• 2011 U.S. Olympic Trials (amateur), 165 pounds - Gold Medalist…
• 2011 U.S. National Championships (amateur), 165 pounds - Gold Medalist…
• 2011 National Golden Gloves Championships (amateur), 165 pounds - Gold Medalist…

At the age of 23, Jesse is a sensational prospect at 160 pounds. A former amateur standout, he was the gold medalist at the 2011 U.S. National Championships and National Golden Gloves Championships.

He made his pro debut on June 9, 2012, on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley Jr. main event.

After the fight, Dan Rafael wrote on ESPN.com [excerpts]: Hart is the son of 1970s Philadelphia middleweight contender Eugene "Cyclone" Hart, who fought a who's who in his day. Jesse made his pro debut after a standout amateur career in which he went 85-11 fighting at 165 and 178 pounds. In 2011, he won the National Golden Gloves at 165 pounds and the USA National Tournament at 178 pounds, although he missed a spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team when he lost the 165-pound final on a double-tiebreaker.

So he signed with Top Rank and blew away Eastman in just 33 seconds. That's typical of a pro debut for a prospect, but what was good to see was how Hart went about his business. He was aggressive but not wild and threw quality straight punches. Hart used both hands as he backed Eastman into the corner while he was teeing off. Eastman was out on his feet after being drilled with a combination and [the] referee stepped in to stop the bout.

It was an exciting performance of what hopefully will be many more to come for Hart….

Top Rank is the best when it comes to developing prospects and will keep Hart busy. [End Rafael item]

Fight by Fight – 2012 – in his last fight on 9-14-12 in Chester, PA, he knocked out Lekan Byfield (2-1-1): the fight was on the undercard at Harrah’s, and ended with a spectacular one-punch knockout; Jesse scored a knockdown with a right hand in the 1^st round, and Byfield was counted out at 0:48…

On 7-7-12 in Atlantic City, NJ, he TKOd Steven Chadwick (0-3): the fight was on the undercard at Bally’s; Jesse scored two knockdons in the 1^st round, both with body punches – Chadwick got up both times, but Jesse rocked him with a series of punches, Chadwick’s corner threw in the towel, and the referee stopped the fight at 2:38…

He made his debut at the age of 21 on 6-9-12 in Las Vegas, NV, and TKOd Manuel Eastman (0-1): the fight was on the undercard of the Timothy Bradley Jr.-Manny Pacquiao main event, and Jesse quickly overpowered him; he rocked Eastman with a series of two-handed punches in the 1^st round, and the referee stopped the fight at 0:33; after the fight, Jesse said, "I felt really strong and knew going into the fight that I would feel a little nervous, but as I got close to the ring, I built up confidence. When I got in there, I knew he couldn't hurt me no matter what he did. I hurt him right away with a right hand to the body. I was in such a zone. Then I touched his head and went right back to work."...

AMATEUR, PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Jesse said, "I was born and raised in Philadelphia. I've got three brothers and three sisters. One of my brothers was shot and killed – that was in 2010. It was very hard to get over that. My dad, Eugene Hart, was a middleweight contender. He's a full-time trainer now. My uncle on my dad's side, he was a fighter, too. He fought amateur. His name is Alfred Lowrey. And my dad's uncle was a fighter, too. His name was Jimmy Hart. On my mom's side, I had another cousin that boxed, Rick Williams.

"My dad took me to the gym when he would train. I started boxing when I was seven years old. He started me off in the kitchen - he drew a line in the kitchen for my feet so I would get the traditional stance.

"I think I had about 90, 95 amateur fights. I had nine losses."…

Jesse and his wife, Starletto Brayboy-Hart, had their first child, a daughter named Halo, in August…

From the Philadelphia Daily News, by Bernard Fernandez [Apr. 23, 2012 - excerpts]: After a controversial double-tiebreaker loss to Terrell Gausha at the USA National Championships in Fort Carson, Colo., ended his dream of representing his country at this summer's London Olympics, a bitterly disappointed Jesse Hart hinted that he might be through with boxing forever.

"Right now, I don't think I'll ever fight again," said the 22-year-old North Philadelphian. "I don't even know about the pros."

But they say that time heals all wounds, and the signing of a lucrative contract and a chance to make your professional debut on one of boxing's biggest stages make a great salve.

"They made me an offer I couldn't confuse," an obviously pleased Hart said of the promotional arrangement he has agreed to with Top Rank. He will make his pro debut June 9 against an opponent to be announced at Las Vegas' MGM Grand, on the undercard of a show headlined by the WBO welterweight title defense by Manny Pacquiao against challenger Timothy Bradley.

Hart, who will be trained by his father, former middleweight contender Eugene "Cyclone" Hart, said the venue is especially significant since his dad, who compiled a 30-9-1 mark with 28 knockout victories, fought almost exclusively in Philly and never made it to Vegas.

"This is Dad's dream," said Hart, who added that it was "big, real big" to be getting the opportunity to appear on such a prestigious a card as the one topped by Pacquiao-Bradley.

