Prime Chuck Gardner vs Britain's best. How would he fare?

[JamesPhilips]

- John L Gardner. A close contest back and forth full of good boxing technique. Another draw, and nobbins too.

[JamesPhilips]

- Neil Malpass. A messy and spirited fight ends with a Gardner points victory by one round.
- Hotace Notice. After a take it or leave it first 4 rounds, Notice imposes his strength and Chuck is retired by his corner after round 8.

[JamesPhilips]

- Jack Gardner. Namesake Jack is far too slick for Chuck. An easy points win as an unmarked Jack is crowned King of the Gardners.

[JamesPhilips]

- Johnny Williams. A tough even paced fight. Williams wins by a couple of rounds but it’s a good contest.

[JamesPhilips]

- Matt Skelton: despite having a lesser boxing ability than Gardner, Matty’s too strong and Chuck gets pulled out after round 5.

[JamesPhilips]

- Len Harvey. For once Chuck carries a weight advantage but Harvey's skill level is superior. A close but clear victory for the Cornishman

[JamesPhilips]

- Kash Ali. A bad tempered match sees the temperamental Ali disqualified in round 9 for repeated transgressions. Gardner is happy with the win but his faced is bruised by head clashes and elbows and there's the allegation of a bitten shoulder during a clinch.

[Giancarlo]

- Timothy Spall. The Beach Ball does what fighters like Tommy Farr couldn't do and puts on a boxing clinic against the legendary Chuckles Gardner. Big Tim by stoppage after 5 one-sided rounds.

[nobleart1978]

Why were the cartel so determined to match Bruno with Gardner ?

Seems odd when there were so many half decent heavyweights around in '87.

Was it summatt to do with Mickey Duff and his close working relationship with the matchmaker Jonny Boz.

Boz was well known for providing boxers who had been retired for a few yesrs or incarcerated.

[bennie]

I think Bruno's manager, Terry Lawless, got the jitters with the lucrative Bruno-Bugner showdown just a few months away at White Hart Lane. Furthermore, the Cartel were in very real talks with Team Tyson for a world title jackpot in this country featuring Tyson against big Frank. Why risk two money-spinners by matching Bruno with someone who can fight? Bruno's unpleasant win over Gardner was the upshot but there was a sliver lining. It was Bruno's first fight for trainer George Francis after Jimmy Tibbs had branched out on his own.
Francis was known for his nine-mile runs on Hampstead Heath and then a naked dip in Highgate Pond. George went in himself. He trained the first black fighter to win the British heavyweight title in Bunny Johnson, along with the likes of John Conteh, Frankie Lucas and Bunny Sterling. It was Francis who moulded Bruno into the nastier, more confident, more savvy fighter we saw win the WBC heavyweight title from Oliver McCall in 1995

[Fray Bentos]

I think Bruno's manager, Terry Lawless, got the jitters with the lucrative Bruno-Bugner showdown just a few months away at White Hart Lane. Furthermore, the Cartel were in very real talks with Team Tyson for a world title jackpot in this country featuring Tyson against big Frank. Why risk two money-spinners by matching Bruno with someone who can fight? Bruno's unpleasant win over Gardner was the upshot but there was a sliver lining. It was Bruno's first fight for trainer George Francis after Jimmy Tibbs had branched out on his own.
Francis was known for his nine-mile runs on Hampstead Heath and then a naked dip in Highgate Pond. George went in himself. He trained the first black fighter to win the British heavyweight title in Bunny Johnson, along with the likes of John Conteh, Frankie Lucas and Bunny Sterling. It was Francis who moulded Bruno into the nastier, more confident, more savvy fighter we saw win the WBC heavyweight title from Oliver McCall in 1995

Good trainer that did a lot for black fighters coming up in the 70's - was he also Cornelius Boza Edwards's trainer?

[bennie]

I think Bruno's manager, Terry Lawless, got the jitters with the lucrative Bruno-Bugner showdown just a few months away at White Hart Lane. Furthermore, the Cartel were in very real talks with Team Tyson for a world title jackpot in this country featuring Tyson against big Frank. Why risk two money-spinners by matching Bruno with someone who can fight? Bruno's unpleasant win over Gardner was the upshot but there was a sliver lining. It was Bruno's first fight for trainer George Francis after Jimmy Tibbs had branched out on his own.
Francis was known for his nine-mile runs on Hampstead Heath and then a naked dip in Highgate Pond. George went in himself. He trained the first black fighter to win the British heavyweight title in Bunny Johnson, along with the likes of John Conteh, Frankie Lucas and Bunny Sterling. It was Francis who moulded Bruno into the nastier, more confident, more savvy fighter we saw win the WBC heavyweight title from Oliver McCall in 1995

Good trainer that did a lot for black fighters coming up in the 70's - was he also Cornelius Boza Edwards's trainer?

Yes mate, and he also trained John Mugabi. Great man to have in the corner.

[funso banjo baby]