// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Joe Hadley a good golfer? Hadley good drive.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicknames | Preacher[1] Joey[2] | ||||||||||||||
| Born | Joseph Hadley | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | Middleweight | ||||||||||||||
| Boxing career | |||||||||||||||
| Stance | Orthodox | ||||||||||||||
| Boxing record | |||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 7 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins | 7 | ||||||||||||||
| Win by KO | 7 | ||||||||||||||
| Losses | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Joseph Hadley is a retired boxer from Jackson, Tennessee, who competed in middleweight division in the 1970s, one of a few trained by Cus D'Amato, and also one of the first documented U.S. mixed martial artists.[3][2] He was selected a member of the All-American AAU boxing team for 1973, and was named the top middleweight amateur boxer in the nation by the National AAU Boxing Committee in 1973.[4] Hadley drew attention of the press and public by carrying a Bible into the ring, hence his nickname "Preacher," which reflects he actually was a minister.[5] For that reason Hadley refused to pose for a picture with Muhammad Ali, "because Mr. Ali does not live tip to my principles according to the Bible."[6]
Amateur career
[edit]Joey Hadley took up boxing in 1966 while still living in Tennessee, stating that he was inspired to box after seeing musician Elvis Presley in the film Kid Galahad.[7] When training with D'Amato, Hadley lived and trained in D'Amato's mansion in Catskill, New York. Hadley won various awards as an amateur boxer, being a six-time Golden Gloves of the Memphis and Mid-South, three-time Southeastern AAU champion, and United States and North American champion.[8] Fighting for the middleweight at the 1971 National Championships, he won seven fights in nine days, all against regional champions, five by knockouts, knocking down every fighter he faced.[5][9] Hadley also knocked out future world champion Leon Spinks as an amateur in 1973.[10] He used D'Amato's style prominently in these fights.[2]
Highlights
[edit]|
Tennessee Championships (156 lbs), Fairgrounds Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee, November–December 1968:
National Golden Gloves (165 lbs), Las Vegas, Nevada, March 1970:
Pan Am Trials (165 lbs), Chicago, Illinois, May 1971:
|
Olympic Trials (165 lbs), Fort Collins, Colorado, June 1972:
USA–England Duals (165 lbs), Felt Forum, New York City, January 1973:
USA–USSR Duals (165 lbs), Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, January 1973:
Southern Golden Gloves (165 lbs), Nashville, Tennessee, January 1974:
National Championships (165 lbs), Knoxville, Tennessee, June 1974:
International Police Olympics (178 lbs), Nassau Community College, East Garden City, New York, August 1980:
|
Professional career
[edit]Hadley turned professional under Cus D'Amato and had his first fight on October 29, 1974 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, beating boxer Gene Orten by knockout in the first round. Hadly would then have his next fight less than a month later on November 25, 1974, beating Pepe Ortiz by first round knockout at the Felt Forum (now known as the Infosys Theater) in Madison Square Garden.
Hadley would go on to win his next five professional fights, winning all of them by knockout. Hadley would have his last professional fight on September 6, 1977 in West Memphis against Earl Thomas, winning by knockout in the second round in Hadley's first and only scheduled eight round fight.
