Titles: WBA bantamweight champion 1980-1984 Record: 33-2-2 Born: September 3, 1956 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA) Years active: 1976-1984 Nickname: Joltin Joltin Jeff did not start to box until the age of 19 when he walked of the rough streets of Philadelphia into the Jupiter Gym. A excelerated learning curve was called for and after only 2 amateur fights Jeff turned pro. Chandler's power was most impressive for his small weight and the boxing skills and most of all counterpunching ability that would earn him a world title quickly followed. Chandler won the USBA and NABF titles within three years of turning pro and won his world title shot in 1980 by knocking out Juan Solis in the 14th round of a pitched battle. This win made Chandler the first American bantamweight champion since 1947. Chandler had a enormous work ethic and even after he won the world title Chandler kept his day job as a carpenter. His title defenses were against top level fighters and saw him out point former WBC champion Jorge Lujan and knock out Juan Solis again. Chandler did have to settle for a draw when he ventured to Tokyo to fight Eijiroi Murata. Any question as to who the better fighter was ended when Murata came to Atlantic City and was knocked out by Chandler. Chandler then defeated the only man he boxed as a amateur and knocked him out in 6 lopsided rounds. 5 more title impressive defenses followed before he lost a 15 round decision to Californian Ricardo Sandoval. Chandler took a severe beating in that fight and his family urged him to retire. A smart man Chandler never attempted to come back his career and retirement should be a example for other fighters to follow.
1976 Feb 25 Mike Dowling Scranton, PA D 4 Apr 13 Chico Vivas Philadelphia W 4 Jun 8 Mike Frazier Philadelphia W 4 Aug 6 John Glover Philadelphia W 4 Oct 14 Larry Huffin Wilmington, DE KO 3 Nov 30 Pee Wee Stokes Philadelphia W 4 1977 Feb 21 Fernando Sanchez Philadelphia W 6 Jun 15 John Glover Philadelphia W 6 Oct 25 Tony Reed Philadelphia W 8 1978 Mar 14 Tony Hernandez Philadelphia KO 2 May 24 Jose Luis Garcia Philadelphia KO 5 Jun 19 Roque Moreno Philadelphia KO 5 Aug 24 Sergio Reyes Philadelphia W 8 Oct 24 Andres Torres Philadelphia W 10 Dec 5 Rafael Gandarilla Philadelphia KO 9 1979 Apr 3 Davey Vasquez Philadelphia W 10 May 14 Justo Garcia Philadelphia W 10 Jul 31 Alberto Cruz Atlantic City KO 3 Sep 26 Baby Kid Chocolate Upper Darby, KO 9 Dec 4 Francisco Alvarado Upper Darby, KO 7 1980 Feb 1 Javier Flores Philadelphia KO 10 Mar 29 Andres Hernandez Atlantic City W 12 Jul 12 Gilberto Villacana Atlantic City KO 4 Jul 31 Gustavo Martinez Atlantic City KO 8 Nov 14 Julian Solis Miami KO 14 (Wins WBA and World Bantamweight Titles) 1981 Jan 31 Jorge Lujan Philadelphia W 15 (Retains World Bantamweight Title) Apr 4 Eijiro Murata Tokyo D 15 (Retains World Bantamweight Title) Jul 25 Julian Solis Atlantic City KO 7 (Retains World Bantamweight Title) Dec 10 Eijiro Murata Atlantic City KO 13 (Retains World Bantamweight Title) 1982 Mar 27 Johnny Carter Philadelphia KO 6 (Retains World Bantamweight Title) Oct 27 Miguel Iriarte Atlantic City KO 9 (Retains World Bantamweight Title) 1983 Mar 13 Gaby Canizales Atlantic City W 15 (Retains World Bantamweight Title) May 22 Hector Cortez Atlantic City W 10 Jul 23 Oscar Muniz Atlantic City L 10 Sep 10 Eijiro Murata Tokyo KO 10 (Retains World Bantamweight Title) Dec 17 Oscar Muniz Atlantic City KO 6 (Retains World Bantamweight Title) 1984 Apr 7 Richard Sandoval Atlantic City KO by 15 (Loses World Bantamweight Title)