“Hardest thing I’ve ever had to do”: The 45 year history behind Aussie boxing’s explosive falling out

Jeff Fenech says his falling out with Brock Jarvis is the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. Brendan Bradford explores the 45 year history behind Aussie boxing’s explosive falling out.

Sometime in the early ‘80s, a Newtown police officer collared a wayward teenager after an all-in brawl at a local park and set in motion one of the most legendary Australian sporting careers ever.

It’s a saga that continues today.

The wiry kid was a promising young hooker and had only ever dreamt of playing first grade rugby league for the Parramatta Eels.

But a teenage Jeff Fenech hadn’t enjoyed the growth spurt that his teammates had, and was likely to be found stealing from the local hardware store and selling the pilfered goods at building sites around the Inner West.

Thurman vs. Jarvis | WED 12 MARCH 7PM AEDT | Australia’s Brock Jarvis will take on former Welterweight World Champion Keith Thurman in a blockbuster event at the Hordern Pavilion | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports

The cop was a hard as nails young front-rower for the St George Dragons named Pat Jarvis.

Rather than hauling him off to the station, Jarvis – who later went on to play eight State of Origin matches for New South Wales – had a heart-to-heart talk to Fenech.

And instead of legging it, Fenech listened.

“It was that he played first grade football and I loved rugby league,” Fenech told this masthead. “I knew everything about rugby league and he was one of my favourite players.”

It was a turning point in Fenech’s life, and he started going to the Newtown PCYC, where Jarvis also trained.

He has remained close with the Jarvis family ever since.

Pat Jarvis in action. Picture: Supplied

They didn’t come much tougher than Jarvis on the footy field, but he took a softer touch with Fenech. Picture: Supplied

When Jeff’s professional boxing career took off, Pat’s mum Elizabeth became his unofficial nutritionist and dietitian.

“She was famous for this drink she’d make me,” Fenech said. “She’d cut off a strip of potato skin and boil up this potato water, which is all I’d drink when I was cutting weight because it had heaps of potassium in it.

“I credit her a lot for helping me stay really strong in those fights.”

When Fenech got a gig calling rugby league matches, he’d always award Pat Man-of-the-Match, even if the Dragons lost.

Three decades, three world titles and a Hall of Fame career later, Fenech was out of boxing completely.

Disillusioned with the sport and frustrated at his own legacy in it, the Marrickville Mauler was happy to watch from afar until he received a knock on the door about 10 years ago.

Standing on the doorstep was Pat Jarvis’ younger brother Dom and a nervous, skinny kid, not much younger than Fenech was when Pat first nabbed him in the ‘80s.

“I was shaking,” Brock Jarvis later recalled of that first meeting. “I remember him opening the door and was just starstruck.”

Fenech and Jarvis in the early days. Picture: Brett Costello

Brock wanted to become a boxer, and Dom asked Jeff if he’d train him.

If it was anyone else, Fenech would’ve shut the door in their faces. He wasn’t interested in getting back into the sport.

But he couldn’t turn away Pat Jarvis’ nephew and Elizabeth’s grandson.

It was the start of what many believed was an unbreakable bond as Fenech guided Jarvis from the shy teenager on his Five Dock doorstep into a 22-1 knockout artist.

Fenech opened doors for Jarvis inside and outside of the ring, helping him land fights on big cards and introducing him to his vast network of sponsors and heavy-hitting backers in business, sport and media.

They trained in Thailand and Mexico and met Mike Tyson and Roberto Duran.

Jarvis was even in a long-term relationship with Fenech’s daughter, Kayla for several years.

When Fenech needed emergency open heart surgery during a training camp in Thailand in 2019, Jarvis was one of the first on the scene and called for help.

Jarvis, Mike Tyson and Fenech. Picture: Supplied

Their shared family history is why Fenech is so shattered at the breakdown of their partnership, which fractured when he was left out of Team Jarvis’ decision to fight Keith Thurman this Wednesday. 

He wasn’t consulted, and would have advised against fighting the former unified welterweight world champion.

Fenech sees Jarvis as his fourth child and was still planning on helping him prepare for the biggest fight of his life, but Jarvis increasingly wants to do things his own way.

They split up a month ago, but have been on-again-off-again, and trained as recently as two weeks ago as each side attempted to mend the rift.

Jarvis was adamant Fenech would be in his corner long after the Fenech had resigned himself to sitting in the stands instead.

Vision of former NRL bad boy Curtis Scott holding pads for Jarvis was said to be the last straw for Fenech, who quickly told the team he wouldn’t work the corner.

There are still questions hanging over who will be Jarvis’ chief cornerman on March 12. 

“If I thought he’d had the preparation I wanted him to have, I’d be there win, lose or draw,” Fenech told this masthead. “But this isn’t the preparation I wanted.

“I haven’t deserted him, he made me do this.

Jarvis training with Curtis Scott last week. Picture: Supplied

Jarvis faces the toughest fight of his career against former world champion Keith Thurman on Wednesday.Pictures: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous

“This is the last thing I wanted, not being in the corner.

“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

“If he did what I told him to do, I’d be happy to take the blame, but if I’m the trainer and you ignore me, that’s hurtful.

“I’m behind him one million per cent, and I’ve got no disrespect towards Curtis Scott, but if he’s helping him, I don’t know what’s on his mind.

“Brock rang me the other day and it hurts me every time I talk to him and I’m asking myself why aren’t I there.”

Fenech also has personal troubles of his own.

His older brother is dying of cancer and his son, Beau, is facing multiple domestic violence charges.

Given his current turmoil, Jarvis was unsure whether he’d have Fenech’s full attention.

He’s also a confident young fighter who wants to spread his wings, and go his own way.

“He’s a young man and he says he wants to make his own decisions,” one boxing veteran who has known Fenech and Jarvis for years, told this masthead.

“It’s just a shame he seems to be making all the wrong decisions right now.”