Calvin Ford, who is known as the WBA Lightweight Champion Gervonta Davis‘ boxing trainer, was apprehended shortly before the onset of the New Year in 2024. During an interview, Ford’s business associate, Kenny Ellis, alleged that he was detained in Baltimore on assault charges. Although Ellis clarified that Calvin was not guilty of any misconduct, the question remains: Is Ford still incarcerated?
Calvin, with a history of criminal charges including drug racketeering, served a ten-year prison sentence in the late 1980s and early 1990s. After his release, he has distanced himself from his past and currently works as a boxing instructor at the Herring Run Recreational Center.
His life story and his ethos served as the inspiration for the character Dennis “Cutty” Wise in HBO’s ‘The Wire.’ However, Ford is most renowned for his role as the coach of American boxer Gervonta Davis. He played a pivotal role in Davis’s journey to becoming a boxing champion, triumphing over opponents such as Ryan Garcia, Isaac Cruz, and Mario Barrios.
Current Jail Status of Calvin Ford Following His Arrest and Charges
Calvin Ford was arrested in Baltimore in late December 2023 on suspicion of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon. Reportedly, the warrant originated from Las Vegas, with his arrest taking place in Gervonta’s hometown. Subsequently, he was transferred to Las Vegas to address the alleged allegations. If convicted, he could face a sentence ranging from two to twenty years in prison along with a $10,000 fine.
Details about Ford’s bail or legal proceedings are currently unavailable. On January 1, 2024, Kenny Ellis, a friend and co-trainer of Davis, refuted the accusations in an interview with Fannon International Boxing Channel, asserting that “he’s been falsely accused.” Ellis denied any misconduct in a 15-minute video and claimed to be with Ford the entire time. He went on to question why he wasn’t detained alongside Ford if the allegations were legitimate, and assured that the truth will soon be unveiled.
Calvin Ford’s arrest occurred shortly after Gervonta, also known as Tank, converted to Islam and adopted the Muslim name “Abdul Wahid” on December 24, 2023. Davis was released from a Baltimore prison on July 14, 2023, after a 44-day detention. He pleaded guilty to charges related to a traffic violation, having run a red light and colliding with a vehicle, resulting in injuries to four individuals, including a pregnant mother.
Previous Imprisonment of Ford for Drug Offenses
Calvin Ford was 21 years old when he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for cocaine trafficking in 1988. He held the position of a lieutenant in a drug trafficking network in Baltimore, overseeing operations directed by Warren Boardley and Christopher Burrows. During his incarceration, he crossed paths with Reggie Gross, a former heavyweight boxer who had fought Mike Tyson and Frank Bruno, and who was serving a life sentence for three murders as of 1989.
At Gross’s behest, Ford decided to pursue his passion for boxing professionally. Upon his release at the age of 31, he opted to embark on a career as a boxing instructor. However, his journey was marked by several hardships, initially working as a dishwasher and later as a manager at the seafood restaurant Phillips Foods, before ultimately finding his calling as a boxing instructor at the Herring Run Recreational Center, encouraged by his friend Ellis.
Calvin Ford’s Personal Tragedy
Quaadir Gurley, Ford’s son, was fatally shot on July 21, 2013, in the Donnelly Homes housing complex in North Trenton. At the time of his death, he was a father of six children and had previously resided in Baltimore before relocating to New Jersey with his mother. Quaadir had entrusted his father, Calvin, with the responsibility of looking after Gervonta Davis:
“I need you to stay with Shorty [Davis] because you’ll be a good role model for him.”
Calvin’s close bond with the future boxing champion was likely reinforced by the fact that he had known Gervonta since the age of seven. A similar sentiment was echoed by the boxer, who regarded Ford as a father figure. Living with his grandmother while his mother battled drug addiction and his father was incarcerated, Gervonta looked to Ford for guidance and as a pillar of support:
“Calvin was always making sure that I was on the track and whoever went against me, Calvin was standing beside me.”
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