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Jeff Fenech aka 'The Marrickville Mauler' (born
May 28, 1964) in Marrickville, Sydney, Australia)
of Malta|Maltese origin, is a former boxing|boxer,
to whom many Australians refer to as the greatest
boxing champion to ever come out of the country.
Fenech is considered by many to be a national
sports hero in Australia.

Fenech had a stellar amateur career, which led to
him representing his country at the 1984 Summer
Olympics in Los Angeles, California|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 the late 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 World Boxing Council|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
Cesar Chavez 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 His
Highness Azumah Nelson (who, apart from being a
world boxing champion, also happens to be an
African prince). He came close to beating Nelson
on an HBO Boxing television|televised bout, but
the fight was declared a draw after twelve rounds
in Las Vegas. After beating Miguel Francia in
Australia to finish 1991, HH Nelson travelled to
Melbourne, Australia|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 HH Nelson to
retain the world title.

After that fight, he fought sporadically. In 1993,
he was beaten in seven rounds by knockout by
United States|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.

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. 

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

Fenech retired with a record of 27 wins, 3 losses
and 1 draw, with 20 wins by knockout.