Ted Lewis
Titles: Welterweight Champion 1915-1916 and 1917-1919
Record: 173-30-14
Born: October 24, 1894 in London, England
Years active: 1928-1939
Nickname: "Kid", "The Crashing, Bashing and Dashing Kid"
Pound for pound Lewis is generally recognized as the greatest fighting machine
England has ever produced, he was a nonstop, all action and a relentless attacker
who fought very often (in 1911 alone he had 48 fights) before retiring at the age of
35. In his 20 year reign he won nine titles ranging from featherweight to middle-
weight, even up until the 1970's Lewis also held the distinction of being the only
British fighter to win a world title in this century. He had the look of a pug with
his flattened nose and cauliflower ear.......and that energy that carried him to
victory he was the precursor to Henry Armstrong with his all action style. But it
was not just a maniacal attack as Lewis was known as one of the first boxers to
throw planed combination punches instead of just leaping into his opponents with
one shot. Lewis was also the first man to use a mouthpiece or gumshield because of
his prominent teeth and is credited with being the co-inventor. Born in London's
East End as one of 8 children to a poor Russian Immigrant family of Jewish faith
Lewis great up the hard way. Lewis dropped out of school at the age of 12 beginning
to box professionaly in 1909 as a bantamweight at the age of 14, hence the nickname
"Kid". By the time he was 18 years old he was already a champion. This in an era of
great fighters. Lewis also had a arch enemy in New York born Jack Britton, together
they had one of the century's greatest rivalries, fighting each other twenty times
(6 times for the title) for a total of 224 rounds and traded titles several times
in the process, in their title fights Lewis went 3-3 (7 no decisions) against Jack
Britton. By 1913 Lewis had grown into a featherweight and knocked out Alec Lambert
in the 17th round to gain his first title at the British level three months before
his 19th birthday and 114 bouts into his career. By 1914 he won the European
featherweight title and decided to travel abroad after he could no longer make the
featherweight limit losing his title to the scales. On his trip to Australia he
fought five (and won 4) 20 round contests in 63 days. From there Lewis made the
trip to America, always in search of the next tough guy to get in the ring with.
Skipping the lightweight division Lewis moved up to welterweight during his stay
in America. On his trips to America which would last 5 years Lewis enjoyed the
kind of success that other British boxers never did going 26-5-2 in addition to 63
"no decision" contests. In 1915 Lewis scored a knockdown riding it to the defeated
of Jack Britton over 12 rounds to win the world welterweight title and go on to
defend it 5 times in that year, three of the times against Britton. In a rematch
of the title fight three weeks later Lewis again won, this time easier than the
first time. Lewis held the title on and off for 4 years taking turns sharing the
title with Jack Britton in their furious series. Lewis would loose the title to
Britton in 1916 when Britton took a 20 round decision in New Orleans, his manager
always claimed he rushed Lewis back from a hand injury too soon for this bout. By
the next year Lewis was able to reverse that decision taking the title from Britton
in the same manner via 20 round decision win in Dayton, Ohio. One of the best wins
of Lewis' career came in this reign when he defended the title against legendary
Benny Leonard (the only man he outweighed in his entire American journey), the bout
was ruled a 8 round no decision and most observers were equally split on who won
the fight. In 1919 Lewis would loose the world title for good to Britton when he
was knocked down 3 times and out in the 9th round. The next year saw Lewis win the
British welterweight crown by stopping Johnny Bee in the fourth round. The win
proved Lewis was far to experienced and hardened a fighter for the local competition
taking on even heavyweights. In the same year he stopped Johnny Basham in 9 rounds
and repeated the feat in 19 rounds in the rematch, both fights were for the European
welterweight title. In 1921 Lewis and Britton fought their last bout for the
welterweight title in which Lewis could not regain the world title losing in a
bitterly contested 15 round contest. He would still go on to win six more English
and European titles before challenging Georges Carpentier for the world light
heavyweight title. In a very controversial fight Lewis outweighed by 18 pounds was
knocked out in the first round. The controversy came when Lewis turned to the
referee to protest the holding of Carpentier and was knocked out by a spectacular
right hand to the jaw. Now 29 years old reporters were calling Lewis over the hill
and urged him to retire. Lewis fought on and won the British middleweight title
when he KO'ed Frankie Burns in 11 rounds, one defense against Roland Tood of the
title followed. In the rematch of the closely fought 20 round decision however
Tood was able to win and take the British and European middleweight title from
Lewis. It was down hill from here for Lewis as age was rusted his reflexes and
younger stronger boxers slowly stripped Lewis of his titles. Still Lewis traveled
again, this time to South Africa and won their light heavyweight title and drew
with Johnny Squires for the South African heavyweight title. After a trip to the
USA where Lewis lost via disqualification to Maxie Rosenbloom, Lewis went back
home for a farewell fight winning via third round knockout over Johnny Basham. In
retirement Lewis had little savings but did some refereeing along with bit acting
jobs. In World War II Lewis was given a waiver to join the RAF. Lewis would go on
to become the elder statesman for British boxing until his death in 1970 at the
age of 76.
