{{short description|British boxer, model, and actor}} {{Use British English|date=June 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox boxer |image = <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people – see WP:NONFREE --> | name = Gary Stretch | weight = Light-middleweight | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1965|11|4}}<ref>https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0834282/</ref> | birth_place = St Helens, Lancashire, England | style = Southpaw | total = 31 | wins = 29 | KO = 20 | losses = 2 }} '''Gary Stretch''' (born 4 November 1965) is a British boxer, actor, model, producer, and screenwriter. 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 brands including Calvin Klein and Versace. During his acting career, he starred in such films as ''The Heavy'' (directed by Marcus Warren) and ''Alexander'' (directed by Oliver Stone). He was also cast in the Shane Meadows film ''Dead Man’s Shoes'' as the small-time gang leader, Sonny, for which role he was nominated for a British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.
== Early life == Stretch was born in 1965 and brought up in the Haresfinch area of St Helens, Lancashire. His father was a plumber.<ref name="telegraph_longstretch">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2330940/A-long-stretch.html |title=A long stretch |author=Sue Mott |date=21 January 2006 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> He attended the town's Cowley High School.<ref name="star">{{cite web |url=http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/8860894.Gary___s_proud_to_be_back_where_it_all_began/ |title=Ex-boxer Gary Stretch to celebrate St Helens' movie magic |date=7 February 2011 |publisher=St. Helens Star}}</ref>
Aged eight, Stretch was kicked out of school for fighting. A condition of returning was that he learn discipline and would have to go to the boxing gym three nights a week. For nine months he stood in the corner of the gym, never picking up a glove, until finally deciding to try the sport.<ref>https://www.proboxing-fans.com/gary-stretch-moments-of-a-lifetime/</ref>
== Career == === Boxing === {{BLP one source|section|date=April 2022}} A southpaw fighter, Stretch boxed most of his career as a light-middleweight, rising to become British champion in that division.<ref name="davies_telegraph">{{cite news|author=Gareth A. Davies |url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/garethadavies/5841556/Mystery_of_Gary_Stretch_departure_from_Khan_camp/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610054949/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/garethadavies/5841556/Mystery_of_Gary_Stretch_departure_from_Khan_camp/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 June 2012 |title=Mystery of Gary Stretch departure from Khan camp |date=27 November 2008 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref>
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 with Frank Warren and subsequently sat out his contract.
Stretch's return to the ring came in 1991 when he challenged Chris Eubank for the WBO world middleweight championship in London, in a fight billed as "Beauty V the Best".<ref name="observersport"/> Stretch suffered a cut behind the ear in the first round and was shaken by an uppercut in the third. In the sixth round Stretch had a point deducted for pushing Eubank onto the canvas after Eubank had lunged in low; Stretch was shaken by a right hand from Eubank and knocked to one knee from a further Eubank combination, taking an eight count. Not fully recovered, Stretch was knocked through the ropes by another Eubank right and though he regained his feet, the referee deemed him unable to continue and stopped the fight. At the time of the stoppage, Stretch was up on all 3 judges scorecards.
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).<ref name="davies_telegraph"/>
=== Modelling === During his time as a boxer, Stretch also worked as a model. His clients included Calvin Klein and Versace.<ref name="davies_telegraph"/>
=== Acting === Stretch was cast as Cleitus alongside Anthony Hopkins, Colin Farrell and Angelina Jolie in Oliver Stone's 2004 film ''Alexander''. Stone went on to cast Stretch again in ''World Trade Center'' as a paramedic, and in ''Savages''. In 2004, Stretch was cast as psychopathic gangster Sonny in Shane Meadows' gritty cult thriller ''Dead Man's Shoes'' (2004), for which Stretch received a BIFA nomination<ref name="imdb_deadman">{{cite web | url=https://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0419677/awards | title="Dead Man's Shoes Awards and Nominations", IMDb | access-date=29 June 2018 | archive-date=24 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024095138/http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0419677/awards | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="bifa">{{cite web |url=http://bifa.org.uk/people/gary-stretch |title=British Independent Film Awards – Gary Stretch |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006014944/http://bifa.org.uk/people/gary-stretch |archivedate=6 October 2011 }}</ref> alongside fellow English actor Paddy Considine.
Stretch also starred in ''Freebird'' in 2008, directed by Jon Ivay. With Stretch appearing alongside Phil Daniels and Geoff Bell, the film followed three bikers across a drug-fueled ride in the Welsh countryside.
== Personal life == From 1998 to 2001, Stretch was married to actress Roselyn Sánchez.<ref name="observersport">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/feb/03/features.sportmonthly12?INTCMP=SRCH |title=Sex life: Gary Stretch |author=Anna Kessel |date=3 February 2008 |newspaper=The Observer}}</ref>
== Filmography == *''Tis a Gift to Be Simple'' (1994) ... Perry Truman *''Final Combination'' (1994) ... Richard Welton *''Infidelity/Hard Fall'' (1997) ... Shane *''Business for Pleasure'' (1997) ... Rolf *''Shergar'' (1999) ... SAS Soldier *''Dead Dogs Lie'' (2001) ... Duck *''Final Combat'' (2003) ... Jaikra *''A Good Night to Die'' (2003) ... Ronnie *''Dead Man's Shoes'' (2004) ... Sonny *''Alexander'' (2004) ... Cleitus *''The King Maker'' (2005) ... Fernando De Gamma *''World Trade Center'' (2006) ... John's Paramedic *''The Commander: Windows of the Soul'' (2007) ... Jack Bannerman *''Afghan Knights'' (2007) ... Nash *''Tied in Knots'' (2008) ... Jay *''Freebird'' (2008) ... Fred *''Deadwater'' (2008) ... Colin Willets *''The Heavy'' (2010) ... Mitchell 'Boots' Mason *''Baseline'' (2010) ... Rob *''Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus'' (2010)<ref>[http://www.theasylum.cc/product.php?id=180 Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921003530/http://www.theasylum.cc/product.php?id=180 |date=21 September 2010 }}, The Asylum</ref> *''Yellow'' *''The Girl from the Naked Eye'' (2012) ... Frank *''The Pugilist's Son'' (short) (2012) ... Terry Hope *''Savages'' (2013) ... Bad Ass Biker *''Jurassic Attack'' (2013) ... Captain John Stakeley *''My Father Die'' (2016) ... Ivan
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110721203946/http://www.garystretch.info/ Gary Stretch's website] *{{IMDb name|834282}} *{{boxrec|id=003911}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Stretch, Gary}} Category:1968 births Category:English male boxers Category:English male film actors Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from St Helens, Merseyside Category:Light-middleweight boxers Category:English male models