Gary Stretch?

jont · Post by **jont** » 23 Sep 2005, 04:02

I just watched a Good Night to Die- and noticed one of the stars was a former boxer. Anybody have any information on how good or bad of a fighter Stretch was?

john2345 · Post by **john2345** » 23 Sep 2005, 04:24

Stretch was a decent enough fighter - short of top class but good enough to compete near that level. He was a smart boxer with a fair punch. Won and defended the British lt-middle title against fairly ordinary opposition, but when trying to move up to world level came up against Chris Eubank and was outclassed and stopped. Some had a view that he quit too easily in that fight but I thought he was just out of his league and would never have won it.

He had a parallel career as a male model (and I guess film extra) and he began to emphasise the modelling side almost as much as the fighting.... after Eubank, he had one more fight and then quit to concentrate on what I guess was a less hurting way of making a living!

I saw him fight a few times on TV, and like I say above, he wasn't bad... but was a bit too "stiff and plain" style-wise to really make it to the very top. I would also assume that the modelling career may have made him think "What the hell am I doing here in the ring?" when the blows started landing....

J

deadpan · Post by **deadpan** » 23 Sep 2005, 05:42

Think it's unfair to say he was outclassed by Eubank. He was more than a match for him technically.

He was just fighting out of his natural weight class and got outmuscled.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 23 Sep 2005, 05:45

Seems to be doing alright for himself in the movies. I saw him in that Alexander film with Colin Farrell.

You can see his filmography here.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0834282/

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 23 Sep 2005, 06:10

Eubank v Stretch fight was shown recently on Bravo, watching it again you can see that Eubank was looking for the one big shot to take out Stretch.

Stretch himself boxed well for the first 4 rounds, but used up alot of energy moving around, once Eubank caught him , he kind of went into panic mode and wore himself out.
He was better at Light Middle, but there wasn't much money there at the time, Fighting Eubank was a good financial idea.
Think he was shagging Lionel Blairs daughter at the time as well,

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 23 Sep 2005, 06:18

He also starred in british film dead mans shoes.

chado · Post by **chado** » 23 Sep 2005, 06:50

leforge wrote:He also starred in british film dead mans shoes.

Dead mans shoes is a quality film.

EddieShredder · Post by **EddieShredder** » 23 Sep 2005, 06:52

chado wrote:
leforge wrote:He also starred in british film dead mans shoes.
Dead mans shoes is a quality film.

Yep... very very good... one of the best british films i've seen in a long while

J · Post by J » 23 Sep 2005, 06:54

uis it ive not seen i dont think.

Got sin city arriving on dvd tomorrow am though!

thats my sat night sorted then. (not that exciting i know but not drinking aso sod going out to watch everyone else get pissed)

its only been a week and sport aside its boring as hell.

states · Post by **states** » 23 Sep 2005, 07:06

J wrote:
Got sin city arriving on dvd tomorrow am though!

Bit of a disappointment, that film. Some top-quality birds in it, mind.

As for Stretch, certainly a decent domestic operator, but never had that little bit extra. Glad he's done well for himself though.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 23 Sep 2005, 07:09

J wrote: thats my sat night sorted then. (not that exciting i know but not drinking aso sod going out to watch everyone else get pissed)

its only been a week and sport aside its boring as hell.

yeah i'll probaly just go out for a few beers, then a nightclub, try chatting up someone, get blown out, then drunkingly text a few options in a vain attempt at getting my leg over.

Enjoy your dvd "J"

J · Post by J » 23 Sep 2005, 07:20

hehehehe!

ive got anew fridge arirving tomororw, thats as much as i can come back with.

FUCKINELL IM GONNA GET MANGLED ON THE 20-28TH OCT .

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 23 Sep 2005, 07:24

Yep, I reckon you will old son...

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 23 Sep 2005, 10:30

chado wrote:
leforge wrote:He also starred in british film dead mans shoes.
Dead mans shoes is a quality film.

Ha ha Dead Man's Shoes, with Paddy Considine? I thought it was one of the worst flms i have seen in a long time 8) Just my opinion though.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 23 Sep 2005, 11:29

Stretch wasn't a bad fighter acutally, just don't think his heart was really in it once the film/modelling career began to take off so he gambled and challenged a very good champion in Eubank and moved up in weight to do so.

And above any class he had previously mixed in, he never really stood a chance. I think he could have done reasonably well had he stayed at Light-Middle and moved along sensibly.