Gary Stretch | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1965-11-04)4 November 1965 (age 59)[1] St Helens,Lancashire, England |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Light-middleweight |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 31 |
| Wins | 29 |
| Wins by KO | 20 |
| Losses | 2 |
Gary Stretch (born 4 November 1965) is a British actor, model, producer, screenwriter and British middleweight boxing champion. During his boxing career, Stretch won 29 of his 31 fights, 20 of those by KO. He became the WBC International Super Welterweight Champion.
In his modelling career, Stretch modelled for high-end brands includingCalvin Klein andVersace. During his acting career, he starred in such films asThe Heavy (directed by Marcus Warren) andAlexander (directed byOliver Stone). He was also cast in theShane Meadows’ filmDead Man’s Shoes as the small-time gang leader, Sonny, for which role he was nominated for aBritish Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Stretch was born in 1965 and brought up in the Haresfinch area ofSt Helens,Lancashire. His father was aplumber.[2] He attended the town'sCowley High School.[3]
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A southpaw fighter, Stretch boxed most of his career as alight-middleweight, rising to become British champion in that division.[4]
He won the WBC International Light Middleweight title, beating Ramon Angel Alegre at the London Arena on 14 February 1990, the fight billed as Valentine's Day Massacre. Stretch, aged 24, stopped the Argentine in the 6th round of a very one sided contest. Stretch relinquished the title due to a management dispute withFrank Warren and subsequently sat out his contract.
Stretch's return to the ring came in 1991 when he challengedChris Eubank for theWBO worldmiddleweight championship in London, in a fight billed as "Beauty V the Best".[5] Stretch suffered a cut behind the ear in the first round and was shaken by an uppercut in the third. Eubank was downed twice by Stretch in the fight. In the sixth round Stretch had a point deducted for pushing Eubank onto the canvas; Stretch was shaken by a right hand from Eubank and subsequently took a standing eight count. Stretch then went through the ropes after a push from Eubank. The fight was controversially stopped in Eubank's favor, despite Stretch being up on all 3 judges score cards.
Stretch fought only once more after his bout with Eubank before retiring with a career record of 29 wins 1 loss and 1 NC (an accidental clash of heads causing Stretch to be cut on the forehead).[4]
During his time as a boxer, Stretch also worked as a model. His clients includedCalvin Klein andVersace.[4]
Stretch was cast asCleitus alongsideAnthony Hopkins,Colin Farrell andAngelina Jolie in Oliver Stone's 2004 filmAlexander. Stone went on to cast Stretch again inWorld Trade Center as a paramedic, and inSavages. In 2004, Stretch was cast as psychopathic gangster Sonny inShane Meadows' gritty cult thrillerDead Man's Shoes (2004), for which Stretch received a BIFA nomination[6][7] alongside fellow English actorPaddy Considine.
Stretch also starred inFreebird in 2008, directed byJon Ivay. With Stretch appearing alongsidePhil Daniels andGeoff Bell, the film followed three bikers across a drug-fueled ride in the Welsh countryside.
From 1998 to 2001, Stretch was married to actressRoselyn Sánchez.[5]
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