Elisha Obed


Everette Oswald Ferguson BEM, better known as Elisha Obed was a Bahamian light middleweight boxer. He was the first Bahamian to win a world boxing title when he became the world light middleweight champion in 1975.

Early life

Everette Oswald Ferguson was born in Acklins, Bahamas on 21 February 1952. He was the son of David Ferguson and Cetia Darling.

Boxing career

Amateur career

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

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. On 1 June 1971, he won the Bahamian welterweight title, beating Ray Minus.
By January 1973, Obed had a professional record of 25-0 with 15 knockouts.
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, 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.
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.

Death

Obed died on Thursday, 28 June 2018 after a long illness. He was 66.

Awards and honours

Obed was awarded the British Empire Medal Queen’s 2016 New Year’s Honours for services to sport.
Obed was into the National Sports Hall of Fame and also into the Florida Hall of Fame.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
120WinJames CoakleyPTS10 06/03/1988Nassau, Bahamas
119Loss90–22–4 James CoakleyPTS10 21/03/1987Nassau, Bahamas
118Loss90–21–4 Arnold NealKO4 02/02/1986Nassau, Bahamas
117Loss90–20–4 Earl BogerTKO8 22/01/1986Sheraton Charleston Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
116Loss90–19–4 Arnold NealKO5 17/05/1985Nassau, Bahamas
115Win90–18–4 Rocky FabrizioPTS10 28/09/1984Nassau, Bahamas
114Loss89–18–4 Jeff NelsonTKO8 18/06/1984Nassau, Bahamas
113Win89–17–4 Eddie FlanningPTS10 31/03/1984Nassau, Bahamas
112Loss88–17–4 Samuel WhymsPTS10 16/09/1983Nassau, Bahamas
111Win88–16–4 Allen BriscoeKO3 01/07/1983Nassau, Bahamas
110Loss87–16–4 Jeff NelsonPTS10 22/03/1983Nassau, Bahamas
109Win87–15–4 Lonnie WilcoxKO3 05/11/1982Nassau, Bahamas
108Loss86–15–4 Willie Ray TaylorPTS8 15/05/1982Nassau, Bahamas
107Loss86–14–4 Homer JacksonPTS10 16/02/1982Nassau, Bahamas
106Loss86–13–4 Bobby CzyzDQ6 12/11/1981Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.
105Loss86–12–4 Ralph HollettUD10 25/08/1981Halifax Metro Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
104Win86–11–4 Edison StubbsKO2 10/08/1981Nassau, Bahamas
103Win85–11–4 Sherwin JohnsonPTS10 01/05/1981Nassau, Bahamas
102Win84–11–4 Homer JacksonPTS10 25/03/1981Nassau, Bahamas
101Win83–11–4 Eddie McNeeleyKO4 14/03/1981Freeport, Bahamas
100Win82–11–4 Rocky StevensTKO9 30/01/1981Nassau, Bahamas
99Win81–11–4 Sammy MasiasKO5 07/10/1980Nassau, Bahamas
98Loss80–11–4 Steve GregoryUD10 24/07/1980Downtown Sheraton Hotel Ballroom, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
97Win80–10–4 Apakuki SakuruPTS10 30/05/1980Suva, Fiji
96Loss79–10–4 Fulgencio ObelmejiasTKO3 03/03/1980Caracas, Venezuela
95Win79–9–4 Willie FeatherstoneSD10 12/02/1980Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
94Win78–9–4 Sammy BarrKO4 26/12/1979Nassau, Bahamas
93NC77–9–4 Sammy BarrNC6 23/11/1979Nassau, Bahamas
92Win77–9–4 Richie Lee RobertsPTS10 19/10/1979Freeport, Bahamas
91Loss76–9–4 Curtis ParkerTKO7 11/09/1979Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
90Win76–8–4 Charlie GrimmettKO9 17/08/1979Nassau, Bahamas
89Win75–8–4 Hector MaldonadoKO5 22/06/1979Nassau, Bahamas
88Win74–8–4 Terry RondeauKO6 04/05/1979Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
