George Gardner (March 17, 1877 â July 8, 1954) was an Irish-American boxer who was the second world light-heavyweight champion in the division's history. He held claims to both the world middleweight title as well as the world heavyweight title. He won the light-heavyweight title after defeating its inaugural champion, Jack Root, by KO after 12 rounds.
Gardner was born on March 17, 1877, in County Clare, Ireland, on Saint Patrick's Day. He was believed to have been the son of an Irish prizefighter and came from poverty. George and his brothers, Billy and Jimmy Gardner, were each recognized as accomplished boxers in their era.
George Gardner's name is often misspelled "George Gardiner," which was an alias, although some believe it was the correct spelling. He signed his name "George Gardner", though several newspapers of his era spelled his name "George Gardiner." However, his brother, Jimmy Gardner, signed his name "Jimmy Gardiner" when handing out autographs.
Gardner began his career in 1897 when he was 20 years old. He was almost six feet tall and weighed between 150âÂÂ175 pounds during his career. He won several fights in the New England area, being noted in newspapers as the "Middleweight Champion of New England."
Gardner was the top middleweight contender in 1901 and claimed the world middleweight title that year. He defeated Frank Craig, the world colored middleweight champion, in London, England, and newspapers declared that Gardner "secured the World Middleweight Title." Afterwards, Gardner challenged Tommy Ryan for the title, but Ryan declined despite being the number one contender for the title.
Gardner first openly claimed the middleweight title on August 30, 1901, at the Mechanic's Pavilion in San Francisco after knocking out Kid Carter in a fight billed as the "Middleweight Championship of the World." He then defeated Joe Walcott, the welterweight champion of the world, in a 20-round rematch in 1902. On August 18, 1902, Gardner TKO'd the undefeated Jack Root in 17 rounds at Salt Lake City, Utah, in a close fight billed as both the light-heavyweight and middleweight world championship. Both fighters weighed in at 165 pounds.
On October 31, 1902, Gardner fought 20 rounds with Jack Johnson, the first African American to hold the world heavyweight title. Gardner weighed in at 155 while Johnson held a 30-pound weight advantage at 185. Johnson won on points by knocking Gardner down twice in the 8th and 14th rounds.
Gardner was a contender for the newly created world light-heavyweight title in 1903, weighing about 170 pounds. On April 6, 1903, Gardner fought Peter Maher, the Irish heavyweight champion, considered to be one of the most dangerous hitters of his era. Gardner knocked out Maher in round one and then defeated Marvin Hart by TKO after 12 rounds.
On July 4, 1903, at Ontario, Canada, at the International Athletic Club, after 12 rounds of fighting, George Gardner knocked out Jack Root to take his light-heavyweight title. He was the first Irish-American to hold the title. Most records state that Root was the first champion of the division, but others, including George Gardner, had claimed the title before. The RootâÂÂGardner fight was the first light-heavyweight title fight caught on film. Newspapers reported that Gardner knocked Root down seven times.
George Gardner defended his title later that year on November 25, 1903, at San Francisco, California, against Bob Fitzsimmons, who had killed two men in the ring and was the former middleweight and heavyweight champion. Fitzsimmons knocked the young champion down twice and won a questionable 20-round division, becoming boxing's first triple-division champion as well as the first champion at both heavyweight and light-heavyweight. After losing the title, George Gardner challenged Fitzsimmons to a rematch, but was denied a second chance at the title.
Gardner was still a highly regarded contender in his division, and was rated even higher than the champion Fitzsimmons. Nonetheless, Gardner set his sights on the world heavyweight title. It was held by Marvin Hart, whom Gardner had defeated and drawn with before.
Gardner challenged Marvin Hart for the heavyweight championship, but again he was denied a title shot. Afterwards, his career faded with losses and draws against Jim Flynn, Al Kaufman, Terry Mustain, and Tony Ross. Gardner retired at age 32 in 1908 with an official record of 44 wins, 32 by way of knockout, 12 losses, 7 draws, and 3 no contests.
Gardner continued to box, but considered himself a "washed-up prize fighter." He was reputed to have fought in over 300 battles. One newspaper source noted that Gardner "had drawn from their seats in applause more fight fans than any other light-heavyweight."
Gardner opened a saloon in Chicago and married Margaret Smith of South Bend, Indiana. He fathered a son in 1905, who also became a professional boxer in the light-heavyweight division under the name, "Morgan Gardiner." Gardner's brother, Jimmy Gardner, claimed the world welterweight title in 1908, making the Gardner brothers the first Irish-American siblings in world history to hold world titles.
George Gardner was pictured in the summer of 1930 on the front of "Self Defense Quarterly."
Gardner was once ranked the #1 fighter in the world and he is considered one of the top fighters of all time, as well as one of the top light-heavyweights of all time.
Gardner died at age 77 on July 10, 1954, in Chicago. Four ex-champions were pallbearers at his funeral.
All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as âÂÂno decisionâ bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.