THE LIGHTWEIGHTS

THE CANADIAN LIGHTWEIGHTS and FEATHERWEIGHTS:  By Brian Zelley


On the professional boxing scene, Canada has produced a good crop of 
lightweights and featherweights on the Canadian and International stage.
Looking back to the Sixties and Seventies, two of our finest were
Al  Ford and Nick Furlano.


^Some from the west may remember Al Ford during his amateur days 
fighting in Golden Gloves action.  In his early pro fights, Ford would
 beat the likes of Mickey McMillan and Andy Aanderson, and in 1968
ford won the vacant Canadian lightweight title with a victory over
J. Mandel in Edmonton.  Title fights  would include victories over
Fernand Durelle   and Laurence Hafey.  Ford would then move up
in rankings with a victory  over Percey Hayles, but in a Commonwealth
title fight, Hayles would get the decision.  He would also face the likes of 
 KEN BUCHANAN. JOHNNY SUMMERHAYES and NICK FURLANO.


Furlano was best known for his action in the Seventies including his
initial bout with Al Ford.  Furlano would win the Canadian
super featherweight title again Danny Stokes and would defeat
Gaetan Hart for the Canadian lightweight title.  In world class
fights, Nick is best known in the Eighties  for his bouts with
Davey Armstrong and Aaron Pryor.