Jeff Harding (boxer)

Jeff Harding

Personal information
Born	5 February 1965
Medal record Men's Boxing Representing  Australia Commonwealth Games 1986 Edinburgh Middleweight

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

• Professional boxing record for Jeff Harding from BoxRec