Elisha Obed

Elisha Obed
Born
Everette Ferguson

(1952-02-21)21 February 1952
Nassau, Bahamas
Died28 June 2018(2018-06-28) (aged 66)
NationalityBahamian
Statistics
Weight(s)Light middleweight
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Reach72 in (183 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights120
Wins91
Wins by KO60
Losses22
Draws4
No contests3

Everette Ferguson BEM (21 February 1952 – 28 June 2018), better known as Elisha Obed was a Bahamian light middleweight boxer.[1] He is the only professional world boxing champion in history to come from the Bahamas.

Boxing career

Amateur career

Obed entered the amateur ranks at age 12. Fighting almost weekly, he ran up an undefeated record of 46-0 (16 knockouts). At the age of 14, he became a professional boxer.[2]

Professional career

For almost 6 years, he lingered on small promotions on the island of Nassau, in the Bahamas. He was billed as undefeated, but he had lost a fight by knockout to veteran Kid Carew. His loss to Kid Carew was unlisted for almost 8 years, as he was reported incorrectly as undefeated in the press until his loss to Eckhard Dagge.

Veteran trainer and promoter Moe Fleischer travelled to Nassau to "check-out" this upcoming prospect. Mike Dundee, nephew of Angelo Dundee, came in as his manager.

Soon after, Obed was fighting main events. He earned a top ten ranking by knocking out former title contender Bunny Grant. Obed made his U.S. debut in Florida. Knocked out every top middleweight boxer in Florida in the early 1970s, including state Champion Dennis Riggs and former champion Jimmy Williams.

In 1975, he captured the WBC Light Middleweight Title by defeating Miguel de Oliveira. He defended the title twice before losing the belt to Germany's Eckhard Dagge in 1976,[3] after which he quit, claiming he had blurred vision. Obed stated that he had been thumbed in the eye by a Dagge. In actuality, he was later found to have a detached retina and was legally blind in that eye.[citation needed]

Obed decided to enter the middleweight ranks. He later fought Australian Rocky Mattioli for the world championship title but was knocked out in the seventh round. By 27, he was back to where he started from, fighting on local fight cards in Nassau. He retired in 1988.

