Guyanese lightweight Cleveland Denny made his professional debut on December 14, 1976 in his adopted homeland of Canada.A slick Denny would win by a second round TKO against Ronald Beausoleil at the Paul Sauve Arena in Montreal. Born in 1956, Denny would have a relatively short career in the ring and in his ninth bout was crowned Canadian lightweight champion on November 1, 1977 following a points decision victory over Jean Lapointe.
Denny would have three fights against Gaetan Hart. In the first staged in September 1977 the Guyanese won on points.
Hart would snatch Denny’s Canadian title on April 5 of the following year via a split decision victory. But it was the third encounter between the two which shook the heart of the boxing world.
On June 20, 1980 at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Hart would win by TKO at two minutes and 48 seconds of the 10th round.
Denny died 16 days later of injuries sustained in the fight and ended with a record of 10 victories, two defeats and two draws. He was most busy in the year 1977 having fought eight times.