Despite being the favourite to win the title, Johnny Morkus lost in the 1948 ABA heavyweight final to Jack Gardner. Both men were selected for the London Olympics that year, although Morkus was a non-starter, as Gardner went on to reach the quarter-finals. Morkus had made his international début the previous year, against Scotland, at the Empire Pool, Wembley, and his short amateur career ended in August 1948 when he turned professional. He had just nine pro bouts, winning five, including his first four. That run was ended when he suffered his first defeat, by Gardner, who later went on to win the British and Commonwealth heavyweight tiles.
