Garner, Robert Tinsley "Bob"
(born: April 2, 1923 - died: December 20, 1998)Bob Garner, born in Lexington, KY, was a 5' 11" light heavyweight boxer who was a Kentucky Golden Gloves Champion. He started boxing at Douglas High School in Lexington when he was 14-years old, beginning his professional career in 1943 after winning the Golden Gloves Championship. He had an overall record of 42 wins with 23 KOs, and 42 losses with 17 KOs, and 4 draws.
Garner was a sparing partner of heavyweight champion Joe Louis; the two had several exhibition fights in 1948. Garner's last fight was in Huntington, WV, in 1953.
Garner had lived in Louisville, KY. After his boxing career ended, he was employed as a locker room attendant at the Idle Hour Country Club in Lexington, living the remainder of his life in Lexington with his wife and children.
For more see Bob Garner at boxrec.com; the Bob Garner entry in the Afro-American Encyclopedia; Joe Louis: boxing champion, by R. Vitale; and "State boxing champ Bob Garner, 75, dies," Lexington Herald-Leader, Obituaries section, p. B2.