Ferdie Pacheco

Dr. Ferdie Pacheco
Born	December 8, 1927 (1927-12-08) (age 83) Tampa, Florida, United States
Education	University of Florida University of Miami
Occupation	Artist, author, physician, sports commentator
Spouse	Luisita

Dr. Ferdie Pacheco was the cornerman for multiple boxing champions, most famously Muhammad Ali, for whom he was also a personal physician. Beginning in the late 1970s, Pacheco was a TV boxing analyst for several networks, most notably Showtime. Pacheco is also a prolific author and painter. His nickname is "The Fight Doctor."

Early life

Ferdie Pacheco was born on December 8, 1927 in the immigrant community of Ybor City in Tampa, Florida. Boxing was a popular sport in Ybor City, and Pacheco took an early interest. He received his Bachelors degree from the University of Florida, and his Medical Degree from the University of Miami. After graduation, he set up practice in the Little Havana community of Miami and began working with boxers alongside Angelo Dundee at the 5th Street Gym.^[1]

Career

In 1962, Pacheco began working with Muhammad Ali when the then-Cassius Clay was training in Miami. Pacheco became Ali's cornerman and physician and would remain so until the latter parts of Ali's career. In 1977, Pacheco noticed that's Ali's reflexes were slowing down and recommended that he retire, but Ali continued to fight. Due to this difference of opinion, Pacheco left Ali's camp.^[2] Despite this disagreement, he and Ali are still friends to this day.

Pacheco moved on to become a television boxing analyst, working for NBC and Univision. He became Showtime's featured boxing analyst in the early 1980s and continued his association with that network until his retirement from TV in the late 1990s, covering many memorable fights along the way.

Pacheco is the author of several books, plays, screenplays, and short stories. Many of them are set in the Ybor City neighborhood where he grew up. Among his works, he has written a memoir (Ybor City Chronicles), an autobiography (Blood in My Coffee) and a cookbook (The Columbia Restaurant Spanish Cookbook, co-authored with longtime friend Adela Gonzmart).^[3]

Pacheco is also an award-winning artist. As with his writing, the subjects of many of his paintings are the two most important influences in his life: boxing and Ybor City.

Pacheco was portrayed by Paul Rodriguez in the 2001 film Ali. A biographical film, "Ferdie Pacheco: The World of the Fight Doctor", was released in 2004.

Family

Today, Pacheco lives in Miami. His wife, Luisita, has co-authored a number of his books and is his official photographer and manager. Dr Pacheco has 4 children. Eldest daughter Evelyn Catherine is a renowned psychic with clients throughout the country. Daughter Dawn Marie is retired from her own career as a boxing promoter as well as cinema and TV location manager. Son Ferdie James is a celebrated astrologer who has appeared on numerous national TV shows. Youngest daughter Tina Louise is a well known feature film editor.

External links

• Ferdie Pacheco's official website
• Ybor City Chronicles full text online

References

1. ^ Biography
2. ^ Gale - Free Resources - Black History - Biographies - Muhammad Ali
3. ^ The Carefree Traveler Magazine: 6th Feature Article-Cesar Gonzmart and the Columbia Restaurant by Richard L. Servis Jr.

Pacheco, Ferdie (1994). Ybor City Chronicles: A Memoir. Gainesville: University Press of Florida. ISBN 0813012961. 

Persondata
Name	Pacheco, Ferdie
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	December 8, 1927
Place of birth	Tampa, Florida, United States
Date of death
Place of death