Ted "Kid" Lewis
Career Record: 173 W, 30 L, 14 D, 64 ND (71 KO's)
1909
Sep 13 Johnny Sharp London, Eng L 6
Sep 19 Joe Lipman London, Eng W 6
Oct 9 Alf Cohen London, Eng W 6
Oct 30 George Thomas London, Eng KO 1
Nov 27 "Private" Joe Marks London, Eng W 6
Dec 6 Dick Hart London, Eng D 6
Dec 18 Jack "Kid" Levene London, Eng KO 3
1910
Jan 8 Bill Marsh London, Eng W 6
Jan 16 Alf Jacobs London, Eng W 6
Jan 31 Jim Brown London, Eng L 6
Feb 13 George Powell London, Eng TK 1
Feb 27 Piper Holmes London, Eng W 6
Feb 28 George Marks London, Eng W 6
May 15 Jack "Kid" Levene London, Eng W 6
May 22 Young Morris London, Eng W 6
May 29 Young Sullivan London, Eng KO 3
Jun 5 Joe Madden London, Eng KO 2
Jul 17 Jack Greenstock London, Eng D 6
Jul 24 Alf Jacobs London, Eng W 6
Jul 31 Joe Madden London, Eng D 6
Aug 6 Ted O'Neil London, Eng KO 5
Aug 13 Young Smith London, Eng TK 3
Aug 16 Sid Venner London, Eng W 6
Oct 8 Curley Bume London, Eng W 6
Nov 12 Boyo Lambert London, Eng W 6
1911
Jan 1 Dick Murray London, Eng W 6
Jan 8 Bill Marsh London, Eng W 6
Jan 15 Jack Marks London, Eng W 6
Jan 22 Alf Jacobs London, Eng W 6
Jan 25 Joe Madden London, Eng W 6
Jan 29 Joe Jacobs London, Eng W 6
Feb 2 Young Kline London, Eng KO 3
Feb 5 Alf Small London, Eng TK 2
Feb 9 Billy Smith London, Eng KO 4
Feb 12 Young Sullivan London, Eng L 6
Feb 19 Joe Madden London, Eng D 6
Feb 26 Jack "Kid" Levene London, Eng W 6
Mar 5 Jim Butler London, Eng KO 1
Mar 12 Charlie Smith London, Eng KO 4
Mar 19 Jack Ginnion London, Eng TK 3
Mar 26 Joe Ross London, Eng W 6
Apr 2 Young Hyams London, Eng W 10
Apr 9 Nat Brooks London, Eng W 10
Apr 16 Jack Marks London, Eng W 10
Apr 23 Jack Fisher London, Eng L 6
Apr 30 Nat Brooks London, Eng L 15
May 7 Joe Madden London, Eng W 12
May 14 Alf Small London, Eng W 10
May 18 Tom Chinnery London, Eng W 6
May 21 Young Greenstock London, Eng D 6
May 28 Jack English London, Eng KO 3
Jun 1 Sid Venner London, Eng W 6
Jun 4 Young Kline London, Eng KO 3
Jun 11 Alf Small London, Eng KO 12
Jun 18 Dick Murray London, Eng W 6
Jul 25 George Marks London, Eng W 6
Jul 29 "Private" Joe Marks London, Eng TK 7
Aug 9 Curley Hume London, Eng W 6
Aug 16 Tom Perkins London, Eng W 10
Aug 23 Jack Harbour London, Eng W D.Q 3
Sep 2 Fred Halsband London, Eng D 6
Sep 4 Walter Marshall London, Eng TK 3
Sep 17 Billy Smith London, Eng TK 4
Sep 20 Ted O'Neill London, Eng TK 5
Sep 30 Tom Perkins London, Eng W 6
Oct 5 Lew Cohen London, Eng KO 3
Oct 8 Harry Ray London, Eng W 6
Oct 10 Tom Perkins London, Eng W 6
Oct 18 Tom Perkins London, Eng D 6
Oct 21 Alf Small London, Eng W 6
Oct 23 Jack Bunner London, Eng W 10
Oct 29 Tom Perkins London, Eng W 10
Nov 2 Dick Murray London, Eng W 10
Nov 9 Jim Hales London, Eng W 6
Nov 12 Alf Small London, Eng KO 2
Nov 19 Kid Olds London, Eng W 6
Nov 26 Billy Griggs London, Eng KO 1
Dec 3 Frank Warner London, Eng W 6
Dec 7 Jimmy Butler London, Eng TK 2
Dec 10 Billy Taylor London, Eng W 8
Dec 17 Jim Shires London, Eng W 10
Dec 24 Frank Fay London, Eng W 6
