Forrest Ward

Forest Ward
Personal information
Full name	Forest Lee Ward
Born	January 11, 1949 (age 76); Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Sport
Sport	Boxing
Weight class	Heavyweight / +81 kg (179 lb)
Medal record
Men's boxing
Representing the United States
Pan American Games

Forest Lee Ward^[2]^[3] (born January 11, 1949) is a retired amateur heavyweight boxer.

Early life

Ward was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1949.

Amateur career

In 1966 Ward won the New York Golden Gloves 175-lb Open Championship by defeating Houston Williams of the Police Athletic League Howard Houses in the finals. In 1967 Ward won the New York Golden Gloves Heavyweight Open Championship after beating Thomas Connelly in the finals. Later that year Ward won the Pan American Heavyweight Championship. Ward won the 1967 National AAU Heavyweight Championship, beating Clay Hodges by a split decision in the semifinals^[4] and Ken Norton in the finals.

Pro career

Ward had a disappointing and short career^{[citation needed]} as a professional, which began in 1967 after a banner year as an amateur propelled him to professional territory. After six professional fights, he stepped up in class to face Chuck Wepner in 1968 and lost after being dropped three times in the 7th round, triggering a three knockdown stoppage. After four consecutive wins, he faced Bill Drover and lost via a technical knockout. Ward retired after the loss.

References

^ "Forest Ward". BoxRec. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
^ Rogers, Thomas (August 8, 1967). "Forest Ward Likened to a Young Joe Louis; Brooklyn Schoolboy Proves a Puncher in Winnipeg Bouts". The New York Times. An 18-year-old from Brooklyn named Forest Lee Ward ... fresh from winning the heavyweight gold medal at the Pan-American Games in Winnipeg.
^ "ROAD LENGTHENS FOR RING HOPEFUL; Ward of Brooklyn Beaten by German Heavyweight". The New York Times. August 29, 1967. Forest Lee Ward, who is being billed as the Joe Louis or Cassius Clay of tomorrow. Ward, the 18-year-old American amateur heavyweight boxer who last month won the Pan-American Games title, lost a decision last night to Dieter Renz of West Germany at the National Maritime Union's Hall.
^ "NEW YORK BOXER GAINS A.A.U. FINAL; Ward, 17, Beats Hodges in Heavyweight Match". The New York Times. April 9, 1967. Forest Ward of New York, a 17-year-old heavyweight, upset Clay Hodges of Los Angeles, the 1967 Golden Gloves champion, today in the semi-finals of the National Amateur Athletic Union boxing championships.

External links

Boxing record for Forest Ward from BoxRec (registration required)
Forest Ward at InterSportStats
American amateur boxer Forrest Lee Ward, aged 18, striking a pose during training at the 28th Street Gym in New York, August 16th 1967.

This biographical article related to an American boxer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "Forest Ward". BoxRec. Retrieved June 8, 2025.

[2] Rogers, Thomas (August 8, 1967). "Forest Ward Likened to a Young Joe Louis; Brooklyn Schoolboy Proves a Puncher in Winnipeg Bouts". The New York Times. An 18-year-old from Brooklyn named Forest Lee Ward ... fresh from winning the heavyweight gold medal at the Pan-American Games in Winnipeg.

[3] "ROAD LENGTHENS FOR RING HOPEFUL; Ward of Brooklyn Beaten by German Heavyweight". The New York Times. August 29, 1967. Forest Lee Ward, who is being billed as the Joe Louis or Cassius Clay of tomorrow. Ward, the 18-year-old American amateur heavyweight boxer who last month won the Pan-American Games title, lost a decision last night to Dieter Renz of West Germany at the National Maritime Union's Hall.

[4] "NEW YORK BOXER GAINS A.A.U. FINAL; Ward, 17, Beats Hodges in Heavyweight Match". The New York Times. April 9, 1967. Forest Ward of New York, a 17-year-old heavyweight, upset Clay Hodges of Los Angeles, the 1967 Golden Gloves champion, today in the semi-finals of the National Amateur Athletic Union boxing championships.

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