Professional boxing record

120 fights 91 wins 22 losses
By knockout 60 9
By decision 31 12
By disqualification 0 1
Draws 4
No contests 3
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
120 Win 91–22–4 (3) James Coakley PTS 10 (10) 06/03/1988 Nassau, Bahamas
119 Loss 90–22–4 (3) James Coakley PTS 10 (10) 21/03/1987 Nassau, Bahamas
118 Loss 90–21–4 (3) Arnold Neal KO 4 (?) 02/02/1986 Nassau, Bahamas
117 Loss 90–20–4 (3) Earl Boger TKO 8 (10) 22/01/1986 Sheraton Charleston Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
116 Loss 90–19–4 (3) Arnold Neal KO 5 (?) 17/05/1985 Nassau, Bahamas
115 Win 90–18–4 (3) Rocky Fabrizio PTS 10 (10) 28/09/1984 Nassau, Bahamas
114 Loss 89–18–4 (3) Jeff Nelson TKO 8 (10) 18/06/1984 Nassau, Bahamas
113 Win 89–17–4 (3) Eddie Flanning PTS 10 (10) 31/03/1984 Nassau, Bahamas
112 Loss 88–17–4 (3) Samuel Whyms PTS 10 (10) 16/09/1983 Nassau, Bahamas
111 Win 88–16–4 (3) Allen Briscoe KO 3 (?) 01/07/1983 Nassau, Bahamas
110 Loss 87–16–4 (3) Jeff Nelson PTS 10 (10) 22/03/1983 Nassau, Bahamas
109 Win 87–15–4 (3) Lonnie Wilcox KO 3 (?) 05/11/1982 Nassau, Bahamas
108 Loss 86–15–4 (3) Willie Ray Taylor PTS 8 (8) 15/05/1982 Nassau, Bahamas
107 Loss 86–14–4 (3) Homer Jackson PTS 10 (10) 16/02/1982 Nassau, Bahamas
106 Loss 86–13–4 (3) Bobby Czyz DQ 6 (10) 12/11/1981 Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.
105 Loss 86–12–4 (3) Ralph Hollett UD 10 (10) 25/08/1981 Halifax Metro Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
104 Win 86–11–4 (3) Edison Stubbs KO 2 (?) 10/08/1981 Nassau, Bahamas
103 Win 85–11–4 (3) Sherwin Johnson PTS 10 (10) 01/05/1981 Nassau, Bahamas
102 Win 84–11–4 (3) Homer Jackson PTS 10 (10) 25/03/1981 Nassau, Bahamas
101 Win 83–11–4 (3) Eddie McNeeley KO 4 (?) 14/03/1981 Freeport, Bahamas
100 Win 82–11–4 (3) Rocky Stevens TKO 9 (10) 30/01/1981 Nassau, Bahamas
99 Win 81–11–4 (3) Sammy Masias KO 5 (10) 07/10/1980 Nassau, Bahamas
98 Loss 80–11–4 (3) Steve Gregory UD 10 (10) 24/07/1980 Downtown Sheraton Hotel Ballroom, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
97 Win 80–10–4 (3) Apakuki Sakuru PTS 10 (10) 30/05/1980 Suva, Fiji
96 Loss 79–10–4 (3) Fulgencio Obelmejias TKO 3 (10) 03/03/1980 Caracas, Venezuela
95 Win 79–9–4 (3) Willie Featherstone SD 10 (10) 12/02/1980 Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
94 Win 78–9–4 (3) Sammy Barr KO 4 (?) 26/12/1979 Nassau, Bahamas
93 NC 77–9–4 (3) Sammy Barr NC 6 (?) 23/11/1979 Nassau, Bahamas
92 Win 77–9–4 (2) Richie Lee Roberts PTS 10 (10) 19/10/1979 Freeport, Bahamas
91 Loss 76–9–4 (2) Curtis Parker TKO 7 (10) 11/09/1979 Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
90 Win 76–8–4 (2) Charlie Grimmett KO 9 (10) 17/08/1979 Nassau, Bahamas
89 Win 75–8–4 (2) Hector Maldonado KO 5 (?) 22/06/1979 Nassau, Bahamas
88 Win 74–8–4 (2) Terry Rondeau KO 6 (10) 04/05/1979 Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
87 Win 73–8–4 (2) Pablo Rodriguez KO 5 (10) 21/04/1979 Freeport, Bahamas
86 Win 72–8–4 (2) Juan Serrano PTS 10 (10) 30/03/1979 Nassau, Bahamas
85 Win 71–8–4 (2) Lionel Cameron KO 4 (?) 23/02/1979 Nassau, Bahamas
84 NC 70–8–4 (2) A W Muhammad NC 4 (?) 13/01/1979 Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
83 Loss 70–8–4 (1) Tony Chiaverini UD 10 (10) 02/12/1978 Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
82 Loss 70–7–4 (1) Georg Steinherr PTS 10 (10) 31/10/1978 Munich, West Germany
81 Loss 70–6–4 (1) Marijan Beneš PTS 10 (10) 02/09/1978 Berlin, West Germany
80 Win 70–5–4 (1) Henry Tiger Hall TKO 7 (?) 28/04/1978 Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
79 Loss 69–5–4 (1) Rocky Mattioli KO 7 (15) 11/03/1978 Kooyong Stadium, Melbourne, Australia For WBC light middleweight title
78 Loss 69–4–4 (1) Joao Mendonca UD 10 (10) 02/12/1977 Ginásio do Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo, Brazil
77 Win 69–3–4 (1) Henry Mitchell KO 3 (10) 23/10/1977 California Beach Club, Miami, Florida, U.S.
