Born in West Hartlepool, and a publican by trade, Gardner made his professional debut in May 1938 with a fourth round knockout of Jack Herberts.
In December 1939 he faced Danny O'Sullivan at the Royal Albert Hall for the British bantamweight title that had been vacated by Stan Rowan.
In February 1952 he knocked out French champion Louis Skena in the sixth round at the New St James Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, to take the vacant European flyweight title.
[3][4] He made a second successful defence of the European title in June, beating Otello Belardinelli on points at the West Hartlepool Greyhound Stadium.
[5] In September 1952 he was stopped in the twelfth round by South African Jake Tuli in a defence of his Empire title, in what proved to be his final fight.