Gene Hatcher

Ronald Hatcher Jr. (born June 28, 1959), better known as Gene Hatcher, is a former boxer who was world Jr. Welterweight champion.

Dubbed 'Mad Dog,' this Fort Worth pugilist won the WBA junior welterweight title in June of 1984 in Buffalo, New York from Johnny Bumphus, scoring an 11th-round TKO that featured Hatcher knocking Bumphus down, then slipping and falling on a follow-up attempt, then throwing Bumphus down to the mat when both fighters clinched. A post-fight melee in the ring then ensued, as Hatcher was celebrating in triumph while the now-deposed champion was slugging away in frustration. Gene first defended his belt against Argentine Ubaldo Sacco in December of the same year with a fifteen round decision win. Sacco, however, won their July 1985 rematch (and title) with a ninth round knockout win in Italy (the fight was stopped by the referee because of a Hatcher cut). In Hatcher's next - and last - chance at a world crown, he lost in 45 seconds to Lloyd Honeyghan in August of 1987, with Honeyghan's WBC and IBF welterweight belts being at stake.

In 1982, Hatcher beat former world Jr. Lightweight champion Alfredo Escalera by a ten round decision, but, in their 1983 Madison Square Garden rematch, he was dropped in round six by Escalera, who subsequently went on to beat Hatcher, also by a ten round decision.

Hatcher won 32 fights and lost 7, with 23 wins by knockout.