Jeff Fenech, 36, is no stranger to Filipino boxing fans. Although he never saw action here, Fenech often visits to accompany Australian fighters. Last year, he brought Todd Makelin to Kidapawan for a Pacquiao massacre.
For the record, Fenech held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight, World Boxing Council (WBC) superbantamweight, and WBC featherweight titles in a checkered career that started in 1984 and ended in 1996. He compiled a record of 28-3-1, with 21 KOs.
Fenech nearly collected a fourth crown but a conspiracy, hatched by promoter Don King, robbed him of a clear win over Azumah Nelson in a WBC superfeatherweight championship bout in Las Vegas in 1991. The fight wound up a split draw. King, whom Fenech once called a scumbag, arranged a rematch which took place a year later in Melbourne. But alas, Fenech was in no condition to repeat his earlier showing. He was numbed by medication for asthma. Nelson halted Fenech in the eighth round.
Still, Fenech had nothing to be ashamed of. Throughout his career, he’d given it his all. Australia couldn’t be prouder. Fenech was hailed as the greatest fighter ever to come from "down under." In fact, he was voted the WBC’s Boxer of the ’80s.
Not too many fans know that Fenech was a victim of the Olympic "Mafia" at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. In the flyweight quarterfinals, he pounded out a 3-2 decision over Yugoslavia’s Redzep Redzepovski. Because the verdict was split, officials turned to a five-man jury to decide the outcome. The jury overruled the judges and saw Redzepovski the winner on a 4-1 count. A win would’ve guaranteed Fenech a bronze medal.
"I’ll never train an amateur fighter," said Fenech in a STAR interview last weekend. "Olympic or amateur boxing is a joke. I don’t know if the judges are cheats or just incompetent. I didn’t participate in the 1984 opening parade because I had a fight the next day. And I missed the closing ceremonies because I took the first flight out of Los Angeles after I lost."
Fenech said he felt worse about the 1991 robbery because it would’ve meant a fourth world title.
"Everything happens for a reason," continued Fenech who has a son and two daughters. "If I didn’t get robbed in 1984 and 1991, maybe I wouldn’t have dedicated myself to what I’m doing now – training fighters to make them world champions. I’m motivated by my disappointments."
Fenech said he’d rather keep his only son Beau, 10, away from boxing. "But if he wants to fight, I’ll teach him," he added.
At the recent Sydney Olympics, Fenech said once again, the best fighters didn’t win. The Filipino boxers sparred with his fighters in Sydney before the Games and Fenech was impressed by their skills. He said the Lerio brothers, Arlan and Danilo, should’ve won medals in Sydney.
As a pro, Fenech faced two Filipinos – Rolly Navarro and John Matienza. He knocked them both out in the fourth round and was amazed by their courage.
Fenech said Filipino fighters are blessed with raw talent but aren’t trained properly. "It all boils down to preparation," he explained. "It’s hard to find good teachers. But for a fighter to be good, he’s got to be trained by a good teacher."
Fenech’s top prospects for a world title are Hussein, his brother Hussy, and junior middleweight Nader Hamdan. Hussy and Hamdan are unbeaten. Hussein suffered his first loss to Pacquiao last Saturday. The Husseins’ brother Billy works for Fenech as a trainer in his gym.
Fenech has a reputation as a troublemaker. Before the Pacquiao-Hussein fight, he threatened to walk out if the bout didn’t start at 9 p.m. Promoter Gabriel (Bebot) Elorde got worried because the supporting attraction featuring Manny Melchor and Zarlit Rodrigo went the distance and delayed the main event by about 15 minutes. Then, Fenech protested that the gloves of Hussein and Pacquiao were of different brands.
Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Commissioner Hermogenes Arayata said the gloves were approved at the rules meeting the day before. Australian judge Garry Dean attended the meeting but Fenech didn’t, losing his right to protest by default.
After the bout, Fenech exploded and wanted to "kill" referee Carlos (Sonny) Padilla. He accused Padilla of coddling Pacquiao when the referee gave him at least 25 seconds to recover from a fourth round knockdown as he deducted a point from Hussein for elbowing. Fenech also said Padilla should’ve ruled that Hussein’s cut on the left eyebrow was caused by a butt, not a punch. Finally, he said the fight shouldn’t have been stopped and Hussein could’ve continued.
Fenech said he will ask the WBC to order a rematch at the WBC Convention on Oct. 21-28 in Mexico City. GAB Chairman Dominador Cepeda told Fenech if he has a complaint, put it in writing, send it to WBC President Jose Sulaiman, and give him a copy. Cepeda, a lawyer, said there are always two sides to a story.
Although retired as a fighter, Fenech is still making noise in boxing.