Jack Gardner

Jack Gardner joined the British Army in 1944, serving in Germany with the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR), and it was after being posted abroad that he took up boxing, when he was coached by a German civilian. Having been the BAOR heavyweight champion three years in succession, Gardner won the Army title in 1948 and that same year beat the clear favourite Johnny Morkus, with a first round knockout, to win the ABA title at Wembley. Gardner received a call-up to the 1948 London Olympic squad, and reached the quarter-finals, before losing to Switzerland’s Hans Müller. Also in 1948, Gardner boxed for both the Army and the ABA in international contests against Denmark.

Having served as a Corporal of the Horse with the Royal Horse Guards, Gardner bought himself out of the Army in October 1948 and turned professional, when he went on to enjoy an 8-year career that saw him win 28 of 34 bouts, 23 by knockout. He beat Bruce Woodcock to win the British and Empire heavyweight titles, and later added the European title. After losing his British title to Johnny Williams in 1952, Gardner retired, but made a comeback the following year, and in 1955 beat Williams in a British title eliminator and was scheduled to fight Don Cockell for the title, A knee injury he received in training, however, meant the fight was cancelled, and Gardner never got another crack at the title. He eventually quit the ring, after losing to Joe Bygraves in April 1956, Gardner retired to his Leicestershire smallholding and poultry farm. He died five days after his 52nd birthday in 1978 from a brain tumour.

Jack Gardner was the oldest of three boxing brothers and the other two, Rodney and Bob, also became professional heavyweights, managed by their father Len, and coached by their brother. In 2018, 40 years after his death, Jack Gardner’s life was remembered in his hometown of Market Harborough (Leicestershire), with the installation of a Green Plaque.