87Win73–8–4 Pablo RodriguezKO5 21/04/1979Freeport, Bahamas
86Win72–8–4 Juan SerranoPTS10 30/03/1979Nassau, Bahamas
85Win71–8–4 Lionel CameronKO4 23/02/1979Nassau, Bahamas
84NC70–8–4 A W MuhammadNC4 13/01/1979Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
83Loss70–8–4 Tony ChiaveriniUD10 02/12/1978Auditorium (Kansas City, Missouri)|Municipal Auditorium], Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
82Loss70–7–4 Georg SteinherrPTS10 31/10/1978Munich, West Germany
81Loss70–6–4 Marijan BenešPTS10 02/09/1978Berlin, West Germany
80Win70–5–4 Henry Tiger HallTKO7 28/04/1978Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
79Loss69–5–4 Rocky MattioliKO7 11/03/1978Kooyong Stadium, Melbourne, AustraliaFor WBC light middleweight title
78Loss69–4–4 Joao MendoncaUD10 02/12/1977Ginásio do Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo, Brazil
77Win69–3–4 Henry MitchellKO3 23/10/1977California Beach Club, Miami, Florida, U.S.
76Loss68–3–4 Ayub KalulePTS10 02/06/1977Randers Hallen, Randers, Denmark
75Draw68–2–4 Jean Claude LeClairSD10 22/02/1977Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
74Win68–2–3 Fernand MarcotteUD10 18/01/1977Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
73Win67–2–3 Sammy BarrSD10 19/11/1976Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
72Draw66–2–3 Sammy BarrPTS10 24/09/1976Nassau, Bahamas
71Win66–2–2 Victor Taco PerezUD10 21/09/1976Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
70Win65–2–2 Larry BrasierKO1 07/08/1976Freeport, Bahamas
69Loss64–2–2 Eckhard DaggeTKO10 18/06/1976Deutschlandhalle, Charlottenburg, West GermanyLost WBC light middleweight title
68Win64–1–2 Sea RobinsonUD15 24/04/1976Palais des Sports de Treichville, Abidjan, Ivory CoastRetained WBC light middleweight title
67Win63–1–2 Tony GardnerKO2 28/02/1976Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, Nassau, BahamasRetained WBC light middleweight title
66Win62–1–2 Miguel de OliveiraRTD10 13/11/1975Nouvelle Hippodrome, Paris, FranceWon WBC light middleweight title
65Win61–1–2 Nick PeoplesKO6 13/10/1975Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
64Win60–1–2 Gene WellsKO5 22/07/1975Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
63Win59–1–2 Chucho GarciaTKO5 20/06/1975Freeport, Bahamas
62Win58–1–2 Nat KingKO8 30/05/1975Nassau, Bahamas
61Win57–1–2 Marcel ClayKO8 29/04/1975Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
60Win56–1–2 Manuel ElizondoKO10 22/02/1975Community Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
59Win55–1–2 Fernand MarcotteTKO11 21/01/1975Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.Won vacant North [American Boxing Federation|NABF] light middleweight title
58Win54–1–2 Sammy RookardUD10 25/12/1974Nassau, Bahamas
57Win53–1–2 Renato GarciaUD10 16/11/1974Community Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
56Win52–1–2 Johnny RicoKO2 19/10/1974Community Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
55Win51–1–2 Bobby WilliamsTKO5 27/09/1974Nassau, Bahamas
54Win50–1–2 Guillermo EscaleraKO5 06/09/1974Freeport, Bahamas
53Win49–1–2 Frank FloresKO5 16/08/1974Community Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
52Win48–1–2 Carlos MarksUD10 11/07/1974A.F. Adderley Auditorium, Nassau, Bahamas
51Draw47–1–2 Dario HidalgoMD10 11/06/1974Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
50Win47–1–1 Chucho GarciaPTS10 31/05/1974Freeport, Bahamas
