Billy Hardy held the British championship at bantamweight and featherweight, as well as the European and Commonwealth featherweight titles.
18 Facts About Billy Hardy
1.
2.
Billy Hardy started boxing when he was six or seven, at the Hylton Castle Boys Club.
3.
Billy Hardy was an aggressive boxer who liked to come forward and take the fight to his opponent.
4.
Billy Hardy had his first professional fight in November 1983, beating Kevin Downer on points over six rounds at Eltham, Kent.
5.
Billy Hardy built up a record of thirteen wins and three defeats before fighting for the British bantamweight title against the holder Ray Gilbody.
6.
The title fight was in February 1987 in St Helens and Billy Hardy took the title when the fight was stopped in the fourth, Gilbody having been down four times.
7.
Billy Hardy made short work of the challenger, knocking him out in the first round.
8.
In November 1990, Billy Hardy defended his British title for the third time, again against Ronnie Carroll.
9.
In May 1991, Billy Hardy had a re-match with Orlando Conizares, who so narrowly defeated him the previous year.
10.
Billy Hardy won by a technical knockout in the eleventh round.
11.
In October 1995, Billy Hardy challenged for the European featherweight title.
12.
Billy Hardy fought in Fontenay-sous-Bois, near Paris, against the Algerian holder, Mehdi Labdouni.
13.
Billy Hardy won on points over twelve rounds to take the title.
14.
In February 1997, Billy Hardy defended his European title against Welsh boxer, Steve Robinson, who had held the WBO world featherweight title before losing it to Naseem Hamed.
15.
In May 1997, Billy Hardy had his biggest fight, when he challenged for the WBO and IBF world featherweight titles held by fellow Englishman, Naseem Hamed.
16.
Billy Hardy tried to take the fight to Hamed but paid the price, when he was caught by a right-hand that broke his nose and his cheekbone.
17.
Billy Hardy was knocked down twice, and the fight was stopped after only 93 seconds.
18.
In September 1998, Billy Hardy had his last fight, when he defended his European and Commonwealth titles against Yorkshireman, Paul Ingle, former holder of the IBF world featherweight title.