{{short description|Guyanese boxer}} '''Cleveland Denny''' (died July 7, 1980)<ref name=Gazette>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=Fr8DH2VBP9sC&dat=19800708&printsec=frontpage&hl=en "Denny the fighter loses his last bout"], ''The Gazette'' (Montreal), July 8, 1980, p1</ref> was a Guyanese boxer.
== Amateur career == Denny represented Guyana as a lightweight at the 1976 Olympic games. He did not compete due to his country boycotting the event 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 remained unbeaten in his first 11 pro fights, including a win over Jean LaPointe in 1977 for the Canadian lightweight title. He lost the belt the following year to Gaetan Hart by split decision. In a 10-round rematch on June 20, 1980, Denny was knocked out with 12 seconds left in the final round. <ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=Fr8DH2VBP9sC&dat=19800621&printsec=frontpage&hl=en "Tragedy, triumph in the Big O ring"], ''The Gazette'' (Montreal), July 8, 1980, p1</ref> Sportswriter David Johnston of the ''Gazette'' of Montreal wrote that "Late in the 10th round, Hart caught Denny with an uppercut as he pulled away, and charged in with a series of punches that shook his opponent. By the time Denny had slumped back against a ring post, the 67-year-old referee, Rosario Bailargeon, made a motion to stop the fight, but hesitated. Hart rushed past and hit Denny with about five more punches, sending him to the canvas, his jaw locked on his mouthpiece."<ref name=Gazette/>
== Death == Denny died from injuries sustained in the bout with Hart in Montreal, 17 days after the fight.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/87290.stm BBC News | UK | Boxing's deadly toll<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> This match was on the undercard of the first Sugar Ray Leonard-Roberto Durán fight. Following his death, Denny's widow filed a lawsuit against Hart, the Montreal Athletic Commission, the Olympic Installations Board, and others.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01E5D91138F934A15755C0A967948260 Boxer's Widow Files Suit – New York Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
== References == <references />
== External links == * {{Boxrec|id=48664}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Denny, Cleveland}} Category:1980 deaths Category:Deaths due to injuries sustained in boxing Category:Sports deaths in Canada Category:Accidental deaths in Quebec Category:1950s births Category:Guyanese male boxers Category:Lightweight boxers