Top Rank founder Bob Arum said, "We hope Jesse will be a future superstar, which will make all of us, including his father, very proud." [End Fernandez item]

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS:

2012 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - Fort Carson, Colorado, 165 pounds - SILVER MEDALIST: in his first fight on 2-26-12 he won a 23-7 decision against John Magda of Rutherford, N.J.; in his second fight on 2-28-12 he won a 15-10 decision against D’Mitrius Ballard of Temple Hills, Md.; in his third fight on 2-29-12 he won a 22-6 decision against Wesley Tucker of Toledo, Oh.; in the quarterfinals on 3-1-12 he won a 37-17 decision against Russell Gaskins of Washington, D.C.; in the semifinals on 3-2-12 he won a 14-10 decision against Izaak Cardona of Colorado Springs, Colo.; in the finals on 3-3-12 he had a 10-10 draw, but lost the tiebreaker against Terrell Gausha of Cleveland, Oh.; USA Boxing reported, "Terrell Gausha upset reigning Olympic Trials champion Jesse Hart in the closest of final round contests. Hart held a slim one-point lead as the seconds ticked off but Gausha landed a scoring blow just before the final bell to pull the bout to a 10-10 tie. As the total punch count was tied as 34, the bout went to a judge’s poll with Gausha winning by a 3-2 margin."...

2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - Baku, Azerbaijan, 165 pounds: in his first fight on 10-1-11 he stopped Nabah Hzam of Qatar in the 3^rd round; in his second fight on 10-3-11 he won a 13-8 decision against Sobir Nazarov of Tajikistan; in his third fight on 10-4-11 he lost a 17-15 decision against Donabek Suzhanov of Kazakhstan…

2011 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS - Mobile, Alabama, 165 pounds - GOLD MEDALIST: in his first fight on 7-31-11 he won an 18-6 decision against Chris Pearson of Trotwood, Oh.; in the quarterfinals on 8-1-11 he won a 20-8 decision against D’Mitrius Ballard of Temple Hills, Md.; in the semifinals on 8-3-11 he won a 14-8 decision against Antoine Douglas of Burke, Va.; in the finals on 8-5-11 he won a 21-6 decision against Luis Arias of Milwaukee, Wis.; USA Boxing reported, "Middleweight Jesse Hart won the most convincing bout of the evening action in his rematch of the 2010 National Championships finals with Luis Arias. Hart came flying out of the gate before Arias could find his rhythm and took a 16-3 lead after two rounds. He didn’t leave any room for doubt, extending his lead over the final three minutes to win a 21-6 decision and the middleweight title."...

2011 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - Colorado Springs, Colorado, 178 pounds - GOLD MEDALIST: in his first fight on 6-22-11 he won a 15-4 decision against Adam Willis of Milwaukee, Wis.; in his second fight on 6-23-11 he won a 14-7 decision against Maquice Weston of Tacoma, Wash.; in the quarterfinals on 6-23-11 he had a 12-12 draw, but won the tiebreaker against Siju Shabazz of Las Cruces, N.M. – USA Boxing reported, "Hart claimed the win based upon his 66-58 total punch count advantage;" in the finals on 6-25-11 he won by walkover against Jerry Odom of Bowie, Md.…

2011 NATIONAL GOLDEN GLOVES CHAMPIONSHIPS - Indianapolis, Indiana, 165 pounds - GOLD MEDALIST: in his first fight on 4-24-11 he won a decision against Anthony Bailey of Colorado-New Mexico; in his second fight on 4-27-11 he won a decision against Anthony Campbell of Mid-South; in the quarterfinals on 4-28-11 he won a decision against Leandre White of Detroit, Mich.; in the semifinals on 4-29-11 he won a decision against Antoine Douglas of Washington, D.C.; in the finals on 4-30-11 he won a decision against Daquan Arnett of Florida…

2010 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - Colorado Springs, Colorado, 165 pounds - SILVER MEDALIST: in his first fight on 7-12-10 he stopped David Otis in the 2^nd round; in his second fight on 7-13-10 he stopped Julius Butler in the 2^nd round; in the quarterfinals on 7-14-10 he stopped Aaron Coley in the 3^rd round; in the semifinals on 7-15-10 he won a 15-5 decision against Daquan Arnett; in the finals on 7-17-10 he had a 4-4 draw, but lost the tiebreaker against Luis Arias…

2009 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - Denver, Colorado, 165 pounds - SILVER MEDALIST: in his first fight on 6-9-09 he won a 12-10 decision against Luis Arias; in the quarterfinals on 6-10-09 he won a 30-8 decision against Jesus Correa; in the semifinals on 6-11-09 he won a 14-8 decision against Russell Lamour; in the finals on 6-13-09 he lost by 3^rd round disqualification against Terrell Gausha…

2008 NATIONAL GOLDEN GLOVES CHAMPIONSHIPS - Grand Rapids, Michigan, 165 pounds: in his first fight on 5-5-08 he won a decision against Manny Thompson; in his second fight on 5-7-08 he lost a decision against Denis Douglin…

2008 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - Colorado Springs, Colorado, 165 pounds: in his first fight on 3-9-08 he won a 13-9 decision against Andre Penn; in his second fight on 3-10-08 he won a 26-2 decision against Ramon Valenzuela; in the quarterfinals on 3-11-08 he lost a 12-10 decision against Shawn Porter…

2006 NATIONAL GOLDEN GLOVES CHAMPIONSHIPS - Omaha, Nebraska, 165 pounds: in his first fight on 4-24-06 he won a 5-0 decision against Chingiz Suleymanov; in his second fight on 4-26-06 he lost a 5-0 decision against Edwin Rodriguez…