Jeff Harding (boxer)

Jeff Harding
Personal information
Born 5 February 1965

Jeff Harding (born 5 February 1965 in Sydney) was a world champion boxer from Australia, known as "Hit Man". Jeff lived in South Grafton N.S.W. Australia and was a student at South Grafton High School. He trained with Steve Cansdell in Grafton before relocating to Sydney where he was first trained by John Lewis at the Newtown Police Boys' Club from where he won his first amateur title (NSW State). Others training at Club with John Lewis at that time included Jeff Fenech and Peter Mitrevski amongst others. Jeff later chose to relocate to a Gym in Glebe (Sydney) where he was trained by Manny Hinton.

Professional career

Harding turned professional in 1986 and in 1989 won the WBC Light Heavyweight Title with a 12th round TKO over Dennis Andries in only his 15th professional fight with Johnny Lewis in his corner. He defended the title twice before losing the belt via KO in 1990 in a rematch with Andries. In 1991 he recaptured the WBC Light Heavyweight Title by taking a majority decision over Andries in their third match. He defended the belt twice before losing the title in 1994 to Mike McCallum by unanimous decision. Harding retired after the bout.

After boxing

After years of battling alcohol, Jeff Harding has been sober since 2008. Jeff has been interviewed on YouTube by Ray Wheatley which has been published on Fightnews.com in 2013 and visited over 5000 times. Harding is recognised as the most successful light heavyweight in Australian boxing history having captured the WBC title twice. A short film on Harding's life was well received at the prestigious 2016 Tropfest festival.

Professional boxing record

23 Wins (17 knockouts, 6 decisions), 2 Losses (1 knockout, 1 decision)
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 46–2–1 Jamaica Mike McCallum UD 12 23 July 1994 Bismarck Civic Center, Bismarck, North Dakota, United States WBC World Light Heavyweight Title. 112–116, 114–115, 113–115.
Win 15–10–3 United States David Vedder UD 12 3 December 1992 Salle Franklin, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France WBC World Light Heavyweight Title. 117–113, 116–114, 118–114.
Win 30–1 France Christophe Tiozzo TKO 8 5 June 1992 Palais des Sports de Marseille, Marseille, France WBC World Light Heavyweight Title.
Win 39–8–2 United Kingdom Dennis Andries MD 12 11 September 1991 Odeon Cinema, Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom WBC World Light Heavyweight Title. 115–114, 115–113, 114–114.
Win 23–4–1 United States Bobby Jennings TKO 7 2 June 1991 Conrad Jupiters Casino, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia Referee stopped the bout at 0:57 of the seventh round.
Win 13–9–3 United States David Vedder UD 10 14 December 1990 Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia 98–92, 97–94, 100–92.
Win 15–18–3 United States Stacy McSwain KO 3 13 October 1990 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
Loss 36–8–2 United Kingdom Dennis Andries KO 7 28 July 1990 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia WBC World Light Heavyweight Title. Harding knocked out at 2:15 of the seventh round.
Win 28–4–2 Argentina Nestor Hipolito Giovannini TKO 11 18 March 1990 Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States WBC World Light Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 0:56 of the 11th round.
Win 24–15–1 United Kingdom Tom Elton Collins RTD 2 24 October 1989 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Boondall, Queensland, Australia WBC World Light Heavyweight Title. Collins retired at 3:00 of the second round.
Win 34–7–2 United Kingdom Dennis Andries TKO 12 24 June 1989 Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States WBC World Light Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:23 of the 12th round.
Win 27–3–2 Argentina Nestor Hipolito Giovannini UD 10 10 May 1989 Newcastle Basketball Stadium, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia 98–93, 98–95, 96–95.
Win 12–2 United States Art Jimmerson UD 10 1 March 1989 Cardiff Workers Club, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia 100–90, 100–87, 100–82.
Win 18–0 Brazil Carlos Antunes Fonseca KO 9 7 December 1988 Seagulls Rugby League Club, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia
Win 9–10–1 United States Charlie Dean Moore TKO 8 5 September 1988 Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia
Win 27–3–2 United States Don Vincent Lee TKO 8 18 July 1988 Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia
Win 36–17–6 Argentina Jorge Juan Salgado TKO 5 6 June 1988 Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia
Win 21–4 Australia Doug Sam TKO 5 28 April 1988 Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney, Australia OPBF Light Heavyweight Title.
Win 5–0–1 Samoa Apollo Sweet UD 10 16 March 1988 Mount Pritchard Community Club, Sydney, Australia New South Wales Cruiserweight Title. 99–93, 98–94, 98–94.
Win 6–3 Fiji Mosese Vilia TKO 2 11 December 1987 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia Referee stopped the bout at 1:21 of the second round.
Win 4–7 Fiji Luka "Sugar" Joel KO 2 25 September 1987 Cronulla Workingmen's Club, Sydney, Australia Australasian Light Heavyweight Title.
Win 9–8 New Zealand Johnny Taupau, Sr. TKO 2 24 July 1987 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
Win 18–17–1 Australia Materati Valu KO 2 19 June 1987 Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney, Australia
Win 23–7–2 Australia Emmanuel Otti TKO 5 5 February 1987 Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia
Win 19–13–3 Australia Tommy "Gun" Roberts KO 4 7 November 1986 Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney, Australia
Preceded by
Dennis Andries
WBC Light Heavyweight Champion
24 June 1989 – 28 July 1990
Succeeded by
Dennis Andries
WBC Light Heavyweight Champion
11 November 1991 – 23 July 1994
Succeeded by
Mike McCallum
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