Dec 31 Eddie Foy London, Eng W 6
1912
Jan 6 Jewey Murray London, Eng KO 1
Jan 13 Billy Taylor London, Eng W 8
Jan 16 Harry Wilson London, Eng W 10
Jan 20 Darkey Harris London, Eng KO 3
Feb 10 Tom Mack London, Eng W 6
Feb 17 Duke Lynch London, Eng W 10
Feb 24 Alf Mitchell London, Eng W 10
Mar 2 George Buswell London, Eng W 10
Mar 16 Alan Porter London, Eng W 10
Mar 18 Jim Shires London, Eng KO 2
Apr 1 Duke Lynch London, Eng KOby 1
Apr 3 Leon Truffler Paris, Fr W 10
Apr 6 Gus Venn London, Eng KO 7
Apr 27 Gus Venn London, Eng W 10
May 5 Jim Hales London, Eng W 6
May 25 Leon Truffler London, Eng W 10
Jun 8 Jack Chinnery London, Eng W 6
Jun 22 George Ruddick London, Eng W 10
Jun 29 Darkey Haley London, Eng W 6
Jul 6 "Seaman" Arthur Hayes London, Eng W 10
Jul 13 Harry Wilson London, Eng W 10
Jul 27 Jack O'Neill London, Eng KO 3
Aug 10 Young Brooks London, Eng L 10
Aug 31 Fred Halsband London, Eng L 10
Sep 7 Tom Clifford London, Eng W 6
Sep 14 Sam Russell London, Eng W 10
Sep 21 Fred Blake London, Eng W 6
Sep 28 Tom Allen London, Eng W 10
Oct 5 Con Houghton London, Eng L D.Q 6
Oct 12 Jim Lloyd London, Eng W 10
Oct 19 Jack Chinnery London, Eng KO 3
Oct 24 Jim Campbell London, Eng W 6
Nov 9 Fred Halsband London, Eng W 10
Nov 16 Alf Small London, Eng KO 5
Nov 30 George Ruddick London, Eng W 12
Dec 2 Darkey Harris London, Eng KO 3
Dec 9 Jack Harrison London, Eng KO 3
Dec 16 Jim Shires London, Eng W 10
Dec 22 Harry Berry London, Eng W 15
1913
Jan 2 Jim Lloyd Liverpool, Eng W 10
Jan 4 George Buswell London, Eng KO 14
Jan 16 Nat Williams Liverpool, Eng D 15
Jan 27 Johnny Condon London, Eng W 20
Mar 3 Johnny Condon London, Eng W 20
Apr 7 Young Brooks London, Eng W 15
Jun 2 Joe Starmer London, Eng W 15
Jul 19 Harry Stirling London, Eng TK 7
Jul 26 Duke Lynch London, Eng W 20
Aug 23 Harry Stirling London, Eng W 20
Sep 15 Ferdinand Quendraux London, Eng KO 10
Oct 6 Alec Lambert London, Eng KO 17
1914
Jan 5 George Buswell London, Eng KO 2
Feb 2 Paul Til London, Eng W D.Q 12
Mar 14 Harry Berry London, Eng KO 3
Mar 18 Ted Saunders Coventry, Eng KO 6
May 30 Herb McCoy Sydney, NSW, Aus W 20
Jun 12 Hughie Mehegan Sydney, NSW, Aus W 20
Jun 26 Joe "Young" Shugrue Sydney, NSW, Aus W 20
Jul 11 Herb McCoy Melbourne, Vic, Aus L 20
Aug 1 Bobby Moore Melbourne, Vic, Aus W 20
Nov 9 Phil Bloom New York, NY ND 10
Dec 25 "Young" Jack O'Brien Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
1915
Jan 1 Willie Moore Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
Mar 10 Frankie Mack Havana, Cu W 20
Mar 26 Jack Britton New York, NY ND 10
Apr 6 Harry Lenny New York, NY ND 10
Apr 16 Johnny Lore Montreal, Que, Can ND 10
Apr 30 Johnny Lustig Montreal, Que, Can ND 10
Jun 9 Perry "Kid" Graves New York, NY ND 10
Jun 23 Johnny Marto New York, NY ND 10
Jun 25 Mike Mazie Far Rockaway, NY ND 10
Jul 21 Charley White New York, NY ND 10
Aug 3 Mike Glover Boston, Ma W 12
Aug 11 Kid Curley Buffalo, NY ND 10
Aug 17 Fighting Zunner Buffalo, NY ND 10
Aug 31 Jack Britton Boston, Ma W 12
