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Hall Of Fame Nominee: Jeff Fenech


Hall Of Fame Nominee: Jeff Fenech  

  1. 1. Hall Of Fame Nominee: Jeff Fenech

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Jeff Fenech

 

http://www.boxing-memorabilia.com/images/Jeff_Fenech.jpg

 

Boxing record

Total fights 33

Wins 29

Wins by KO 21

Losses 3

Draws 1

No contests 0

 

Jeff Fenech (born 28 May 1964 in Marrickville, Sydney, Australia) is a retired Maltese-Australian boxer and a three time world champion who is now a boxing trainer.

 

Fenech had a stellar amateur career, which led to him representing his country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. It was that year that Fenech began his professional boxing career, beating Bobby Williams by a knockout in two in his homeland. Fenech was a fast starter: He won his first eleven bouts by knockout, and held his first fight abroad in only his fourth fight, when he beat Iliesa Manila by a knockout in two at Fiji.

 

He beat fringe contenders Wayne Mulholland and Rolando Navarro, both by a knockout in the fifth round, to start 1985. After those two wins, he was placed number one among the world's Bantamweights by the International Boxing Federation. Fenech only took six professional fights to become the number one contender, and he placed in fifth place all time for the boxer who got to fight for the world title the fastest after beginning his career when he challenged Satoshi Shingaki for the world's title in only his seventh bout, displacing the second Davey Moore, and trailing Leon Spinks, Saensak Muangsurin, Pete Rademacher and Rafael Lovera. Fenech was the third fastest boxer to become a world champion, behind Muangsuring and Spinks, when he knocked out Shingaki in nine rounds in Sydney. After two non title knockout wins, he gave Shingaki a rematch and retained the crown with a knockout in three. After one more non title knockout win, Fenech had to go the distance for the first time, when he faced Jerome Coffee, retaining the title by a 15 round unanimous decision.

 

In 1986, Fenech had only two bouts, but they were both major fights: He won a 10 round, non title fight decision over former world Bantamweight and future world Featherweight champion Daniel Zaragoza, and he retained the world championship with a knockout in 14 over Steve McCrory.

 

1987 was a big year for Fenech. He went up in weight, and in his first fight as a Jr. Featherweight, he defeated Tony Miller by a decision. Then, the WBC's world Jr. Featherweight champion, Samart Payakaroon, traveled to Australia to defend his belt against Fenech. Fenech became a two time world champion by knocking Payakarum out in four rounds. For his next defense, he met future world Jr. Bantamweight champion Greg Richardson and knocked him out in five. Then, it was former world Bantamweight champion Carlos Zarate's turn to challenge Fenech. Fenech retained his crown by a technical decision win in four rounds, and then finished his year by knocking out Osmar Avila in one round in a non title affair.

 

By 1988, Fenech had grown into a Featherweight, and the WBC faced him with Puerto Rico's former world Jr. Featherweight champion Victor Luvi Callejas, once again, in Sydney. Fenech became a three time world champion, joining boxing's exclusive group of fighters who have been world champs in three or more divisions, by knocking Callejas out in the 10th. round. He retained that title twice before the year was over, knocking out Tyrone Downes and Georgie Navarro, both in the fifth round.

 

In 1989, he beat Marcos Villasana and former Julio César Chávez challenger Mario Martinez, both by decision.

 

 

http://boxingfights.net/jeff-fenech.jpg

 

After that, Fenech took one year off and came back in 1991 as a Jr. Lightweight. After beating Johnny Calhoun by a knockout in four, he tried to become a four division world champion when he met Azumah Nelson. The fight was fought on the undercard to the Mike Tyson, Razor Ruddock rematch. After 12 ferocious rounds the bout was controversially declared a draw. Jeff returned back to Australia and after beating Miguel Francia Nelson travelled to Melbourne to offer Fenech a second title try at Jr. Lightweight. This time, Fenech suffered his first loss, when he was knocked out in the eighth round for Nelson to retain the world title. Fenech's TKO loss on 1 March 1992 to Nelson was recognized as the Ring Magazine Upset of the Year.

 

After that fight, he fought sporadically. In 1993, he was beaten in seven rounds by knockout by American former world Featherweight champion Calvin Grove, and in 1995, he beat Tialano Tovar, by a knockout in eight at New Jersey. Finally, in what was thought to have been both his last title fight and his last fight (he was to fight a rubber match with Nelson 12 years later), he lost to IBF world Lightweight champion Phillip Holiday of South Africa by a knockout in the second round in 1996. He retired after the bout.

 

Fenech retired with a record of 28 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw, with 21 wins by knockout.

 

Comeback

 

In March 2008, Fenech - at age 43 - announced a comeback to professional boxing and lost 22 kilos in preparation for the fight. He was to fight Azumah Nelson in what was later built up as the grudge match of the century. The two were to do battle on June the 24th 2008 in Melbourne, Australia. A reality series/documentary on Fenech's life aired on channel 9 and fox sports in the weeks leading up to the fight.

 

On 24 June 2008, Fenech won the grudge match against Azumah Nelson by a majority decision, one judge scoring the fight a draw and the last two judges scoring it in favour of Fenech.

 

Source: wikipedia

 

Full record here: http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=817&cat=boxer

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Nominated by Crusader

 

Jeff Fenech

 

"Jeff Fenech (born 28 May 1964 in Marrickville, Sydney, Australia) is a retired Maltese-Australian boxer and a three time world champion who is now a boxing trainer.

 

Fenech had a stellar amateur career, which led to him representing his country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, was the third fastest boxer to become a world champion, behind Muangsuring and Spinks, when he knocked out Shingaki in nine rounds in Sydney. Fenech retired with a record of 28 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw, with 21 wins by knockout and in his palmares has three world crown.

In retirement, Fenech has kept busy, and now he is the owner of a sports clothing brand that carries his name in Australia. In addition, he was inducted in 2002 into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in Canastota, New York. Fenech has become a trainer training such fighters as Hussein Hussein, Sakio Bika, and former IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan."

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Was an excellent fighter and deserves a spot in the IBHOF,but for the Budweiserboxing hall of fame,he doesn't belong in the same class as the likes of Robinson,Ali,Duran,Chavez,ect.

 

Don, are you saying that we should have our standards THAT high??? If we just want a HOF that includes only the likes of Ali, Robinson, Duran, etc. then it's going to be a mighty lonely place ;)

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Don, are you saying that we should have our standards THAT high??? If we just want a HOF that includes only the likes of Ali, Robinson, Duran, etc. then it's going to be a mighty lonely place ;)

 

 

 

Perhaps I have set my standards a little too high,Dave.I guess with all the obvious names nominated I had to pick out one of the weaker nominations.I think Fenech was certainly a great fighter,but in overall achievements he falls short of the truly great fighters that have been nominated.

 

 

It's only a short list right now,so hopefully we can get more nominations in future for greats that haven't been mentioned.I don't think anybody has mentioned the likes of Hearns,Leonard and Hagler yet - those of the sort of greats that I believe our hall of fame should be limited to,with all due respect to Mr Fenech. oz//

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Definite yes for me. He won a world title early in his career and most of his fights were title fights of some description. There are very few stiffs on his record. He didn't have 20 or so easy fights at the start of his carrer like a lot of guys have. Also in the first fight with Azumah he showed how good he was. He was able to give one of the best fighters of his era one of his toughest fights.
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The first result of the Nelson fight was a disgusting decision.Fenech fought the absolute best fight of his life,against the very best opponent in what should have been the greatest victory of his life.To have a fight snatched away from you like that must be heartbreaking.
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