THIS former champion boxer once fought fought Chris Eubank for a world title.
But he retired to become an actor and ended up starring in a Hollywood blockbuster with Angelina Jolie.
Gary Stretch is a former boxing champion who retired to become an actor
Stretch famously fought Chris Eubank for the world middleweight title
Stretch went on to star in a Hollywood blockbuster alongside Angelina Jolie
Gary Stretch, 57, was once a top middleweight boxer who won 29 of 31 professional fights.
The highlight of his career came in 1990 when he beat Ramon Angel Alegre to become the WBC International Light Middleweight champion.
After relinquishing his belt due to a dispute with manager Frank Warren, Stretch returned in 1991 to challenge Eubank for the WBO world middleweight championship.
Stretch put in an impressive performance as he twice downed Eubank.
But the fight was controversially stopped in his opponent’s favour after Stretch was pushed through the ropes — despite being ahead on all three judges’ scorecards.
Stretch, who also worked as a model for Calvin Klein and Versace during his boxing career, fought just once more before retiring.
And he then went into the world of acting, making it into two huge films in 2004.
Stretch first landed a role in Shane Meadows’ iconic thriller Dead Man’s Shoes alongside Paddy Considine.
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Stretch and Eubank collided in a middleweight epic in 1991
Stretch controversially lost despite being up on all three judges’ scorecards
And later he ended up alongside Tinseltown royalty in epic blockbuster Alexander as the character Cleitus.
Directed by Oliver Stone, it made over £130million at the box office and is best remembered for starring Hollywood beauty Jolie.
Alexander also featured performances from stars including Anthony Hopkins, Colin Farrell and Val Kilmer.
Since then, Stretch has also appeared in films including Freedbird and The Heavy.
Stretch also enjoyed a modelling career with the likes of Calvin Klein
He also starred in 2004 British film Dead Man’s Shoes
In 2015 he also released a documentary called Safest Place on Earth, detailing how boxing helped him mature.
Stretch, who is from St Helens, told St Helens Star: “The safest place on earth in my opinion was the ring, which is the case for many fighters.
“It crosses over into film, music — the safest place on earth was on the stage for Michael Jackson.
“So many great fighters or individuals come from tough backgrounds.
“All have a story to tell — most of them have been affected in some way and feel they have something to prove and it becomes a great driving force.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to practice boxing with no partner?
If you’re looking for a partner to practice boxing, you can watch boxing matches on television. You could also look for an amateur boxing club in your area. Amateur boxesing clubs usually hold regular training sessions. These sessions typically involve sparring partners, who often hit pads together.
You can also practice boxing using punching bags. Before hitting the bag, ensure that you are wearing gloves and protective gear.
What are some ways I can improve my combat defense?
Learning how to fight intelligently can help you improve your defense. You need to know how defense against attacks from every angle is possible, as well how to counterattack in case of emergency.
You won’t be able to fight if you don’t know what fighting is. You’ll just get beaten up. If you know how to fight you will be ready for anything.
Here are some suggestions to help improve your defense.
- Know the origin of your opponent’s attack. This means you need to be attentive to your opponent’s body language. If he appears nervous, it could indicate that he is about to launch his next attack.
- Be calm. Don’t panic. Instead, remain calm and focused.
- Block with your arms. It is simple and effective to defend yourself from attacks by blocking your arms.
- Counterattack. Counterattack.
- Fight dirty. Fighting dirty can be a way to defend yourself. You can kick your opponent back if he throws a kick at it.
How can I defend my boxing skills by myself?
Boxing is one the oldest martial arts known. Boxing is also one of most difficult sports to learn. You don’t just punch someone in the face and knock him out. You should know how to defend against punches, kicks, and other attacks.
Find a local boxing gym. Once you’ve found a good place to train, you’ll need to get some gloves and headgear. The gloves protect your hands, while the headgear protects you. You will also need shorts and a shirt.
After you have all the equipment you need, it’s time to get warm. Start slow and build up speed. If you feel ready, get on the bag and start sparring with another boxer. Don’t fret if you don’t succeed. You can always try again until it is perfect.
Statistics
- You want to be running at roughly 75-80% of your top speed..5 mile slow, easy recovery jog at the end.[6]X Research source 2Mix in long runs, shadow boxing, and short sprints on non-interval days. (wikihow.com)
- This article received 39 testimonials and 89% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. (wikihow.com)
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How To
How to learn to box to exercise
How to box for exercise
Your goal in learning boxing is self-confidence and improvement of your physical fitness. Boxing is one of the most popular sports in the world. It requires strength, speed, agility, stamina, coordination, balance, power and accuracy.
Learning how to box is a great way to get fit and feel good about yourself. You’ll enjoy it so much, you’ll want more.
There are many types of boxing training programs. Some programs are offered at local gyms and others at your home. There are also online courses which allow you to study from anywhere in the world.
It is important to find a program that suits your needs and your lifestyle. The best programs include exercises designed to build muscle mass, increase flexibility, improve cardiovascular endurance, and enhance overall well-being.
It’s important to decide whether you prefer a beginner-level course or one that is more advanced. Beginner’s classes usually teach basic techniques, such as sparring, mittwork, shadowboxing, and punching. Advanced programs usually cover more complicated movements and offer more options.
A beginner’s program typically lasts eight weeks and costs less $100. However, they do not offer guidance on nutrition, weight reduction, injury prevention, or any other aspects of boxing training.
Advanced programs usually last for six months and are around $300. They may include nutritional advice, stretching, warm-up exercises and instruction on proper technique. Some programs include resistance training such as lifting weights and aerobic conditioning such as running.
