John L. Gardner
Encyclopedia
John L. Gardner is a former British
, Commonwealth
, and Europe
an Heavyweight
Champion. A stocky, game, pressure fighter, his speed and aggression made him a marginal top ten contender for the World Heavyweight Title. Gardner was active in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His best arena was really the British and European Boxing scene rather than world events. He had an excellent technique and fitness but unfortunately lacked real punch power.
, England
. He won the North West London
Heavyweight Championship as an amateur in 1973 and turned professional at age twenty. His managers were G. Steene and Terry Lawless
.
, a future British Heavyweight Champion, and the fairly useful Bjorn Rudi and Ngozika Ekwelum during this period, before being caught cold in the first round in 1977 by Ibar Arrington (Gardner was a notoriously slow starter). However, he earned his first title shot that year in 1977 when he defeated Denton Ruddock by TKO for the Southern Area British Heavyweight Championship.
in 1979, winning by TKO after six rounds forcing his opponent to back down. Later that year, he vacanted the title and lost a points decision to top contender Jimmy Young
over ten rounds.
Gardner then defeated world rated Ossie Ocasio
, the future World Cruiserweight Champion of the World, in 1980 by KO after six rounds.
, the legendary Heavyweight Champion of the World. The fighters were scheduled to fight in Hawaii
, but Ali backed out of the deal, retiring. He did however in the late 1970s fight a televised 3 round exhibition with Ali in London. Ali doing well. So in 1981, Gardner traveled to Detroit, Michigan
, to fight the fast moving top rated Michael Dokes
.
Gardner kept his pace with the undefeated American boxer, and although Gardner had the better fighting record but against lesser opponents, Dokes was in his prime and the Englishman was knocked out after four rounds. Gardner soon retired at age 28, taking a year off but he made an attempted comeback. He defeated American fringe fighters Ricky James and Lou Benson, Jr before being KO'd in two rounds with Noel Quarless. Gardner retired in 1983 aged 31, with a record of 39 fights, 35 wins, 29 knockouts, and only 4 losses during his boxing career.
Gardner worked for Pitney Bowes selling mailing equipment
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...
, Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
, and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
Champion. A stocky, game, pressure fighter, his speed and aggression made him a marginal top ten contender for the World Heavyweight Title. Gardner was active in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His best arena was really the British and European Boxing scene rather than world events. He had an excellent technique and fitness but unfortunately lacked real punch power.
Early life and career
John Lewis Gardner was born on 19 March, 1953 in his hometown of HackneyLondon Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He won the North West London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Heavyweight Championship as an amateur in 1973 and turned professional at age twenty. His managers were G. Steene and Terry Lawless
Terry Lawless
Terry Lawless was an English boxing manager and trainer who worked in London, most successfully during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.-Biography:...
.
Professional Boxer
Gardner won his first 24 fights in a row, being undefeated for almost five years, most of his fights won by TKO against a collection of British, European and American journeymen. He defeated Neville MeadeNeville Meade
Neville Meade was a Jamaica-born boxer who emigrated to the United Kingdom settling in Swansea in south Wales. He rose to prominence when he won the gold medal in the heavyweight division at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand...
, a future British Heavyweight Champion, and the fairly useful Bjorn Rudi and Ngozika Ekwelum during this period, before being caught cold in the first round in 1977 by Ibar Arrington (Gardner was a notoriously slow starter). However, he earned his first title shot that year in 1977 when he defeated Denton Ruddock by TKO for the Southern Area British Heavyweight Championship.
British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship
Gardner, a contender for the vacant British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship in 1978, defeated Billy Aird by TKO for the title. Gardner then defeated Greg Sorrentini and the useful American contender Mike Koranicki. Afterwards, Gardner defended his title against the notorious Paul SykesPaul Sykes (boxer)
Paul Sykes was an English heavyweight boxer.-Early life:Sykes was born 23 May 1946 in Wakefield, West Yorkshire to Walter Sykes and Betty Barlow...
in 1979, winning by TKO after six rounds forcing his opponent to back down. Later that year, he vacanted the title and lost a points decision to top contender Jimmy Young
Jimmy Young (boxer)
Jimmy Young was a fast highly skilled Philadelphia heavyweight boxer who had his greatest success during the 1970s, when he most notably beat George Foreman, and many fans felt also Ali . He also fought many top names...
over ten rounds.
European Heavyweight Championship
Gardner defeated the Netherlands Rudy Guawe by TKO in 1980 for the Vacant European Heavyweight Championship. Afterwards, Gardner knocked out European rated Italian Lorenzo Zanon in his first title defense in 1980 after five rounds. Gardner, who never lost a title fight during his career, vacanted the title in hopes of a world title.Gardner then defeated world rated Ossie Ocasio
Ossie Ocasio
Osvaldo Ocasio, , better known as Ossie Ocasio and nicknamed Jaws, is a Puerto Rican who was a boxer and world Cruiserweight champion. He got his peculiar nickname after accidentally biting another boxer during a sparring session...
, the future World Cruiserweight Champion of the World, in 1980 by KO after six rounds.
Heavyweight contender
Gardner then signed a contract to fight Muhammad AliMuhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
, the legendary Heavyweight Champion of the World. The fighters were scheduled to fight in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, but Ali backed out of the deal, retiring. He did however in the late 1970s fight a televised 3 round exhibition with Ali in London. Ali doing well. So in 1981, Gardner traveled to Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, to fight the fast moving top rated Michael Dokes
Michael Dokes
Michael Marshall Dokes is a former American boxer in the heavyweight division, nicknamed "Dynamite."-Amateur career:...
.
Gardner kept his pace with the undefeated American boxer, and although Gardner had the better fighting record but against lesser opponents, Dokes was in his prime and the Englishman was knocked out after four rounds. Gardner soon retired at age 28, taking a year off but he made an attempted comeback. He defeated American fringe fighters Ricky James and Lou Benson, Jr before being KO'd in two rounds with Noel Quarless. Gardner retired in 1983 aged 31, with a record of 39 fights, 35 wins, 29 knockouts, and only 4 losses during his boxing career.
Personal life
Gardner used to own a pub in Gateshead, which was subject to an arson attack.Gardner worked for Pitney Bowes selling mailing equipment