Dicky Eklund

Richard Eklund Jr., known as Dicky Eklund, was born on May 3, 1957, in Lowell, Massachusetts. His boxing career began at a young age, leading him to accumulate an amateur record of 200 bouts, with 194 wins, including two New England Golden Glove championships. He turned professional on August 26, 1975. Eklund competed as a welterweight from 1975 to 1985, earning the moniker “The Pride of Lowell.” A significant moment in his career occurred on July 18, 1978, when he faced future world boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard at the Hynes Memorial Auditorium in Boston, Massachusetts. Eklund went the distance in this fight, which Leonard won by unanimous decision. He subsequently secured the USA New England welterweight title twice, first in 1979 by defeating Fernando Fernandez and again in 1983 after a victory over James Lucas.

After retiring from professional boxing in 1985 with a record of 19 wins and 10 losses, Eklund transitioned into a training role. He became the full-time trainer for his half-brother, Micky Ward, from Ward’s professional debut in 1985 until 1991. Following a period of personal challenges, Eklund reconnected with Ward and helped persuade him to return to boxing in the mid-1990s, resuming his role as trainer. Under Eklund’s guidance, Ward achieved significant success, including capturing the WBU title in 2000. Their lives and careers were later depicted in the 2010 film “The Fighter,” where Christian Bale portrayed Eklund, earning an Academy Award for his performance. Eklund made an appearance on stage with Christian Bale at the 2011 Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Eklund continues to be involved in the boxing community, working as a personal trainer and boxing coach in New England, training boxers at Ward’s gym in Westford, Massachusetts. He has also engaged in motivational speaking tours alongside Micky Ward, sharing their experiences with college students and participating in charity events. Eklund was featured in the HBO documentary “High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell,” which documented his struggles with substance abuse. He later made his acting debut in the 2014 independent film “Portico.”