Jeff Harding (boxer)
Personal information | |||||||||||||
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Born | 5 February 1965 | ||||||||||||
Medal record
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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 | 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 | 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 | Christophe Tiozzo | TKO | 8 | 5 June 1992 | Palais des Sports de Marseille, Marseille, France | WBC World Light Heavyweight Title. |
Win | 39–8–2 | 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 | 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 | David Vedder | UD | 10 | 14 December 1990 | Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia | 98–92, 97–94, 100–92. |
Win | 15–18–3 | Stacy McSwain | KO | 3 | 13 October 1990 | Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia | |
Loss | 36–8–2 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | Art Jimmerson | UD | 10 | 1 March 1989 | Cardiff Workers Club, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia | 100–90, 100–87, 100–82. |
Win | 18–0 | Carlos Antunes Fonseca | KO | 9 | 7 December 1988 | Seagulls Rugby League Club, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia | |
Win | 9–10–1 | Charlie Dean Moore | TKO | 8 | 5 September 1988 | Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia | |
Win | 27–3–2 | Don Vincent Lee | TKO | 8 | 18 July 1988 | Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia | |
Win | 36–17–6 | Jorge Juan Salgado | TKO | 5 | 6 June 1988 | Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia | |
Win | 21–4 | Doug Sam | TKO | 5 | 28 April 1988 | Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney, Australia | OPBF Light Heavyweight Title. |
Win | 5–0–1 | 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 | 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 | Luka "Sugar" Joel | KO | 2 | 25 September 1987 | Cronulla Workingmen's Club, Sydney, Australia | Australasian Light Heavyweight Title. |
Win | 9–8 | Johnny Taupau, Sr. | TKO | 2 | 24 July 1987 | Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia | |
Win | 18–17–1 | Materati Valu | KO | 2 | 19 June 1987 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney, Australia | |
Win | 23–7–2 | Emmanuel Otti | TKO | 5 | 5 February 1987 | Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia | |
Win | 19–13–3 | Tommy "Gun" Roberts | KO | 4 | 7 November 1986 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney, Australia |
External links
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 |