Just thought i would share my Jeff Harding story

Dunno why i never posted this... now is as good a time as any

It was about this time, maybe a bit earlier in the year, in the last fleeting moments of summer 2005. I was living in Glebe at the time, going to Sydney University and dont think i had ever heard of ESB but i was still a big boxing fan

Anyway, one Monday arvo i stepped into the Friend in Hand pub in Glebe. Its not in the best part of town but i knew a few of the islander blokes from playing rugby league for Sydney Uni etc... it was our pub we went to after we would win a game (rarely lol). I was having a schooner and saw Jeff Harding in the corner pissed out of his head and looking much much worse for wear. Not the bloke i remember as a kid, the bloke my mate Dave Harding got his "Hitman" nickname from. Anyway i asked the bloke behind the bar "is that Jeff?" and he said "yeah Nicko, but i would stay well clear of him, he has had a gutful and one more incident and we are going to ban him for a few months. He uses this place like it was free sparring practice and the cops are fed up"

I started thinking about the Andries trilogy, about how tough he was and how when i was only 8 years old i watched his fight againt McCallum because Dad snuck me into the local bowlo to watch via the giant sky channel satellite they had installed just for international boxing events. Then i saw this crumpled man who was dribbling **** to himself. I was completely unaware he had issues. I just remember he disappeared and never fought again.

Against better judgement i went over and said g'day... this next part is just from memory but we did end up having a good chat. I stood next to his table and told him i was a big fan, and he was one of the reasons i loved boxing. In no uncertain terms he told me to ""sit down and your going to hear me tell you whats wrong with that ****en sport".

He was smashed but it was a great yarn we had. He told me he quit boxing because his management were ****s, he was far too inactive and all he wanted to do was fight. He even told me that at one stage a potential RJJ match up was looked at but his management said it was too risky. He told me about how ****ed up the whole game is, when your on top your king and when you lose your in the gutter. The guy barely had enough money to buy another beer so i got him a schooner. Told me not to get hooked because you will lose everything, and i think he did lose a marriage? Anyway after that we just talked some boxing, favourite fights and then he took off... pretty sure he drove off actually and i just shook my head. I felt so hollow after meeting him... he was a shell of a human being, full of hate and anger but at the same time i have never felt more sorry for someone. He was a nice bloke but trouble was always around the corner

Anyway, fast forward to 2009 and i saw him getting coffee in Newtown and he looked a new man. I said hello, and although he didnt remember me, he said he was off the drink and was able to see his kids more. I hope he stays that way.

Not the best story but thought some of you might like to hear it :good

 

i knew you would have run in to him living down there... he has probably been in more pub fights than amateur bouts

 

:huh

 

ah ok fair enough... let the poor green **** have some rare enjoyment :good