Jesse Hart

At the age of 29, Jesse is a six-year pro. A contender at 168 pounds, he is a former amateur standout: he was a gold medalist at the 2011 U.S. National Championships and National Golden Gloves Championships.

Jesse comes from a strong family boxing tradition – he is the son of former middleweight contender Eugene “Cyclone” Hart, now 67 years old, who fought the best in his division and retired in 1982 with a record of 30-9-1, 28 KOs. Jesse’s uncle and his father’s uncle and a cousin were also boxers.

In his last fight on December 14 in Corpus Christi, Texas, he lost a 12-round majority decision in the rematch against WBO super middleweight world champion Gilberto Ramirez.

ESPN.com’s Steve Kim reported [excerpts]: In what ended up being an entertaining battle, Gilberto Ramirez barely retained his WBO super middleweight title, edging Jesse Hart in a 12-round majority decision at the American Bank Center.

Two judges scored the bout 115-113 for Ramirez, and the third scored it 114-114.

Ramirez needed a big 12^th-round rally to keep his title. Hart had seized momentum in the middle rounds and seemingly had all the momentum going into the final round. Ramirez also said afterward that he was hampered by a left elbow injury suffered in the eighth round.

But in a thrilling 12^th, Ramirez was hurt late but also was able to do damage to Hart several times with his right hand to win the round and retain his belt.

Friday’s fight was a rematch of their September 2017 bout, which Ramirez won in a hard-fought, close unanimous decision.

Hart said he felt he had turned the tide of the fight going into the 12^th round, before Ramirez mounted his late rally.

Hart leaves Texas after another razor-thin loss to his Mexican rival. [End Kim item]

In his post-fight interview, Jesse said, “That was no contest tonight, man. I pressed him, I boxed him, I did everything in the world to win this fight, and I’m not mad. Gilberto is a good fighter. But I believe I pulled it out tonight.

“I mean, he had a good 12^th round, but I came back and I hurt him in the same round.”

Jesse used the nickname “Hard Work” for most of his career, but changed it to “Hollywood.” He said in an earlier interview, “My nickname just carried over from going from gym to gym, city to city. Every coach I ever train with always say, ‘Yo, man, you’re the hardest working dude I’ve ever seen.’ Coach Al Mitchell – he said I was the hardest working fighter he ever had in Marquette, Michigan. All the gyms I go to always say that – ‘This boy, man, he don’t stop.’ My coaches now say they always have to pull me back. My dad says that, too, ’cause I burn myself out in the gym. I leave it all in the gym. So, I just ran with that.”

Co-manager/wife Starletta Hart added, “The nickname ‘Hollywood’ came about because Jesse’s position now is to put on a show, to entertain. That’s how we came up with ‘Hollywood Hart.’ Ric Flair is part of the inspiration behind that. Ric Flair was a flashy professional wrestler.”

AMATEUR, PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Jesse said, “I was born and raised in Philadelphia. I’ve got three brothers and three sisters. One of my brothers was shot and killed – that was in 2010. It was very hard to get over that. My dad, Eugene Hart, was a middleweight contender. He’s a full-time trainer now. Boxing’s on both sides of my family. It’s big – it’s tradition! My uncle on my dad’s side, he was a fighter, too. He fought amateur. His name is Alfred Lowrey. And my dad’s uncle was a fighter, too. His name was Jimmy Hart. On my mom’s side, I had another cousin that boxed, Rick Williams.

“My dad took me to the gym when he would train. I started boxing when I was seven years old. He started me off in the kitchen – he drew a line in the kitchen for my feet so I would get the traditional stance. I’m naturally right-handed.

“I think I had about 90, 95 amateur fights. I had nine losses.”…

Jesse and his wife, Starletta Hart, have a six-year-old daughter named Halo…

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS:

From the Philadelphia Daily News, by Bernard Fernandez [Apr. 23, 2012 – excerpts]: After a controversial double-tiebreaker loss to Terrell Gausha at the USA National Championships in Fort Carson, Colo., ended his dream of representing his country at this summer’s London Olympics, a bitterly disappointed Jesse Hart hinted that he might be through with boxing forever.

“Right now, I don’t think I’ll ever fight again,” said the 22-year-old North Philadelphian. “I don’t even know about the pros.”

But they say that time heals all wounds, and the signing of a lucrative contract and a chance to make your professional debut on one of boxing’s biggest stages make a great salve.

“They made me an offer I couldn’t confuse,” an obviously pleased Hart said of the promotional arrangement he has agreed to with Top Rank.

Hart will be trained by his father, former middleweight contender Eugene “Cyclone” Hart, who compiled a 30-9-1 mark with 28 knockout victories….

