Cleveland Denny 'The Guyanese Jaguar'

Cleveland Denny 'The Guyanese Jaguar'

Born in Guyana, Cleveland was a talented amateur boxer, who looked forward
to participating in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.

Unfortunately, the African Nations boycotted the Games, and Cleveland
did not get to compete.

Later, Cleveland left Guyana, and moved to Canada, where he competed
in the 135 lb. Lightweight Division.

After posting a record of 10-1-2 (5 KO's), which included splitting
'two' bout's with Canadian - Gaetan Hart, in which both were 'brutal battles',
the promoters of the June 20, 1980 - WBC Welterweight Championship between
Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Duran thought a 'third bout' between Cleveland Denny
and Gaetan Hart would be a 'great' and entertaining preliminary bout.

What happened, was a 'ring tragedy' that is often over-looked.

Cleveland Denny was 'battered' unmercifully before he collapsed into the corner.

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10th Round

Gaetan Hart had fought very well entering the 10th and Final Round, in a
very competitive bout.

Cleveland Denny, though out-gunned, battled back time and again after
getting rocked by Gaetan's big right hand power punches.

In Round 10, Gaetan came out throwing hard punches, and Cleveland was
getting hit solidly, which had him on wobbly legs.

Very late in the round, Gaetan landed some 'horrific' punches on a
'badly' battered Cleveland, and the Guyana-born boxer was defenseless
as he staggered around the ring in front of Referee - Rosario Baillargeon
who did 'nothing'.

Gaetan continued to punch, and was 'unmerciful' as he landed a brutal flurry
of punches, driving Cleveland back toward the ropes.

Gaetan then moved in, and 'smashed' '6' hard right hands into the unprotected
head of Cleveland Denny who went down to the canvas near the neutral corner,
and then collapsed, at the 2:38 Mark.

The Referee, seeing an unconscious boxer in front of him, still gave the
prone Cleveland a '10-Count'.

Cleveland Denny's handlers and ringside physician rushed into the ring
immediately, and began to administer CPR. But, they could not pry
Cleveland's jaws apart, as the unconscious boxer had his jaw in a locked position.

It took a 'ful' 10-Minutes to carry the unconscious Cleveland Denny from the ring,
and into an ambulance that rushed him to the hospital.

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Gaetan Hart (Quebec City, Canada)

The 26 year-old veteran Canadian was a 'hard-punching'
brawler, who always went 'balls out' and never backed down
even when he was getting pounded.

And, Gaetan was considered as having one of the 'best' right
hands in the Lightweight Division, and was considered too
dangerous opponent for up-and-coming 135 lb. boxers.

The Canadian Lightweight Champion, had put Ralph Racine
in the 'hospital' in a bout only 6-weeks earlier.

Entering this 'third bout' with Cleveland Denny, Gaetan posted
a 42-20-4 (20 KO's) record. But despite the 'losses', the fringe
contender was in everybody's Top 20 of the Lightweight Division.

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