Jeff Fenech

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Jeff Fenech

Real name	Jeff Fenech
Nickname(s)	Marrickville Mauler
Rated at	Super bantamweight
Nationality	Australian
Birth date	May 28, 1964(1964-05-28) (age 43)
Birth place	Marrickville Sydney, Australia
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	32
Wins	28
Wins by KO	21
Losses	3
Draws	1
No contests	0

Jeff Fenech aka 'The Marrickville Mauler' (born May 28, 1964 in Marrickville, Sydney, Australia) is an Australian of Maltese parents, a boxer and current boxing trainer.

1 Boxing career
2 Post Retirement Career
3 Amateur career
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Boxing career

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 Rademacher 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 1986, 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 Steve McCrory.

1987 was a big year for Fenech. He went up in weight, and in his first fight as a Jr. Featherweight, he defeated Tony Miller by a decision. Then, the WBC's world Jr. Featherweight champion, Samart Payakarum, travelled to Australia to defend his belt against Fenech. Fenech became a two time world champion by knocking Payakarum out in four rounds. For his next defense, he met future world Jr. Bantamweight champion Greg Richardson and knocked him out in five. Then, it was former world Bantamweight champion Carlos Zarate's turn to challenge Fenech. Fenech retained his crown by a technical decision win in four rounds, and then finished his year by knocking out Osmar Avila in one round in a non title affair.

By 1988, Fenech had grown into a Featherweight, and the WBC faced him with Puerto Rico's former world Jr. Featherweight champion Victor Luvi Callejas, 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 César Chávez 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 Azumah Nelson. It was an HBO Boxing televised bout, and the fight was declared a draw after twelve rounds in Las Vegas. After beating Miguel Francia in Australia to finish 1991, 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 Nelson to retain the world title. Fenech's TKO loss on March 01, 1992 to Nelson was recognized as the Ring Magazine Upset of the Year.

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.

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

Preceded by Satoshi Shingaki	IBF Bantamweight Champion 26 Apr 1985– 1987 Vacated	Succeeded by Kelvin Seabrooks
Preceded by Samart Payakaroon	WBC Super Bantamweight Champion 8 May 1987– 1988 Vacated	Succeeded by Daniel Zaragoza
Preceded by Azumah Nelson Vacates	WBC Featherweight Champion 7 Mar 1988– 1989 Vacated	Succeeded by Marcos Villasana

[edit] Post Retirement Career

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

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 Lebanese gang stating that "they will get him", but Fenech does not believe that the violent events are related.

In March 2005, Fenech signed to train former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, in an effort to relaunch Tyson's career.^[1]

Despite repeated denials made in the popular press and on his website, Fenech pleaded guilty to his role in the theft of 3 gold watches worth a total of $327 from a Gold Coast boutique. There was clear evidence of his involvement from in-store security cameras, revealing that Fenech actively participated in the incident.^[2]

In March 2008, Fenech - at age 43 - announced a comeback to professional boxing, he has lost 16 kilos and now has a six pack. He will fight Azumah Nelson on June the 24th 2008. A reality series/documentary on Fenech's life will air on channel 9 and fox sports in the weeks leading up to the fight.

[edit] Amateur career

1983 Oceanic Flyweight champion
1983 3rd place at Flyweight in World Championships in Rome, Italy. Results were:
- Defeated Marcelino Diaz (Colombia) points
- Lost to Huh Yong-Mo (South Korea) points
1983 3rd place as a Flyweight at Commonwealth Titles in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
1984 Oceanic Flyweight champion
1984 represented Australia as a Flyweight at Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Results were:
- Defeated Rene Centellas (Bolivia) KO 3
- Defeated David Mwaba (Tanzania) points
- Lost to Redzep Redzepovski (Yugoslavia) points