Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

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Grant
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Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

Post by Grant »

Just re aquainted my self with Jeff Harding's record.
Don't read into this as disrespect to Danny Green any knuckleheads out there. But I think he must surely rate up there with any of our heavier weight fighters.
I don't really know why he seems to be 'forgotten' but his record is very impressive.
I sadly, believe he is down on his luck now. :(
Like a Boss
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Re: Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

Post by Like a Boss »

Grant wrote:Just re aquainted my self with Jeff Harding's record.
Don't read into this as disrespect to Danny Green any knuckleheads out there. But I think he must surely rate up there with any of our heavier weight fighters.
I don't really know why he seems to be 'forgotten' but his record is very impressive.
I sadly, believe he is down on his luck now. :(
Harding was the biggest Aussie at the time to have ever won a world title (we had never previously won a world title at heavy, cruiser or light heavy).

His 23 wins from 25 record is impressive and both his losses were to world champions (Adries & McCallum). He of course avenged his loss to Andries, and McCallum was an absolute beast. So no disgrace losing to him. Particularly at the end of Harding's career.

Harding has been down on his luck numerous times. But last heard wasn't travelling too badly, touch wood.
Pureist
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Re: Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

Post by Pureist »

Tough as nails and then some
amwsnw
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Re: Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

Post by amwsnw »

Great fighter. His career set is well worth a look. It is odd he isnt mentioned in the same breath as a few of a other great champs because he should be. Just his win over Andries to win the title deserves great respect. One of my favourites.
Like a Boss
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Re: Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

Post by Like a Boss »

amwsnw wrote:Great fighter. His career set is well worth a look. It is odd he isnt mentioned in the same breath as a few of a other great champs because he should be. Just his win over Andries to win the title deserves great respect. One of my favourites.
Harding vs Andries I is one of the classics and typified Harding for what he was. A bloke with huge drive, the biggest heart in the world and a head like a brick.
Lairdy
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Re: Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

Post by Lairdy »

Unfortunately, with pay-per-veiw and so on, boxing has changed a lot in regards to who is noticed and remembered. BAck in hardings days, it was the guys that fought hard and were exciting that were noticed. Enter... pay-per-veiw. Boxing is now a business with a lot of people trying to stick their fingers in the pie. In Australia, we can thank the likes of Mundine (although I'm a huge fan) and Green for much of this. They own their own promotion companies thus make a lot of money talking up shit fights because they know that people will pay and attend regardless. There have been plenty of Australian fighters over this time that have done a lot better or fought in a lot more big fights than Mundine and Green, yet won't be (if some people on here even know who they are now) remembered in 10 years time. It's the sad reality of boxing. Where fighters are pretty much no longer remembered for their achievements, but for their business smarts!
DA GOOSE
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Re: Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

Post by DA GOOSE »

The Harding-Andries trilogy was magnificent. I urge any younger posters who may not of seen the fights(or people who want to watch it again) to watch this and other Jeff Harding fights on Adam Aulds you-tube channel.
ClivePatrickLyons
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Re: Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

Post by ClivePatrickLyons »

Like a Boss wrote:
Grant wrote:Just re aquainted my self with Jeff Harding's record.
Don't read into this as disrespect to Danny Green any knuckleheads out there. But I think he must surely rate up there with any of our heavier weight fighters.
I don't really know why he seems to be 'forgotten' but his record is very impressive.
I sadly, believe he is down on his luck now. :(
Harding was the biggest Aussie at the time to have ever won a world title (we had never previously won a world title at heavy, cruiser or light heavy).

His 23 wins from 25 record is impressive and both his losses were to world champions (Adries & McCallum). He of course avenged his loss to Andries, and McCallum was an absolute beast. So no disgrace losing to him. Particularly at the end of Harding's career.

Harding has been down on his luck numerous times. But last heard wasn't travelling too badly, touch wood.
SORRY BUT WE STILL HAVE NOT HAD A LEGIT CRUISERWEIGHT OR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME ONLY HAS WBC/WBA/WBO/IBF
ON THEIR BOOK'S AS REAL WORLD TITTLE'S.
Noxy
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Re: Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

Post by Noxy »

He was a great fighter was Harding, although he seemed to retire quite early if I remember correctly. The Andries trilogy was a classic.
Like a Boss
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Re: Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

Post by Like a Boss »

Noxy wrote:He was a great fighter was Harding, although he seemed to retire quite early if I remember correctly. The Andries trilogy was a classic.
Harding's first line of defence was more often than not his head and for that reason Johnny Lewis didn't want him hanging around for too long. In Lewis wanted Jeff to retire earlier than he did.
Noxy
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Re: Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

Post by Noxy »

Like a Boss wrote:
Noxy wrote:He was a great fighter was Harding, although he seemed to retire quite early if I remember correctly. The Andries trilogy was a classic.
Harding's first line of defence was more often than not his head and for that reason Johnny Lewis didn't want him hanging around for too long. In Lewis wanted Jeff to retire earlier than he did.
Aye, he had a hard head alright but maybe he did rely on it a bit too much. Remember the McCallum fight.
dberry
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Re: Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

Post by dberry »

Noxy wrote:
Like a Boss wrote:
Noxy wrote:He was a great fighter was Harding, although he seemed to retire quite early if I remember correctly. The Andries trilogy was a classic.
Harding's first line of defence was more often than not his head and for that reason Johnny Lewis didn't want him hanging around for too long. In Lewis wanted Jeff to retire earlier than he did.
Aye, he had a hard head alright but maybe he did rely on it a bit too much. Remember the McCallum fight.
Sadly Harding was already an alcoholic by then, he was having a bigger battle with the bottle than the body snatcher could ever give him.
Like a Boss
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Re: Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

Post by Like a Boss »

dberry wrote:[Sadly Harding was already an alcoholic by then, he was having a bigger battle with the bottle than the body snatcher could ever give him.
The bottle has been the biggest fight of Harding's life unfortunately.
Francis75
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Re: Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

Post by Francis75 »

Harding > Danny Greeny.
Kelandbeave
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Re: Jeff Harding, Under estimated?

Post by Kelandbeave »

Francis75 wrote:Harding > Danny Greeny.
Absolutely, no question about it, a true Aussie warrior who missed out on the money and battled the bottle unfortunately.
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