Jeff Chandler (boxer)
# Jeff Chandler (boxer)

"Joltin'" Jeff Chandler (born September 3, 1956, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former boxer. Chandler reigned as the Lineal and WBA world Bantamweight Champion from November 1980 to April 1984.

## Professional boxing career

The 5'7" (67 inches - 1.70 metres) tall Philadelphian began his professional career with a four-round draw in 1976 after only two amateur bouts. Chandler then began a four-year string of victories culminating in a challenge for the world's lineal and WBA 118-pound championship held by Julian Solís. On November 14, 1980, Chandler won the title by a fourteenth-round knockout in Miami, becoming the first American fighter to hold the bantamweight crown in over 30 years.

Chandler's first defence was against former champion Jorge Luján, winning on points in fifteen rounds. He then travelled to Japan to face Asian champion Eljiro Murata, and although he was almost floored in the early rounds, Chandler came back to hold his title with a draw. Many ringside observers felt Chandler deserved a clear points victory. With his status in the boxing world rising, Chandler followed this up with a repeat victory over Solis, this time in seven rounds. Chandler finished 1981 against Murata, earning a thirteenth-round knockout rematch win.

In March 1982, Chandler faced the only opponent who ever defeated him as an amateur, fellow Philadelphian Johnny Carter. The tables were turned this time as he scored a sixth-round knockout on national television. Soon after, Chandler was sidelined by an injury sustained in a street-fight. During a traffic altercation in Philadelphia, he was stabbed on the right shoulder with a broken bottle, leaving a distinctive circular scar, but doing no permanent damage. Chandler went on to defend his title by beating Miguel Iriarte before finishing 1982.

In 1983, Chandler ventured into the Super bantamweight ranks, winning a ten-round decision over Hector Cortez. He then faced tough Angelino Oscar Muniz in another non-title bout. Muniz took the fight to Chandler, winning narrowly on points over ten rounds, Chandler's first defeat in the professional ranks. He defended once more against Murata (another knockout, in the tenth round), then faced Muniz again, this time with the title on the line. A severe cut over Muniz's eye brought a stoppage in the seventh round, enabling Chandler to retain his belt by a seventh-round technical knockout.

On April 7, 1984, Chandler faced the undefeated contender Richie Sandoval. This time his skills were not enough to stop an eager young foe. Sandoval took the title with a fifteenth-round knockout. This turned out to be Chandler's last fight. He elected to have surgery on cataracts that had been diagnosed the year before. Rather than risk blindness, Chandler retired from boxing.

He finished his career with a record of 33 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws. Jeff Chandler provided boxing fans with many memorable performances. In 2000, he was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame at Canastota, New York.

## Professional boxing record

| 37 fights | 33 wins | 2 losses |
| - | - | - |
| By knockout | 18 | 1 |
| By decision | 15 | 1 |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 37 | Loss | 33–2–2 | Richie Sandoval | TKO | 15 (15) | Apr 7, 1984 | Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Lost WBA and The Ring bantamweight titles |
| 36 | Win | 33–1–2 | Oscar Muniz | TKO | 7 (15) | Dec 17, 1983 | Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBA and The Ring bantamweight titles |
| 35 | Win | 32–1–2 | Eijiro Murata | TKO | 10 (15) | Sep 11, 1983 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Retained WBA and The Ring bantamweight titles |
| 34 | Loss | 31–1–2 | Oscar Muniz | SD | 10 | Jul 23, 1983 | Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 31–0–2 | Hector Cortez | UD | 10 | May 22, 1983 | Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 30–0–2 | Gaby Canizales | UD | 15 | Mar 13, 1983 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBA and The Ring bantamweight titles |
| 31 | Win | 29–0–2 | Miguel Iriarte | TKO | 9 (15) | Oct 27, 1982 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBA and The Ring bantamweight titles |
| 30 | Win | 28–0–2 | Johnny Carter | TKO | 6 (15) | Mar 27, 1982 | Civic Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Retained WBA and The Ring bantamweight titles |
| 29 | Win | 27–0–2 | Eijiro Murata | TKO | 13 (15) | Dec 10, 1981 | Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBA and The Ring bantamweight titles |
| 28 | Win | 26–0–2 | Julian Solís | KO | 7 (15) | Jul 25, 1981 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBA and The Ring bantamweight titles |
| 27 | Draw | 25–0–2 | Eijiro Murata | SD | 15 | Apr 5, 1981 | Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan | Retained WBA and The Ring bantamweight titles |
| 26 | Win | 25–0–1 | Jorge Luján | UD | 15 | Jan 31, 1981 | Franklin Plaza Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Retained WBA and The Ring bantamweight titles |
| 25 | Win | 24–0–1 | Julian Solís | TKO | 14 (15) | Nov 14, 1980 | Jai-Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S. | Won WBA and The Ring bantamweight titles |
| 24 | Win | 23–0–1 | Gustavo Martinez | KO | 8 (10) | Jul 31, 1980 | Resorts International Rutland Room, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 22–0–1 | Gilberto Villacana | RTD | 4 (10) | Jul 12, 1980 | Resorts International Hotel & Casino, Superstar Theatre, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 21–0–1 | Andres Hernandez | UD | 12 | Mar 29, 1980 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained USBA and NABF bantamweight titles |
| 21 | Win | 20–0–1 | Javier Flores | TKO | 10 (12) | Feb 1, 1980 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Won NABF bantamweight title |
| 20 | Win | 19–0–1 | Francisco Alvarado | KO | 7 (10) | Dec 4, 1979 | Forum, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 18–0–1 | Baby Kid Chocolate | TKO | 9 (12) | Sep 26, 1979 | Forum, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Won vacant USBA bantamweight title |
| 18 | Win | 17–0–1 | Alberto Cruz | TKO | 3 (10) | Jul 31, 1979 | Steel Pier Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 16–0–1 | Justo Garcia | UD | 10 | May 14, 1979 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 15–0–1 | Davey Vasquez | UD | 10 | Apr 3, 1979 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 14–0–1 | Rafael Gandarilla | TKO | 9 (10) | Dec 5, 1978 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 13–0–1 | Andre Torres | UD | 10 | Oct 24, 1978 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 12–0–1 | Sergio Reyes | UD | 8 | Aug 24, 1978 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 11–0–1 | Roque Moreno | TKO | 5 (8) | Jun 19, 1978 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 10–0–1 | Jose Luis Garcia | KO | 5 (6) | May 24, 1978 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 9–0–1 | Tony Hernandez | KO | 2 (6) | Mar 14, 1978 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 8–0–1 | Tony Reed | UD | 8 | Oct 25, 1977 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 7–0–1 | John Glover | PTS | 6 | Jun 15, 1977 | Wagner Ballroom, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 6–0–1 | Fernando Sanchez | PTS | 6 | Feb 21, 1977 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 5–0–1 | Tony Stokes | PTS | 4 | Nov 30, 1976 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 4–0–1 | Larry Huffin | TKO | 3 (4) | Oct 14, 1976 | Fournier Hall, Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 3–0–1 | John Glover | PTS | 4 | Aug 6, 1976 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 2–0–1 | Michael Frazier | PTS | 4 | Jun 8, 1976 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 1–0–1 | Chico Vivas | PTS | 4 | Apr 13, 1976 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Mike Dowling | PTS | 4 | Feb 25, 1976 | Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
