Name Cleveland Denny Role Boxer | Martial art Boxing | |
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Died July 6, 1980, Montreal, Canada | ||
Cleveland Denny (died July 6, 1980) was a Guyanese boxer.
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Amateur career
Denny represented Guyana as a lightweight at the 1976 Olympic games. He didn't compete due to his country boycotting over the inclusion of New Zealand. Denny technically had a first round bye, and lost to Bogdan Gajda of Poland on a walk-over.
Pro career
Denny turned pro in 1976, fighting out of Montreal, and was unbeaten in his first 11 pro fights, including a win over Jean LaPointe in 1977 for the Canadian lightweight title. Denny lost the belt the following year to Gaetan Hart by split decision. In the rematch on June 20, 1980, Denny lost via TKO in the 10th round.
Death
Denny died of injuries sustained in the bout with Hart in Montreal, sixteen days after the fight. This bout was on the undercard of the first Sugar Ray Leonard-Roberto Durán bout. After the loss, Denny's widow filed suit against Hart, the Montreal Athletic Commission and the Olympic Installations Board, and others.