49Win46–1–1 Roy LeeUD10 26/04/1974Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
48Win45–1–1 Jesse RiosKO2 09/04/1974Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
47Win44–1–1 Eddie DavisTKO5 15/03/1974Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
46Win43–1–1 Vicente MedinaTKO7 26/02/1974Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
45Win42–1–1 Windell SpencerTKO3 15/02/1974Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
44Win41–1–1 Tom Von HattenTKO2 15/01/1974Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
43Win40–1–1 Saulo HernandezTKO1 14/12/1973Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
42Win39–1–1 Mike LankesterRTD7 04/12/1973Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
41Win38–1–1 Dennis RiggsKO4 13/11/1973Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
40Win37–1–1 Jose Papo MelendezRTD7 19/10/1973Boca Raton Resort & Club, Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
39Win36–1–1 Bunny GrantUD10 28/09/1973Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
38Win35–1–1 Doug RogersTKO4 06/08/1973A.F. Adderley Auditorium, Nassau, Bahamas
37Win34–1–1 Jimmy WilliamsKO1 19/07/1973Camelot Room, Freeport, Bahamas
36Win33–1–1 Cliff JohnsonTKO3 25/05/1973Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
35Win32–1–1 Roy GossUD10 23/04/1973Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
34Win31–1–1 Al CookTKO6 29/03/1973Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
33Win30–1–1 Terry HaywardKO1 23/02/1973Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
32Win29–1–1 Sandy TorresKO8 26/01/1973Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
31Win28–1–1 Joe HooksKO6 17/11/1972Nassau, Bahamas
30Win27–1–1 Prince Jimmy HammKO8 26/08/1972Nassau, Bahamas
29Win26–1–1 Roscoe BellPTS10 15/07/1972Nassau, Bahamas
28Win25–1–1 Dorman CrawfordKO10 26/05/1972Nassau, Bahamas
27Win24–1–1 Sugar CliffTKO6 08/04/1972Nassau, BahamasWon Bahamas Welterweight Title
26Win23–1–1 Larry AdkinsPTS10 25/09/1971Nassau, Bahamas
25Win22–1–1 Ray MinusUD15 05/06/1971Nassau, Bahamas
24Win21–1–1 Carl StarlingKO3 01/05/1971Nassau, Bahamas
23Win20–1–1 Don FraserKO10 20/12/1970Nassau, Bahamas
22Win19–1–1 Buddy TaylorPTS10 27/11/1970Nassau, Bahamas
21Win18–1–1 Droopy DavisTKO7 29/08/1970Nassau, Bahamas
20Win17–1–1 Bert WoodsKO3 15/05/1970Nassau, Bahamas
19Win16–1–1 Milton HallKO2 03/04/1970Nassau, Bahamas
18Win15–1–1 Don FraserPTS8 08/12/1969Nassau, Bahamas
17Win14–1–1 Sandy Ronnie JeffriesPTS8 31/10/1969Nassau, Bahamas
16Win13–1–1 Winston GreenPTS8 26/09/1969Nassau, Bahamas
15Win12–1–1 Sugarboy MonroeKO1 15/08/1969Nassau, Bahamas
14Win11–1–1 Droopy DavisPTS8 11/07/1969Nassau, Bahamas
13Win10–1–1 Kid JoeKO6 14/03/1969Nassau, Bahamas
12Win9–1–1 Cornbread RhaminaKO5 21/02/1969Nassau, Bahamas
11Win8–1–1 Roscoe RussellKO2 07/02/1969Nassau, Bahamas
10Win7–1–1 Mike WhymmsKO1 20/01/1969Nassau, Bahamas
9Win6–1–1 Taylor VenturaKO2 02/12/1968Nassau, Bahamas
8Win5–1–1 Mike WhymmsKO3 22/11/1968Nassau, Bahamas
7Win4–1–1 Freddie MajorPTS4 10/08/1968Nassau, Bahamas
6Win3–1–1 Tony MortimerPTS4 16/02/1968Nassau, Bahamas
5Loss2–1–1 Kid CarewKO2 11/12/1967Nassau, Bahamas
4Draw2–0–1 Taylor VenturaPTS4 10/11/1967Nassau, Bahamas
3NC2–0 Pino RomanoNC3 13/10/1967Nassau, Bahamas
2Win2–0Taylor VenturaKO1 15/09/1967Nassau, Bahamas
1Win1–0Edison StubbsPTS4 10/08/1967Nassau, Bahamas