76 Loss 68–3–4 (1) Ayub Kalule PTS 10 (10) 02/06/1977 Randers Hallen, Randers, Denmark
75 Draw 68–2–4 (1) Jean Claude LeClair SD 10 (10) 22/02/1977 Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
74 Win 68–2–3 (1) Fernand Marcotte UD 10 (10) 18/01/1977 Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
73 Win 67–2–3 (1) Sammy Barr SD 10 (10) 19/11/1976 Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
72 Draw 66–2–3 (1) Sammy Barr PTS 10 (10) 24/09/1976 Nassau, Bahamas
71 Win 66–2–2 (1) Victor Taco Perez UD 10 (10) 21/09/1976 Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
70 Win 65–2–2 (1) Larry Brasier KO 1 (10) 07/08/1976 Freeport, Bahamas
69 Loss 64–2–2 (1) Eckhard Dagge TKO 10 (15) 18/06/1976 Deutschlandhalle, Charlottenburg, West Germany Lost WBC light middleweight title
68 Win 64–1–2 (1) Sea Robinson UD 15 (15) 24/04/1976 Palais des Sports de Treichville, Abidjan, Ivory Coast Retained WBC light middleweight title
67 Win 63–1–2 (1) Tony Gardner KO 2 (15) 28/02/1976 Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, Nassau, Bahamas Retained WBC light middleweight title
66 Win 62–1–2 (1) Miguel de Oliveira RTD 10 (15) 13/11/1975 Nouvelle Hippodrome, Paris, France Won WBC light middleweight title
65 Win 61–1–2 (1) Nick Peoples KO 6 (10) 13/10/1975 Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
64 Win 60–1–2 (1) Gene Wells KO 5 (10) 22/07/1975 Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
63 Win 59–1–2 (1) Chucho Garcia TKO 5 (10) 20/06/1975 Freeport, Bahamas
62 Win 58–1–2 (1) Nat King KO 8 (?) 30/05/1975 Nassau, Bahamas
61 Win 57–1–2 (1) Marcel Clay KO 8 (10) 29/04/1975 Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
60 Win 56–1–2 (1) Manuel Elizondo KO 10 (10) 22/02/1975 Community Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
59 Win 55–1–2 (1) Fernand Marcotte TKO 11 (12) 21/01/1975 Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. Won vacant NABF light middleweight title
58 Win 54–1–2 (1) Sammy Rookard UD 10 (10) 25/12/1974 Nassau, Bahamas
57 Win 53–1–2 (1) Renato Garcia UD 10 (10) 16/11/1974 Community Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
56 Win 52–1–2 (1) Johnny Rico KO 2 (10) 19/10/1974 Community Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
55 Win 51–1–2 (1) Bobby Williams TKO 5 (10) 27/09/1974 Nassau, Bahamas
54 Win 50–1–2 (1) Guillermo Escalera KO 5 (10) 06/09/1974 Freeport, Bahamas
53 Win 49–1–2 (1) Frank Flores KO 5 (10) 16/08/1974 Community Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
52 Win 48–1–2 (1) Carlos Marks UD 10 (10) 11/07/1974 A.F. Adderley Auditorium, Nassau, Bahamas
51 Draw 47–1–2 (1) Dario Hidalgo MD 10 (10) 11/06/1974 Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
50 Win 47–1–1 (1) Chucho Garcia PTS 10 (10) 31/05/1974 Freeport, Bahamas
49 Win 46–1–1 (1) Roy Lee UD 10 (10) 26/04/1974 Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
48 Win 45–1–1 (1) Jesse Rios KO 2 (10) 09/04/1974 Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
47 Win 44–1–1 (1) Eddie Davis TKO 5 (10) 15/03/1974 Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
46 Win 43–1–1 (1) Vicente Medina TKO 7 (10) 26/02/1974 Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
45 Win 42–1–1 (1) Windell Spencer TKO 3 (10) 15/02/1974 Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
44 Win 41–1–1 (1) Tom Von Hatten TKO 2 (10) 15/01/1974 Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
43 Win 40–1–1 (1) Saulo Hernandez TKO 1 (10) 14/12/1973 Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
42 Win 39–1–1 (1) Mike Lankester RTD 7 (10) 04/12/1973 Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
41 Win 38–1–1 (1) Dennis Riggs KO 4 (10) 13/11/1973 Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
40 Win 37–1–1 (1) Jose Papo Melendez RTD 7 (10) 19/10/1973 Boca Raton Resort & Club, Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
