# Jeff Harding (boxer)

Jeff Harding (born 5 February 1965 in Sydney) is a retired world champion boxer from Australia, known as "Hit Man".

## Early life and career

Harding lived in South Grafton N.S.W. Australia and was a student at South Grafton High School. He trained with Steve Cansdell in Grafton before relocating to Sydney where he was first trained by John Lewis at the Newtown Police Boys' Club from where he won his first amateur title (NSW State).

## Professional career

Harding a rugged come forward type fighter turned professional in 1986 and in 1989 won the WBC Light Heavyweight Title with a 12th-round TKO over Dennis Andries in only his 15th professional fight with Johnny Lewis in his corner. He had taken the fight with only three weeks notice. He defended the title twice before losing the belt via KO in 1990 in a rematch with Andries. In 1991 he recaptured the WBC Light Heavyweight Title by taking a majority decision over Andries in their third match. He defended the belt twice before losing the title in 1994 to Mike McCallum by unanimous decision. Harding retired after the bout. Harding was the 2004 Inductee for the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Moderns category.

## Professional boxing record

| 25 fights | 23 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 17 | 1 |
| By decision | 6 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 25 | Loss | 23–2 | Mike McCallum | UD | 12 | 23 Jul 1994 | Bismarck Civic Center, Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S. | Lost WBC light heavyweight title |
| 24 | Win | 23–1 | David Vedder | UD | 12 | 3 Dec 1992 | Salle Franklin, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France | Retained WBC light heavyweight title |
| 23 | Win | 22–1 | Christophe Tiozzo | TKO | 8 (12) | 5 Jun 1992 | Palais des Sports de Marseille, Marseille, France | Retained WBC light heavyweight title |
| 22 | Win | 21–1 | Dennis Andries | MD | 12 | 11 Sep 1991 | Odeon Cinema, Hammersmith, U.K. | Won WBC light heavyweight title |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Bobby Jennings | TKO | 7 (10), 0:57 | 2 Jun 1991 | Conrad Jupiters Casino, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia | |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | David Vedder | UD | 10 | 14 Dec 1990 | Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia | |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Stacy McSwain | KO | 3 (10) | 13 Oct 1990 | Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia | |
| 18 | Loss | 17–1 | Dennis Andries | KO | 7 (12), 2:15 | 28 Jul 1990 | Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia | Lost WBC light heavyweight title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Nestor Hipolito Giovannini | TKO | 11 (12), 0:56 | 18 Mar 1990 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBC light heavyweight title |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Tom Collins | RTD | 2 (12), 3:00 | 24 Oct 1989 | Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Boondall, Queensland, Australia | Retained WBC light heavyweight title |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Dennis Andries | TKO | 12 (12), 1:23 | 24 Jun 1989 | Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Won WBC light heavyweight title |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Nestor Hipolito Giovannini | UD | 10 | 10 May 1989 | Newcastle Basketball Stadium, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Art Jimmerson | UD | 10 | 1 Mar 1989 | Cardiff Workers Club, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Carlos Antunes Fonseca | KO | 9 (10) | 7 Dec 1988 | Seagulls Rugby League Club, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Charlie Dean Moore | TKO | 8 (10) | 5 Sep 1988 | Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Don Vincent Lee | RTD | 8 (10), 3:00 | 18 Jul 1988 | Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Jorge Juan Salgado | TKO | 5 (8) | 6 Jun 1988 | Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Doug Sam | TKO | 5 (12) | 28 Apr 1988 | Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney, Australia | Won OPBF light heavyweight title |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Apollo Sweet | UD | 10 | 16 Mar 1988 | Mount Pritchard Community Club, Sydney, Australia | Won vacant New South Wales cruiserweight title |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Mosese Vilia | TKO | 2 (?), 1:21 | 11 Dec 1987 | Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Luka Joel | KO | 2 (10) | 25 Sep 1987 | Cronulla Workingmen's Club, Sydney, Australia | Won Australasian light heavyweight title |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Johnny Taupau Sr. | TKO | 2 (10) | 24 Jul 1987 | Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Materati Valu | KO | 2 (10) | 19 Jun 1987 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney, Australia | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Emmanuel Otti | TKO | 5 (10) | 5 Feb 1987 | Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Tommy Roberts | KO | 4 (10) | 7 Nov 1986 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney, Australia | |