Gene Hatcher

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Ronald Hatcher Jr. (born June 28, 1959), better known as Gene Hatcher, is a former boxer who was world junior welterweight champion.

Dubbed 'Mad Dog,' this Fort Worth pugilist beat former world junior lightweight champion Alfredo Escalera in 1982 by a ten-round decision, but, in their 1983 Madison Square Garden rematch, he was dropped in round six by Escalera, who subsequently went on to beat Hatcher, also by a ten-round decision.

Hatcher won the WBA junior welterweight title in June of 1984 in Buffalo, New York from Johnny Bumphus, scoring an 11th-round TKO that featured Hatcher knocking Bumphus down, then slipping and falling on a follow-up attempt, then throwing Bumphus down to the mat when both fighters clinched. A post-fight melee in the ring then ensued, as Hatcher was celebrating in triumph while the now-deposed champion was slugging away in frustration. Gene first defended his belt against Argentine Ubaldo Sacco in December of the same year with a fifteen round decision win. Sacco, however, won their July 1985 rematch (and title) with a ninth round knockout win in Italy (the fight was stopped by the referee because of a Hatcher cut). In Hatcher's next - and last - chance at a world crown, he lost in 45 seconds to Lloyd Honeyghan in August of 1987, with Honeyghan's WBC and IBF welterweight belts being at stake.

In his career, Hatcher won 32 fights and lost 7, with 23 wins by knockout.

Hatcher also had a notable amateur career. He was a United States Amateur Champion, in 1980 becoming National AAU Welterweight Champion.

Preceded by Johnny Bumphus

WBA Light Welterweight Champion 1 Jun 1984–21 Jul 1985

Succeeded by Ubaldo Nestor Sacco