“Eddie the Hurricane” Melo Canadian boxing champion turned gangster

On my walk through Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, I came across the grave of Eddie Melo — Portuguese-born, Canadian middleweight boxing champion, and a man whose life was as explosive outside the ring as it was inside.

A high school dropout with a fierce drive, Eddie Melo took up boxing and quickly made a name for himself with his hard-hitting, aggressive style. His performances were so electrifying that at the height of his career, he could fill the old Montreal Forum — no small feat in a hockey-mad country.

Between 1978 and 1979, he won 12 consecutive matches, most by knockout, and eventually claimed the title of Canadian Middleweight Champion. At one point, he was the highest-paid boxer in Canada, earning as much as $150,000 per fight.

But outside the ring, the story darkened.

Eddie’s life veered off course as he became entangled with figures of questionable repute, reportedly working as a chauffeur and bodyguard for individuals involved in organized crime. His fiery temper — a strength in the ring — became a liability in everyday life. Attempts to relaunch his boxing career fell short, and looming citizenship issues brought additional stress.

Then, on Friday, April 6, 2001, while sitting in a Mississauga parking lot, a hitman approached the car. Eddie “The Hurricane” Melo was shot and killed.

He was only 40.

1960-2001