Ricky Anderson

Ricky Anderson (born in Africville, Nova Scotia) is a Canadian former professional boxer and two-time Canadian welterweight champion. Anderson was due to represent Canada at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, but the Canadian teams boycotted the event. He continued to become a top amateur boxer, and won 19 of his 21 fights as a pro.

Early life

Ricky Anderson was born in Africville, Nova Scotia, a historic Black community in Canada. When the land was expropriated by the City of Halifax, his family was moved to North End, Halifax.

Amateur boxing career

1974–1979

Anderson's amateur boxing career began in 1974. In his first year of boxing, he captured the Nova Scotia flyweight title under the guidance of Taylor Gordon. He won a silver medal in the 105 pound light flyweight division at the 1975 Canada Winter Games held in Lethbridge, Alberta. On May 3, 1977, he was named the best intermediate boxer at the Nova Scotia Amateur Boxing Championships and national trials. He represented Nova Scotia at the Canadian National Intermediate Amateur Boxing Championships held in North Bay, Ontario, from May 18 to 20, 1977. He won a gold medal in the lightweight division. Anderson became the first Canadian-born boxer to beat a Cuban fighter at an international tournament in Cuba in 1977. At the 1978 Canadian National Amateur Boxing Championships in Sept-Iles, Quebec, he advanced to the finals but lost by decision. He defeated Dominique Durand in an amateur competition in Halifax in February 1979, which was against the French national team. In December 1979, Anderson participated in the Levi's Cup, the first World Junior Championships held by the Amateur International Boxing Association in Yokohama, Japan. He fell short against Armenian fighter Israel Akopkokhyan in the gold medal round but was the first Canadian to win a silver medal at the Junior World Championship level.

1980

On April 13, 1980, Anderson won the Canadian National Amateur Boxing Championship in Halifax before the Moscow Olympic boycott was announced on April 22, 1980. On the following month in May, Anderson won a gold medal in the light welterweight division at the 6th International Acropolis Cup tournament held at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece. On June 26, 1980, Anderson was selected for the Canadian Olympic boxing team but did not get the chance to represent his country due to the political boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia. The Canadian boxers prepared for alternate competitions. In October 1980, he fought in London at the Wembley Stadium.

1981

In April 1981, Anderson won another Canadian National Amateur Boxing Championship in Toronto. Then, in Shreveport, Louisiana, he competed in the North American Amateur Boxing Championships, winning the North American Light Welterweight title by knocking out the U.S. National boxing champion James Mitchell. Following the win over Mitchell, he was named Canadian Athlete of the Month for September by the Canadian Sports Federation. The Halifax boxer participated in the 1981 Boxing World Cup in Montreal's Maurice Richard Arena. Anderson, fighting for the Canadian team, reached the world championship final against Vasily Shyshev of the Soviet Union. He was narrowly defeated in the final and took home the silver medal.

His overall amateur record stands at 97 fights, with 85 wins and 12 losses.

Professional boxing career

His professional debut was against Averell Brady on June 1, 1982 at the Halifax Forum. Over the next 3 years, Anderson would score wins over Clyde Graves, Reggie McLean, Bobby Buscombe, Albert Cox, Billy Smith, Jose Vera, Felix Vanderpool, Kenny Smith, Jerome Artis, Armando Pinel, and Bobby Hackett. Only Graves and Vera went the distance with him as he built his record to 12-0. He suffered his first career loss in 1984 to 45-fight veteran boxer Ray Chavez Guerrero.

Ricky was given the nickname "The Gentleman" by CFL Executive J. I. Albrecht.

Canadian Welterweight Champion

Victories over Jamey Ollenberger in December 1984 and John Herbert in February 1985 would set up the rematch to avenge his first professional loss. Anderson, holding a 14–1 record, faced Ray Chavez Guerrero in a rematch on April 30, 1985, with the vacant Canadian Welterweight Championship on the line. The end came in the eighth round when the southpaw delivered a straight left hand that put Chavez down. The Halifax native became the new Canadian welterweight champion. In a July 1985 title defense, he lost to Toronto's Donnie Poole, who retired from the sport afterward. Anderson made his ring return in November 1985 with a second-round knockout of New York's Juan Cantres. By December 1985, the Canadian welterweight title had been vacated by Poole, and Anderson reclaimed it in March 1986, becoming a two-time Canadian welterweight champion with his second win over John Herbert. Anderson spent time training for the Herbert fight at the Passaic County jail in New Jersey. He successfully defended his Canadian title in December 1986 by defeating Denis Sigouin of Hull, Quebec, via unanimous decision at the Halifax Forum. His next title defense was scheduled against then–number one contender Chris Clarke.

Anderson, then 26, was forced to retire prematurely from boxing in May 1987 while still champion, forced out by a persistent knee injury.

His professional record was 19 wins (13 KOs) and 2 losses.

On May 14, 1990, the two-time Canadian welterweight champion was inducted into the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame.

Professional boxing record

Education

Anderson completed his high school education at St. Patrick's High School in 1978. While boxing professionally, he attended Saint Mary's University and received a Sociology degree in 1988.

Work career

Following his 12-year boxing career, he was appointed by the Nova Scotia Government as a Drug Prevention Information Officer with Addiction, Prevention, and Treatment Services.

In 1993, Anderson received an offer for a part-time sports broadcasting position. He accepted the role and worked as a CTV Atlantic weekend sportscaster until 1995. Anderson remained at his full-time job as a Drug Prevention Specialist at Addiction Services until his retirement in 2015.

On the side, Anderson created his own business, Go Ricky Motivational Services. On September 1, 2003, Anderson released "Win in the Arena of Life: Living a Life You Love Is Worth Fighting For," a 158-page self-help book published by Aslan Publishing.

He also worked as a member of the Nova Scotia Boxing Authority and Canadian Boxing Federation, government agencies that regulate professional boxing and mixed martial arts events provincially and federally. Anderson achieved 22 years as a general board member of the Nova Scotia Boxing Authority, at one point becoming vice-chairman.

Personal life

Anderson volunteered for 10 years with the Ward 5 Community Centre in Halifax, two years of which he was chairman of the board.

Honors and awards

* Nova Scotia Amateur Fly Weight Champion (1974)
* 1975 Canada Winter Games Silver Medalist (1975)
* Canadian Amateur Junior Featherweight Champion (1976)
* World Amateur Boxing Championships