[2][3] Packer was born in March 1944 in Dartford, and began to box at the age of eleven.
[3] While working at a dockyard as an apprentice, he was he should never box again, unless he wanted to suffer permanent damage to his hand.
[1] However, after multiple operations, he went on to win the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) bantamweight title.
[7][8] Packer then went up to the featherweight division, with his final fight taking place in November 1968.
[1] The following month, while working as a welder, he damaged his leg during a fall, which ended his boxing career.