How Would British Heavyweights Frank Bruno, Herbie Hide, and John L. Gardner have Done in Today’s Heavyweight Division? Part III
By Roy “Sharpshooter” Bennett
British heavyweight boxing is currently enjoying a renewed surge of interest both at home and abroad. The emergence of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Dillian Whyte has certainly given the domestic scene a huge shot in the arm. And at the time of writing Fury, 24-0, 18 KO’s, was waiting to hear the new date for his chance to face world champion Wladimir Klitschko after their original date was postponed when Klitschko suffered an injury in training.
Joshua, (14-0, 14 KO’s) and Whyte (16-0, 13 KO’s) are scheduled to meet on December 12th, 2015, to determine who becomes the new British & Commonwealth heavyweight champion and eventually follows in Fury’s footsteps to a world title opportunity down the road. But whether any of them can match or surpass the professional achievements of their predecessors, Frank Bruno and Herbie Hide, both of whom bagged versions of the ‘world’ title, and John L. Gardener who won domestic, Commonwealth and European honors, remains to be seen. Read on to find out how three of the top British heavyweights from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, would have done today.
John L. Gardner
35-4, 29 KO’s
London, England
Gardener is another British heavyweight who would be a cruiserweight today. In his ten year professional career, from 1973-1983, he rarely weighed over 200 lbs.
His first 10 opponents had a combined record of: 73-107-12. Prior to meeting Gardener 8 of those 10 opponents had losing records and he managed to stop 9 of them inside the scheduled distance. Now, either John L. Gardener’s management knew something about him they were trying to keep on the down low or they were quietly building confidence in their charge by feeding him a steady diet of low level journeymen. I suspect the truth to be somewhere in between.
Gardener was a crowd pleasing heavyweight. A smidgen under 6 feet tall, he was a determined and aggressive come forward fighter with a good engine and the high work rate that went with it. Bobbing and weaving to slip punches so he could fight on the inside, he’d wear his opponents down with non-stop pressure until they were unable to continue. Gardener never fought for a world title but after becoming the dominant heavyweight in Britain and Europe he did travel to America in 1981 to fight the highly ranked contender Michael Dokes.
In his 4 bouts before meeting Dokes his opponents had a combined record of: 79-18-7. Gardener won 3 of those contests – all by stoppage – only losing to the highly regarded Jimmy Young by decision over ten rounds. No shame in that. Young was a classy operator who had been in with the very best in the sport including Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, and Ron Lyle. However, if the Englishman was going to break into the top echelon of contenders he’d have to beat Michael Dokes to do so. But it wasn’t to be. Gardener would lose to Dokes by a brutal 4th round KO and dreams of a world title shot would be dashed forever.
Bryant Jennings
19-1-0, 10 KO’s
Philadelphia, USA
Bryant “Bye Bye” Jennings is one of the better American heavyweight contenders fighting today. Although he recently challenged and lost to Wladimir Klitschko in his only title shot to date, he gave a decent account of himself in losing by unanimous points decision. Jennings First 10 opponents share a combined record of: 41-56-7, of which 3 had lost more fights than they’d won, and his fifth opponent – Randy Smith – was making his pro debut. Jennings scored 4 stoppage wins in this early stage of his career denoting steady, if unspectacular, development.
In the time honored Philadelphia fighting tradition Jennings likes to come forward, engage his opponent, and rumble. He puts his punches together very well, works the body to set up his power punches and covers up well behind a tight guard when the need arises. His last 4 opponents before his first crack at the heavyweight championship had combined win-loss-draw stats of: 82-4-1. Jennings scored 3 stoppages in these bouts and scored one decision win. These 3 inside the distance wins over a higher level of opposition signify more confidence in technique, power punching ability and, tactics. For someone who has only been boxing for a total of six years Jennings has done remarkably well.
Conclusion
Make no mistake. This is going to be an entertaining fight. Both Gardener and Jennings aren’t known for taking many backward steps. From the first bell both fighters lock horns in ring centre and start slugging it out. The number of punches thrown is more akin to a welterweight fight than a heavyweight contest. Gardener gives as good as he gets for the first three rounds but Jennings, the heavier fighter by twenty five pounds, begins to get the better of the exchanges as the rounds go by. Digging heavy hooks to the body and jabbing to the chest to bring the Englishman’s hands down a heavy overhand right drops Gardener to his knees along the ropes in the 8th round. Gardner makes it up by the count of 9 but the referee has seen enough and waves the fight off.
In conclusion any British heavyweights from the last 35 years -1980 onwards – would have a very hard time ascending to the top of today’s heavyweight division and becoming champion. Prior to Frank Bruno we have not bred a genuine heavyweight champion, born, raised, and trained on British soil, since the gloved era came into existence and replaced bare knuckle fighting in the late nineteenth century. Remember Lennox Lewis and Bob Fitzsimmons learned their fighting skills in distant lands. British eyes are now on Anthony Joshua. Could he be the one we’ve waited so long for?
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