In one of the earliest example of a cross-discipline, mixed martial art match, Hadley fought a karate champion from Arkansas by the name of David Valovich in June 22, 1976. The latter was permitted to strike with his fists, feet, and knees, while Hadley was restricted to using only his fists. Hadley was forced to adapt his style to compensate fighting a karateka.[2] Despite the apparent rule disadvantage, Hadley secured a first-round knockout victory.[11]
Professional boxing record
[edit]| 7 fights | 7 wins | 0 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 7 | 0 |
| By decision | 0 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Opp Record | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Win | 7-0 |  Earl Thomas |
0-1 | KO | 2 (8) | 6 September 1977 | Municipal Auditorium, West Memphis, Arkansas | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | John McClendon |
0–4 | KO | 1 (4) | 26 Apr 1977 | Holiday Inn, Rivermont Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee |
|
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Phil Wade |
0–1 | TKO | 4 (4) | 29 Mar 1977 | Holiday Inn, Rivermont Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee |
|
| 4 | Win | 4-0 | Earl Thomas |
debut | TKO | 1 (4) | 1 March 1977 | Holiday Inn, Rivermont Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee |
|
| 3 | Win | 3-0 | David Valovich |
debut | TKO | 1 (4) | 25 June 1976 | McCarver Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee |
|
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Pepe Ortiz |
0–1 | TKO | ? (4) | 25 Nov 1974 | Felt Forum, New York City |
|
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Gene Orten |
0–3 | TKO | 1 (4), 1:05 | 29 Oct 1974 | Boys' Club gymnasium, Pittsfield, Massachusetts |
Gene Orten took up the bout on a short notice, as Hadley's scheduled opponent Ray Rich of Lowell, Mass., failed to appear. |
| Canc. | Cove Green |
N/a | NR | 0 (4) | 24 Sep 1974 |  Stade du 20 Mai, Kinshasa, Zaire |
The card was cancelled for the main event was rescheduled due to George Foreman was cut during a sparring session. | ||
| N/a | Carl Harden |
N/a | N/a | ? (4) | 13 Aug 1974 | Sargent Field, New Bedford, Massachusetts |
Mixed martial arts record
[edit]| 1 match | 1 win | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | David Valovich |
TKO (punches) | Mid-South Pro Boxing | June 22, 1976 | 1 (4) | 1:38 | Memphis Blues Baseball Park—Fairgrounds, Memphis, Tennessee, United States | Special feature |
Retirement and later life
[edit]Hadley's career ended after an eye infection while working in New York.[8] He had multiple occupations afterwards, including becoming a radio and television traffic reporter, as well as being a Deputy Sheriff of Shelby County for 29 years.[7]
As a former student of D'Amato, Hadley is one of the few boxing coaches to train people in the peek-a-boo style of boxing. One of his students included karate champion Bill Wallace, whom he taught punching skills such as the jab and the left hook.[12][13]
References
[edit]- ↑ National Golden Gloves tournament, semi-finals, Lowell Sun, March 22, 1973, p. 31.
- 1 2 3 4 Bren, J. (2025). The History of Mixed Martial Arts. pp. 89-90. ASIN B0CW1G6W27
- ↑ Tyson, M., Sloman, L. (2017). Iron Ambition: My Life with Cus D'Amato. United States: Penguin Publishing Group. pp. 355, 464. ISBN 978-0399177033
- ↑ Boxing Results (UPI,) Cumberland Times, March 11, 1973, p. 41.
- 1 2 Hadley Blends Boxing, Bible, The Troy Record, 28 May 1971, p. 24.
- ↑ Reggie Jones & Mates Meet 11 British Boxers, Daily News from New York, January 10, 1973.
- 1 2 Hadley, Joey (January 9, 2008). "Boxer Joey Hadley Talks About Elvis Presley". Elvis Australia: Official Elvis Presley Fan Club. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
- 1 2 Copeland, Anthony (2014-12-02). "Local boxing legend turns to coaching". The Daily Helmsman. Archived from the original on July 13, 2019. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
- ↑ North American Boxing Championships Tonight, The Troy Record, May 31, 1971, p. 24.
- ↑ Ireland, Jeff (2017-08-07). "Boxing trainer with impressive connections operating in Atoka". Covington Leader. Archived from the original on July 13, 2019. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
- ↑ Kelley, Steve. Karate's Prestige Takes a Nosedive, (June 22, 1976). Press Scimitar Sports
- ↑ Black Belt Magazine (May 1993), p. 13
- ↑ Black Belt Magazine (July 1993), p. 12
External links
[edit]- Boxing record for Joe Hadley from BoxRec (registration required)
- Joey Hadley Fights