BoxRec

John L. Gardner rarely set the world on fire in his fighting days but the Hackney man broke the heart of countless opponents and never looked for an easy way out when the tide turned against him. John L. was a true fighter.
The Forgotten Champ: John L. Gardner is a book just out on the former British and European heavyweight champion and it makes compelling and often graphic reading. John L. probably found it safer in a boxing ring than outside it. Never a big puncher, he walked into the likes of Michael Dokes, Jimmy Young, Ossie Ocasio, Paul Sykes and Neville Meade and kept on walking until something 'gave'. Often, his opponents turned and quit as the superfit Gardner maintained a relentless workrate but there were times when he walked into big trouble. He was 24-0 when American “Sailor” Ibar Arrington caught him cold at Wembley in 1977 (Arrington went 10 hard rounds with Larry Holmes a fight later) and the chubby Young dropped him on the way to a 10-round decision two years later, also at Wembley.
On both occasions, manager Terry Lawless was able to bring him back and Gardner would have challenged Holmes or Mike Weaver had he beaten the unbeaten Dokes in Detroit in June 1981. He was coming off knockouts of Lorenzo Zanon and Ocasio and some gave him a chance but Dokes proved different class, picking him off and then brutally despatching him in four rounds.
The Londoner was never the same but his record of 35-4 (29) proves that he outlasted most of his opponents and his spectacular five-round knockout of Zanon in Italy in 1980 remains a career highlight. He was the best heavyweight in Europe for a number of years.

He ran the 3 tuns pub in Gateshead about 5 mins from where I live - about 20 years ago he was stabbed badly in an attack and almost died poor fella

REEVE wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 11:21 He ran the 3 tuns pub in Gateshead about 5 mins from where I live - about 20 years ago he was stabbed badly in an attack and almost died poor fella

There is a decent read about him in the book 'Further Agony'.

Mimmy wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 11:23

REEVE wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 11:21 He ran the 3 tuns pub in Gateshead about 5 mins from where I live - about 20 years ago he was stabbed badly in an attack and almost died poor fella

There is a decent read about him in the book 'Further Agony'.

Is that the follow on from the book you sent me mate?

Stuarty wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 12:59

Mimmy wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 11:23

REEVE wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 11:21 He ran the 3 tuns pub in Gateshead about 5 mins from where I live - about 20 years ago he was stabbed badly in an attack and almost died poor fella

There is a decent read about him in the book 'Further Agony'.

Is that the follow on from the book you sent me mate?

Further Agony is the follow up to Sweet Agony. Sweet Agony was written by Paul Sykes himself while further Agony was written by Jamie Boyle, who has just released another book and is currently penning a book about Lee Duffy.

I presume this Boyle fella will try and steal a living by regurgitating more nonsense about local hard men he has never met

Gardner ground all the resistance out of Sykes and made him say "no mas" in their British title fight back in the day. Sykes was a pretty decent fighter but he lacked stamina and had previously butted his way out of a contest with Neil Malpass when Malpass survived the early rounds and was poised to take over.

Does the book royalties go to John L himself or to the writer.

I don't mind books where 'all' the money goes to the author if they are about big stars that don't need it. I will buy it if i think some of the money goes to John L himself,]

Great guy John L and a very hard trainer and a humble man too. I hope he is ok in life.

bennie wrote: ↑06 Apr 2018, 02:43 Gardner ground all the resistance out of Sykes and made him say "no mas" in their British title fight back in the day. Sykes was a pretty decent fighter but he lacked stamina and had previously butted his way out of a contest with Neil Malpass when Malpass survived the early rounds and was poised to take over.

Sykes was a really decent fighter and would have hammered the likes of Roy Shaw or lenny McClean, they would have not lasted a round with him. Sykes in real life was a crazy b*****d.. John L did grind him down and showed great boxing skills.

Coco wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 16:14 I presume this Boyle fella will try and steal a living by regurgitating more nonsense about local hard men he has never met

Honestly can't see what there is to write about Duffy that hasn't already been written.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑06 Apr 2018, 03:17

Coco wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 16:14 I presume this Boyle fella will try and steal a living by regurgitating more nonsense about local hard men he has never met

Honestly can't see what there is to write about Duffy that hasn't already been written.

I hadn't hears of him til yesterday. Looked him up and read a little bit. Brown bread at 26! Ffs!

Espada wrote: ↑06 Apr 2018, 03:06

bennie wrote: ↑06 Apr 2018, 02:43 Gardner ground all the resistance out of Sykes and made him say "no mas" in their British title fight back in the day. Sykes was a pretty decent fighter but he lacked stamina and had previously butted his way out of a contest with Neil Malpass when Malpass survived the early rounds and was poised to take over.

Sykes was a really decent fighter and would have hammered the likes of Roy Shaw or lenny McClean, they would have not lasted a round with him. Sykes in real life was a crazy b*****d.. John L did grind him down and showed great boxing skills.

Sykes was beautifully built for a heavy, wide shoulders and slim waist. He certainly looked he part and he did have ability but he needed to get out of Wakefield and start afresh without any distractions. A trainer like George Francis would have done wonders with him but it's all water under the bridge. He was Gardner's official challenger and that itself is an achievement.

Did Lee Duffy box always read lee Duffy
Ex boxer etc

Tommyscc wrote: ↑06 Apr 2018, 16:23 Did Lee Duffy box always read lee Duffy
Ex boxer etc

No. Big bully, a bit before my time but was a hero to all teesiders in young offenders in the mid 90's, despite being dead! Everyone had a Duffy story.