 4, 1978 | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| 13 | Win | 11–2 | Al Cruz
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KO | 5 (6), 1:50 | January 16, 1978 | Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| 12 | Loss | 10–2 |  Erkki Meronen
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PTS | 6 | February 24, 1977 |  Østerbro Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
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| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Rufus Miller
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UD | 8 | October 30, 1976 | East Hartford High School, East Hartford, U.S.
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| 10 | Win | 9–1 | Mike Michaud
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SD | 8 | September 20, 1976 | Golden Banana Club, Peabody, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| 9 | Win | 8–1 | Randy Milton
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UD | 6 | June 24, 1976 | Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, Connecticut, U.S.
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| 8 | Win | 7–1 | Jose Carlos Garcia
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UD | 6 | April 26, 1976 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Charlie Benjamin
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PTS | 6 | February 21, 1976 | Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.
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| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Terry Rondeau
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PTS | 6 | January 31, 1976 | State Armory, Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.
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| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Jose Papo Melendez
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UD | 4 | December 20, 1975 | Hynes Auditorium, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| 4 | Win | 3–1 | Avelino Dos Reis
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KO | 3 (6) | November 21, 1975 | Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
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| 3 | Win | 2–1 | Eddie Hudson
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UD | 4 | November 6, 1975 | Portland, Maine, U.S.
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| 2 | Win | 1–1 | Doug Romano
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UD | 4 | September 30, 1975 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| 1 | Loss | 0–1 | Joe DeFayette
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SD | 6 | August 26, 1975 | Sargent Field, New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.
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See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Graham, Bryan Armen (December 14, 2010). "Q&A with Christian Bale". SI.com. Archived from the original on December 15, 2010. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
- ^ Johnson, O'Ryan (December 4, 2010). "Dicky Eklund spars with fame's curse". BostonHerald.com. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
- ^ a b News, Worcester State University (November 7, 2011). "'The Fighter' Brothers Talk About Life on Screen and in the Ring". Worcester State University News. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Dicky Eklund spars with fame's curse". Boston Herald. December 4, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Ring Record Book, 1983, page 112)
- ^ Star Boxing. "The Hebrew Hammer Ready to Produce Fireworks". Boxing News 24/7.
- ^ Ring Record Book, 1983, page 112
- ^ "BoxRec profile". Boxrec.com. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
- ^ Ribaudo, Matt (March 19, 2024). "A Warrior's Heart, The Irish Micky Ward Story". BostonMan Magazine. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Box2Burn. "Box2Burn". Box2Burn. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "BoxRec: Login". boxrec.com. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ "Flashback 40 years — when Sugar Ray came to meet the 'Pride of Lowell'". Lowell Sun. February 15, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ ProBoxing-Fans.com (March 15, 2012). "Micky Ward & Dicky Eklund to do May event tour in the UK". ProBoxing-Fans.com. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ "Christian Bale wins Oscar for 'The Fighter'". MoneyControl.com. February 28, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
- ^ "Deadspin | The Real Dicky Eklund In HBO's High On Crack Street And Places Less Dignified". deadspin.com. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ "Dicky Eklund". www.irishamerica.com. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Group, Sinclair Broadcast (April 28, 2011). "Real life "Fighter" to be Grand Marshal at Boxing HOF parade". WSTM. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "All in the Family: Dicky Eklund Jr". Max Boxing. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Dumond, Matthew C., Portico (Drama), Matthew C. Dumond, Shawn Doherty, Owen Burke, Cage Insider Productions, Dumond Films, Status Entertainment, retrieved August 11, 2025
External links
[edit]- Dicky Eklund at IMDb
- Boxing record for Dicky Eklund from BoxRec (registration required)
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