Home > Jeff Fenech

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 Shatoshi Shingaki for the world's title in only his seventh bout, displacing the second Davey Moore, and trailing Leon Spinks, Saensak Muangsuring , Pete RademacherPete Rademacher (born 1929) is a former boxer who made boxing history in an most unconventional way. After winning the gold medal at the 1956 Olympics in the Light Heavyweight division, Rademacher started saying that he would be able to become world Heavy 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 19861986 is a common year starting on Wednesday. Events January January 1 Spain and Portugal enter the European Community January 1 Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands and is separated from the Netherlands Antilles. January 9 After losing a pa, 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 the late Steve McCrory .

By 19881988 is a leap year starting on Friday (click on link for calendar). Events January January 2 Georgia celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 9 Connecticut celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 26 Australia celebrates its bicentennial day., Fenech had grown into a Featherweight, and the WBC faced him with Puerto RicoThe Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico") is a self-governing unincorporated organized territory of the United States located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic. Puerto Rico, the smallest of the Gr's former world Jr. Featherweight champion Victor Luvi CallejasVictor Callejas (born December 11, 1960) is a Puerto Rican who was boxing's world Jr. Featherweight champion. A native of Guaynabo, Callejas as a child wanted to be a singer, and his childhood friend, Orvil Miller, wanted to be a boxer. As it turned out,, 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 Cesar Chavez challenger Mario Martinez , both by decision.

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 His Highness Azumah Nelson (who, apart from being a world boxing champion, also happens to be an African prince). He came close to beating Nelson on an HBO Boxing televised bout, but the fight was declared a draw after twelve rounds in Las Vegas. After beating Miguel Francia in Australia to finish 1991, HH Nelson travelled to Melbourne to offer Fenech a second title try at Jr. Lightweight, and this time, Fenech suffered his first loss, when he was knocked out in the eighth round for HH Nelson to retain the world title.

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 would turn out to be both his last title fight and his last fight, 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.

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.

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

In June of the same year, the Fenech family home was attacked by shooters; seven bullets were recovered but no one was injured. Australian police believe the two attacks against Fenech are connected, ranging from a bar fight that Fenech had with a gang-member in 2003. The Australian newspaper quoted someone related to a gang stating that "they will get him", but Fenech does not believe that the violent events are related.

Fenech retired with a record of 27 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw, with 20 wins by knockout.