Fighting Career
He used the name Orville "the Awful" Gardner, becoming one of the best fighting men in New York along with the famous John "Old Smoke" Morrissey and the infamous William "Bill the Butcher" Poole. The name 'Awful Gardner' brought fear into all fighting men in the country during the 19th century. Gardner became known as the celebrated prizefighter of Newark City and was known as a street fighter. Gardner killed a man and was forced to leave Newark for New York City where he became an emigrant runner.
Gardner earned fame as a pugilist after going 33 rounds with Allen McFee in 1847, resulting in a victory for Gardner. Gardner was involved in several affrays all over the country and he became a distinguished boxing trainer of such champions as John Morrissey, Tom Hyer, and Joe Coburn.
Gardner was a friend of Morrissey and trained him to become the Heavyweight Champion. Gardner is often noted for holding Yankee Sullivan's arms back while letting his boxer (Morrissey) get in some hits. Gardner was never known to be in a gang but was a Bowery thug, possibly being one of Morrissey's allies rather than one of his gang members (Gardner being older and trainer to Morrissey, as well as Gardner being a friend of Bill Poole). Newspapers reported in 1856 that Gardner would most likely defeat Dominick Bradley for the Heavyweight Championship of America.
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