“This is Dad’s dream,” said Hart…. [End Fernandez item]

2012 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – Fort Carson, Colorado, 165 pounds – SILVER MEDALIST: in his first fight on 2-26-12 he won a 23-7 decision against John Magda of Rutherford, N.J.; in his second fight on 2-28-12 he won a 15-10 decision against D’Mitrius Ballard of Temple Hills, Md.; in his third fight on 2-29-12 he won a 22-6 decision against Wesley Tucker of Toledo, Oh.; in the quarterfinals on 3-1-12 he won a 37-17 decision against Russell Gaskins of Washington, D.C.; in the semifinals on 3-2-12 he won a 14-10 decision against Izaak Cardona of Colorado Springs, Colo.; in the finals on 3-3-12 he had a 10-10 draw, but lost the tiebreaker against Terrell Gausha of Cleveland, Oh.; USA Boxing reported, “Terrell Gausha upset reigning Olympic Trials champion Jesse Hart in the closest of final round contests. Hart held a slim one-point lead as the seconds ticked off but Gausha landed a scoring blow just before the final bell to pull the bout to a 10-10 tie. As the total punch count was tied as 34, the bout went to a judge’s poll with Gausha winning by a 3-2 margin.”…

2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – Baku, Azerbaijan, 165 pounds: in his first fight on 10-1-11 he stopped Nabah Hzam of Qatar in the 3^rd round; in his second fight on 10-3-11 he won a 13-8 decision against Sobir Nazarov of Tajikistan; in his third fight on 10-4-11 he lost a 17-15 decision against Donabek Suzhanov of Kazakhstan…

2011 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS – Mobile, Alabama, 165 pounds – GOLD MEDALIST: in his first fight on 7-31-11 he won an 18-6 decision against Chris Pearson of Trotwood, Oh.; in the quarterfinals on 8-1-11 he won a 20-8 decision against D’Mitrius Ballard of Temple Hills, Md.; in the semifinals on 8-3-11 he won a 14-8 decision against Antoine Douglas of Burke, Va.; in the finals on 8-5-11 he won a 21-6 decision against Luis Arias of Milwaukee, Wis.; USA Boxing reported, “Middleweight Jesse Hart won the most convincing bout of the evening action in his rematch of the 2010 National Championships finals with Luis Arias. Hart came flying out of the gate before Arias could find his rhythm and took a 16-3 lead after two rounds. He didn’t leave any room for doubt, extending his lead over the final three minutes to win a 21-6 decision and the middleweight title.”…

2011 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – Colorado Springs, Colorado, 178 pounds – GOLD MEDALIST: in his first fight on 6-22-11 he won a 15-4 decision against Adam Willis of Milwaukee, Wis.; in his second fight on 6-23-11 he won a 14-7 decision against Maquice Weston of Tacoma, Wash.; in the quarterfinals on 6-23-11 he had a 12-12 draw, but won the tiebreaker against Siju Shabazz of Las Cruces, N.M.; USA Boxing reported, “Hart claimed the win based upon his 66-58 total punch count advantage;” in the finals on 6-25-11 he won by walkover against Jerry Odom of Bowie, Md.…

2011 NATIONAL GOLDEN GLOVES CHAMPIONSHIPS – Indianapolis, Indiana, 165 pounds – GOLD MEDALIST: in his first fight on 4-24-11 he won a decision against Anthony Bailey of Colorado-New Mexico; in his second fight on 4-27-11 he won a decision against Anthony Campbell of Mid-South; in the quarterfinals on 4-28-11 he won a decision against Leandre White of Detroit, Mich.; in the semifinals on 4-29-11 he won a decision against Antoine Douglas of Washington, D.C.; in the finals on 4-30-11 he won a decision against Daquan Arnett of Florida…

2010 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – Colorado Springs, Colorado, 165 pounds – SILVER MEDALIST: in his first fight on 7-12-10 he stopped David Otis in the 2^nd round; in his second fight on 7-13-10 he stopped Julius Butler in the 2^nd round; in the quarterfinals on 7-14-10 he stopped Aaron Coley in the 3^rd round; in the semifinals on 7-15-10 he won a 15-5 decision against Daquan Arnett; in the finals on 7-17-10 he had a 4-4 draw, but lost the tiebreaker against Luis Arias…

2009 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – Denver, Colorado, 165 pounds – SILVER MEDALIST: in his first fight on 6-9-09 he won a 12-10 decision against Luis Arias; in the quarterfinals on 6-10-09 he won a 30-8 decision against Jesus Correa; in the semifinals on 6-11-09 he won a 14-8 decision against Russell Lamour; in the finals on 6-13-09 he lost by 3^rd round disqualification against Terrell Gausha…

2008 NATIONAL GOLDEN GLOVES CHAMPIONSHIPS – Grand Rapids, Michigan, 165 pounds: in his first fight on 5-5-08 he won a decision against Manny Thompson; in his second fight on 5-7-08 he lost a decision against Denis Douglin…

2008 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – Colorado Springs, Colorado, 165 pounds: in his first fight on 3-9-08 he won a 13-9 decision against Andre Penn; in his second fight on 3-10-08 he won a 26-2 decision against Ramon Valenzuela; in the quarterfinals on 3-11-08 he lost a 12-10 decision against Shawn Porter…

2006 NATIONAL GOLDEN GLOVES CHAMPIONSHIPS – Omaha, Nebraska, 165 pounds: in his first fight on 4-24-06 he won a 5-0 decision against Chingiz Suleymanov; in his second fight on 4-26-06 he lost a 5-0 decision against Edwin Rodriguez…

STRENGTHS: Has good skills and movement…has good punching power…is experienced against top opposition…had a strong amateur background…has a very strong family boxing background…

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 27 fights…114 total rounds…24 world championship rounds…

AVERAGE LENGTH OF BOUTS: 4.2 rounds…

KNOCKOUT PERCENTAGE: of total fights – 77 %…of wins – 84 %…

DISTANCE FIGHTS: 12 rounds – 2 (0-2)…10 rounds – 1 (1-0)…