-Welterweight Championship of the World
Sep 28 Jack Britton Boston, Ma W 12
Oct 18 Willie Moore Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
Oct 26 Joe Mandot Boston, Ma W 12
Nov 2 Milburn "Young" Saylor Boston, Ma W 12
Nov 23 Jimmy Duffy Boston, Ma KO 1
Nov 30 Mike Glover Boston, Ma L 12
Dec 28 Willie Ritchie New York, NY ND 10
1916
Jan 1 K.O. Brennan Buffalo, NY ND 10
Jan 13 Mike Glover Boston, Ma W 12
Jan 17 Perry "Kid" Graves Milwaukee, Wi ND 10
Jan 20 Jack Britton Buffalo, NY ND 10
Feb 5 Marty Farrell Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
Feb 9 "Soldier" Jacob Bartfield Buffalo, NY ND 10
Feb 15 Jack Britton New York, NY ND 10
Feb 21 Jimmy Duffy Buffalo, NY ND 10
Feb 24 Harry Trendall St. Louis, Mo KO 7
Mar 1 Harry Stone New Orleans, La W 20
Apr 19 Jake Abel Chattanooga, Tn W 8
Apr 24 Jack Britton New Orleans, La L 20
-Welterweight Championship of the World
May 18 Mike Gibbons New York, NY ND 10
May 24 Eddie Moha Dayton, Oh KO 12
Oct 17 Jack Britton Boston, Ma L 12
Oct 24 Young Denny St. Louis, Mo ND 12
Nov 14 Jack Britton Boston, Ma D 12
Nov 23 Johnny Griffiths Cleveland, Oh ND 10
Dec 21 Johnny Griffiths Cleveland, Oh ND 10
1917
Jan 29 Willie Beecher New York, NY ND 10
Jan 31 Sam Robideaux Providence, RI W 15
Feb 6 Perry "Kid" Graves New York, NY KO 9
Feb 26 Johnny Griffiths Akron, Oh ND 12
Mar 19 Willie Moore New York, NY KO 1
Mar 26 Jack Britton Cincinnati, Oh ND 12
Apr 4 Jimmy Coffey New York, NY KO 1
Apr 12 Billy Weeks Dayton, Oh KO 12
Apr 28 Johnny Griffiths Columbus, Oh ND 12
May 4 Jimmy "Butch" O'Hagen New York, NY KO 2
May 19 Jack Britton Toronto, Ont, Can ND 10
May 22 Joe Eagan Boston, Ma W 12
May 24 Mike O'Dowd New York, NY ND 10
Jun 6 Jack Britton St. Louis, Mo ND 10
Jun 14 Jack Britton New York, NY ND 10
Jun 25 Jack Britton Dayton, Oh W 20
-Welterweight Championship of the World
Jul 4 Johnny Griffiths Akron, Oh ND 15
Aug 7 Jimmy "Butch" O'Hagen Saratoga, NY ND 10
Aug 17 Mike O'Dowd New York, NY ND 10
Aug 28 Mike O'Dowd Boston, Ma L 12
Aug 31 Albert Badoud New York, NY KO 1
Sep 3 "Soldier" Jacob Bartfield Buffalo, NY ND 10
Sep 11 "Soldier" Jacob Bartfield Rochester, NY ND 10
Sep 14 Jimmy "Butch" O'Hagen Brooklyn, NY ND 10
Sep 15 "Italian" Joe Gans Brooklyn, NY ND 10
Sep 24 Frank Carbone New York, NY ND 10
Oct 24 Battling Ortega Oakland, Ca D 4
Nov 13 Johnny McCarthy San Francisco, Ca W 4
Dec 17 William Bryan Downey Columbus, Oh ND 12
1918
Jan 14 "Soldier" Jacob Bartfield Columbus, Oh ND 12
Jan 23 "Soldier" Jacob Bartfield Toronto, Ont, Can ND 10
Feb 4 Johnny Tillman Philadelphia, Pa KO 6
Feb 18 Jimmy Duffy Toledo, Oh KO 1
Feb 25 "Soldier" Jacob Bartfield Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
Feb 26 Willie Langford Buffalo, NY ND 10
Mar 6 Jack Britton Atlanta, Ga ND 10
Apr 16 Joe Eagan Milwaukee, Wi ND 10
May 2 Jack Britton Scranton, Pa D 10
May 17 Johnny Tillman Denver, Co W 20
May 24 Jack Britton New York, NY ND 6
Jun 20 Jack Britton New York, NY ND 6
Jun 25 Tommy Robson Boston, