Gary Stretch
Encyclopedia
Gary Stretch is a British
boxer
, male model, and an actor
.
Stretch's biggest fight came in 1991 when he challenged Chris Eubank
for the WBO world middleweight
championship in London, in a fight billed as "Beauty V The Best". Stretch suffered a cut behind the ear in the first round and was shaken by an uppercut in the third. Eubank was down twice in the fight, in the second and third rounds, but on both occasions was judged to have slipped by the referee. In the sixth round Stretch had a point deducted for pushing Eubank onto the canvas; Stretch was then shaken by a right hand from Eubank who subsequently knocked Stretch down twice. The fight was stopped in Eubank's favour after the second knock down. All three judges had Eubank ahead on the scorecard at the time of the knockout.
Stretch fought only once more after his bout with Eubank before retiring with a career record of 23 wins to 2 losses.
and Versace
.
' gritty cult thriller Dead Man's Shoes (2004), for which Stretch received a BIFA nomination alongside fellow British actor Paddy Considine
. He went on to appear in the Oliver Stone
film Alexander
(2004).
Stretch also starred in the UK film Freebird
in 2008, directed by Jon Ivay
. Appearing alongside Phil Daniels
and Geoff Bell
, the film followed three bikers across a drug fuelled ride in the Welsh countryside.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, male model, and an actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Early life
Gary Stretch was brought up in the Haresfinch area of St. Helens, the son of a plumber. He attended the town's Cowley High School.Boxing
A left-handed fighter, Stretch boxed most of his career as a light-middleweight, rising to become British champion in that division.Stretch's biggest fight came in 1991 when he challenged Chris Eubank
Chris Eubank
Chris Eubank, Lord of the Manor of Brighton is a retired British boxer who held world titles at middleweight and super middleweight...
for the WBO world middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
championship in London, in a fight billed as "Beauty V The Best". Stretch suffered a cut behind the ear in the first round and was shaken by an uppercut in the third. Eubank was down twice in the fight, in the second and third rounds, but on both occasions was judged to have slipped by the referee. In the sixth round Stretch had a point deducted for pushing Eubank onto the canvas; Stretch was then shaken by a right hand from Eubank who subsequently knocked Stretch down twice. The fight was stopped in Eubank's favour after the second knock down. All three judges had Eubank ahead on the scorecard at the time of the knockout.
Stretch fought only once more after his bout with Eubank before retiring with a career record of 23 wins to 2 losses.
Modelling
During his time as a boxer, Stretch also worked as a model. His clients included Calvin KleinCalvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
and Versace
Versace
Gianni Versace S.p.A. , usually referred to as Versace, is an Italian fashion label founded by Gianni Versace in 1978.The first Versace boutique was opened in Milan's Via della Spiga in 1978, and its popularity was immediate. Today, Versace is one of the world's leading international fashion houses...
.
Acting
In 2004 Stretch was cast as psychotic gangster "Sonny" in Shane MeadowsShane Meadows
Shane Meadows is an English film director, screenwriter, occasional actor and BAFTA winner.-Background:Meadows grew up in the Westlands Road area of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. His father was a long distance lorry driver and his mother worked in a fish and chip shop...
' gritty cult thriller Dead Man's Shoes (2004), for which Stretch received a BIFA nomination alongside fellow British actor Paddy Considine
Paddy Considine
Patrick George "Paddy" Considine is an English actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, musician and frequent collaborator with Shane Meadows. Best known to audiences for his portrayals of dark, troubled, morally or mentally ambiguous characters...
. He went on to appear in the Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
film Alexander
Alexander (film)
Alexander is a 2004 epic film based on the life of Alexander the Great. It is not a remake of the 1956 film which starred Richard Burton. It was directed by Oliver Stone, with Colin Farrell in the title role...
(2004).
Stretch also starred in the UK film Freebird
Freebird (film)
Freebird is a 2008 British comedy film directed by Jon Ivay and starring Gary Stretch, Geoff Bell, Phil Daniels and Peter Bowles.-Plot:Three friends, Fred , Tyg and Grouch , set out on a motorcycle trip to Wales in order to bring back a haul of cannabis for Fred's friend The Chairman...
in 2008, directed by Jon Ivay
Jon Ivay
Jon Ivay is an English writer, director, actor, and producer.-Early years:Ivay was born on the Isle of Portland, Dorset and grew up near the town of Blandford Forum...
. Appearing alongside Phil Daniels
Phil Daniels
Philip W. "Phil" Daniels is an English actor, most noted for film and television roles as "cockneys" such as Jimmy in Quadrophenia, Richards in Scum, Stewart in The Class of Miss MacMichael, Mark in Meantime, Kevin Wicks in EastEnders, DCS Frank Patterson in New Tricks and Edward Kitchener "Ted"...
and Geoff Bell
Geoff Bell (actor)
Geoff Bell is an English actor.-Career:He has appeared in many films, mostly as a cameo appearance or as a supporting role.He has appeared in Girl with a Pearl Earring, Stardust, The Long Firm, Making Waves, The Business and RocknRolla.One of his most well-known films is Green Street, where he...
, the film followed three bikers across a drug fuelled ride in the Welsh countryside.
Filmography
- Tis a Gift to Be Simple (1994) … Perry Truman
- Dead Connection (1994) … Richard Welton
- Infidelity/Hard Fall (1997) … Shane
- Business for Pleasure (1997) … Rolf
- Shergar (1999) … SAS Soldier
- Dead Dogs Lie (2001) … Duck
- Final Combat (2003) … Jaikra
- A Good Night to Die (2003) … Ronnie
- Dead Man's Shoes (2004) … Sonny
- AlexanderAlexander (film)Alexander is a 2004 epic film based on the life of Alexander the Great. It is not a remake of the 1956 film which starred Richard Burton. It was directed by Oliver Stone, with Colin Farrell in the title role...
(2004) … Cleitus - The King MakerThe King MakerThe King Maker The King Maker The King Maker (Thai: กบฎท้าวศรีสุดาจันทร์ , or The Rebellion of Queen Sudachan, is a 2005 Thai historical drama film set during the Ayutthaya kingdom. With a storyline that shares many similarities to 2001's The Legend of Suriyothai, The King Maker's plot focuses on a...
(2005) … Fernando De Gamma - World Trade CenterWorld Trade Center (film)World Trade Center is a 2006 American disaster-drama film directed by Oliver Stone and based on the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center. It stars Nicolas Cage, Maria Bello, Michael Peña, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Shannon. The film was shot from October 19, 2005 - February 10, 2006...
(2006) … John's Paramedic - The Commander: Windows of the Soul (2007) … Jack Bannerman
- Afghan Knights (2007) … Nash
- Tied in Knots (2008) … Jay
- FreebirdFreebird (film)Freebird is a 2008 British comedy film directed by Jon Ivay and starring Gary Stretch, Geoff Bell, Phil Daniels and Peter Bowles.-Plot:Three friends, Fred , Tyg and Grouch , set out on a motorcycle trip to Wales in order to bring back a haul of cannabis for Fred's friend The Chairman...
(2008) … Fred - Deadwater (2008) … Colin Willets
- The Heavy (2010) … Mitchell 'Boots' Mason
- The Girl from the Naked Eye (2010) … Frank
- Baseline (2010) … Rob
- Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus (2010)
- Yellow