Rocky MacDougall

Rocky MacDougall (1943 – June 12, 2009) was a Canadian former professional featherweight boxer who won the Canadian featherweight title in 1969.

Early life Francis "Rocky" MacDougall was born in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada, and grew up in Whitney Pier.

Amateur boxing career MacDougall began boxing as an amateur in 1958–59.

Professional career Rocky MacDougall turned professional in 1960, training under manager-trainer John Cechetto in the basement of the Venetian Gardens in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

In October 1965, he spoiled the debut of Marcel Bellefeuille by scoring a knockout over the 1960 Olympian.

Losing the Canadian featherweight championship to Billy McGrandle, June 1966 MacDougall signed in December 1965 to meet Billy McGrandle in Edmonton for McGrandle’s first title defense. Facing McGrandle on June 6, 1966, he lost a 12-round decision to the newly pro boxer with only five losses in 175 amateur bouts.

Taking the Canadian featherweight championship, November 1969 The Canadian Professional Boxing Federation stripped McGrandle after he missed his scheduled bout with MacDougall on June 5, 1968. MacDougall then became the number one contender for the vacant title, with bantamweight champion Jackie Burke ranked second. MacDougall went on to capture the Canadian featherweight championship in November 1969 with a TKO over Burke in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Notable bouts during featherweight title reign He took fights at lightweight, and after a win over the leading contender Fernand Durelle, he lost a decision in a rematch with Canadian junior lightweight champion Les Gillis on May 18, 1970.

In July 1970, he took on Lawrence Hafey, who would go on to become Canadian middleweight champion, and was stopped in the fourth round by TKO.

Post-boxing career At the time of his retirement, he was studying business administration. MacDougall was involved with the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association and Boxing Nova Scotia. He officiated as an International Olympic AIBA referee and judge at the 1974 North American Boxing Championships in Miami, Florida. MacDougall, with degrees in business administration and education, spent 27 years teaching in the Antigonish-Guysborough area.