39 Win 36–1–1 (1) Bunny Grant UD 10 (10) 28/09/1973 Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
38 Win 35–1–1 (1) Doug Rogers TKO 4 (10) 06/08/1973 A.F. Adderley Auditorium, Nassau, Bahamas
37 Win 34–1–1 (1) Jimmy Williams KO 1 (10) 19/07/1973 Camelot Room, Freeport, Bahamas
36 Win 33–1–1 (1) Cliff Johnson TKO 3 (10) 25/05/1973 Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
35 Win 32–1–1 (1) Roy Goss UD 10 (10) 23/04/1973 Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
34 Win 31–1–1 (1) Al Cook TKO 6 (10) 29/03/1973 Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
33 Win 30–1–1 (1) Terry Hayward KO 1 (10) 23/02/1973 Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
32 Win 29–1–1 (1) Sandy Torres KO 8 (10) 26/01/1973 Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
31 Win 28–1–1 (1) Joe Hooks KO 6 (10) 17/11/1972 Nassau, Bahamas
30 Win 27–1–1 (1) Prince Jimmy Hamm KO 8 (10) 26/08/1972 Nassau, Bahamas
29 Win 26–1–1 (1) Roscoe Bell PTS 10 (10) 15/07/1972 Nassau, Bahamas
28 Win 25–1–1 (1) Dorman Crawford KO 10 (?) 26/05/1972 Nassau, Bahamas
27 Win 24–1–1 (1) Sugar Cliff TKO 6 (12) 08/04/1972 Nassau, Bahamas Won Bahamas Welterweight Title
26 Win 23–1–1 (1) Larry Adkins PTS 10 (10) 25/09/1971 Nassau, Bahamas
25 Win 22–1–1 (1) Ray Minus UD 15 (15) 05/06/1971 Nassau, Bahamas
24 Win 21–1–1 (1) Carl Starling KO 3 (10) 01/05/1971 Nassau, Bahamas
23 Win 20–1–1 (1) Don Fraser KO 10 (10) 20/12/1970 Nassau, Bahamas
22 Win 19–1–1 (1) Buddy Taylor PTS 10 (10) 27/11/1970 Nassau, Bahamas
21 Win 18–1–1 (1) Droopy Davis TKO 7 (10) 29/08/1970 Nassau, Bahamas
20 Win 17–1–1 (1) Bert Woods KO 3 (?) 15/05/1970 Nassau, Bahamas
19 Win 16–1–1 (1) Milton Hall KO 2 (?) 03/04/1970 Nassau, Bahamas
18 Win 15–1–1 (1) Don Fraser PTS 8 (8) 08/12/1969 Nassau, Bahamas
17 Win 14–1–1 (1) Sandy Ronnie Jeffries PTS 8 (8) 31/10/1969 Nassau, Bahamas
16 Win 13–1–1 (1) Winston Green PTS 8 (8) 26/09/1969 Nassau, Bahamas
15 Win 12–1–1 (1) Sugarboy Monroe KO 1 (?) 15/08/1969 Nassau, Bahamas
14 Win 11–1–1 (1) Droopy Davis PTS 8 (8) 11/07/1969 Nassau, Bahamas
13 Win 10–1–1 (1) Kid Joe KO 6 (?) 14/03/1969 Nassau, Bahamas
12 Win 9–1–1 (1) Cornbread Rhamina KO 5 (?) 21/02/1969 Nassau, Bahamas
11 Win 8–1–1 (1) Roscoe Russell KO 2 (?) 07/02/1969 Nassau, Bahamas
10 Win 7–1–1 (1) Mike Whymms KO 1 (?) 20/01/1969 Nassau, Bahamas
9 Win 6–1–1 (1) Taylor Ventura KO 2 (?) 02/12/1968 Nassau, Bahamas
8 Win 5–1–1 (1) Mike Whymms KO 3 (?) 22/11/1968 Nassau, Bahamas
7 Win 4–1–1 (1) Freddie Major PTS 4 (4) 10/08/1968 Nassau, Bahamas
6 Win 3–1–1 (1) Tony Mortimer PTS 4 (4) 16/02/1968 Nassau, Bahamas
5 Loss 2–1–1 (1) Kid Carew KO 2 (?) 11/12/1967 Nassau, Bahamas
4 Draw 2–0–1 (1) Taylor Ventura PTS 4 (4) 10/11/1967 Nassau, Bahamas
3 NC 2–0 (1) Pino Romano NC 3 (4) 13/10/1967 Nassau, Bahamas
2 Win 2–0 Taylor Ventura KO 1 (?) 15/09/1967 Nassau, Bahamas
1 Win 1–0 Edison Stubbs PTS 4 (4) 10/08/1967 Nassau, Bahamas

Later life

Obed received a British Empire Medal for services to sport in the 2016 New Year Honours. He died on 28 June 2018 after a long illness.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Elisha Obed was known as a hard-hitting boxer (PDF), Bahamas.gov.bs, retrieved October 11, 2013
  2. ^ "Tributes paid to boxing icon 'Elisha Obed'". www.tribune242.com. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  3. ^ "Elisha Obed passes at age 66". Eye Witness News. 2018-06-30. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  4. ^ "Boxing Champion Everette "Elisha Obed" Ferguson passes at 66". Bahamas Press. Retrieved 2022-10-09.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Ralph Palladin 		NABF super welterweight champion
January 21, 1975 – 1975
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Mike Baker
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBC super welterweight champion
November 13, 1975 – June 18, 1976 		Succeeded by