30 Facts About Jeff Fenech

Jeff Fenech was born on 28 May 1964 and is an Australian former professional boxer who competed between 1984 and 2008.

Jeff Fenech won world titles in three weight divisions, having held the IBF bantamweight title from 1985 to 1987, the WBC super-bantamweight title from 1987 to 1988, the WBC featherweight title from 1988 to 1990.

Jeff Fenech retroactively won a fourth weight division title, the WBC super-featherweight title in 1991, after the WBC recounted his first bout against Azumah Nelson which had been a controversial decision draw.

Jeff Fenech was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Moderns category in 2003, and became the 4th person to be elevated to Legend status in 2013.

At the Olympics, Jeff Fenech lost a controversial quarter-final bout to Yugoslavian Redzep Redzepovski.

Jeff Fenech was initially given the decision, but after intervention by the Olympic Boxing Committee and a total recount, the decision was reversed with Redzepovski being awarded the win.

Many of the other boxers and those in the press felt that Jeff Fenech had been robbed of a chance to win an Olympic medal and most boxing writers noted how political amateur boxing was, especially at the Olympic Games.

Jeff Fenech quickly gained a reputation as 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 rounds in Fiji.

Jeff Fenech beat fringe contenders Wayne Mulholland and Rolando Navarro, both by a knockout in the fifth round, to start 1985.

Jeff Fenech took only six professional fights to become the number one contender.

Jeff Fenech became the eighth-fastest boxer to fight for a world title after beginning his career when he challenged Satoshi Shingaki for the IBF Bantamweight title in only his seventh bout, displacing the second Davey Moore, and trailing Shingaki himself, Leon Spinks, Saensak Muangsurin, Pete Rademacher, Joves De La Puz, Joko Arter and Rafael Lovera.

Jeff Fenech was the third fastest boxer to become a world champion, behind Muangsuring and Spinks, when he knocked out Shingaki in nine rounds in front of a packed house at the Horden Pavilion in Sydney.

In 1986, Jeff Fenech had only two bouts, but they were both major fights: He won a 10-round, non-title fight decision over former WBC bantamweight and future super bantamweight world champion Daniel Zaragoza, and he retained his IBF world championship with a TKO in round 14 over American Steve McCrory in a bout dubbed "Olympic Revenge" by Jeff Fenech's then promoter Bill Mordy.

McCrory, like Jeff Fenech, had competed in the flyweight division at the Los Angeles Olympics, winning the Gold Medal by defeating Redzep Redzepovski in the final.

Jeff Fenech went up in weight, and in his first fight as a super bantamweight, he defeated Tony Miller by a decision.

Jeff Fenech became a two-weight world champion by knocking Payakaroon out in four rounds.

Jeff Fenech joined boxing's exclusive group of fighters who have been world champs in three or more divisions, by knocking Callejas out in the 11th round.

Jeff Fenech retained that title twice before the year was over, knocking out Tyrone Downes and Georgie "Go Go" Navarro, both in the fifth round.

Jeff Fenech returned to Australia and after beating Miguel Francia, Nelson travelled to Melbourne to offer Jeff Fenech a second title try.

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

Jeff Fenech was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1986.

In retirement, Jeff Fenech has kept busy, and now he is the owner of a sports clothing brand that carries his name in Australia.

Jeff Fenech has become a trainer training fighters such as Danny Green, Nedal Hussein, Hussein Hussein, Sakio Bika, and former IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan.

On 5 January 2004, Jeff Fenech was attacked and stabbed by four men in Sydney, receiving facial cuts that required plastic surgery.

Australian police believed the two attacks against Jeff Fenech are connected, ranging from a bar fight that Jeff Fenech had with a gang-member in 2003.

In March 2005, Jeff Fenech became the trainer for former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, in an effort to relaunch Tyson's career.

Jeff Fenech was to fight Azumah Nelson in what was later built up as the grudge match of the century.

On 24 June 2008, Jeff 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 Jeff Fenech.

In June 2008, Jeff Fenech won the Shane Warne 888 Poker World Series of Poker Celebrity Bounty Event at Crown Casino.

Jeff Fenech now appears at poker events around the world including the Aussie Millions and the World Series of Poker.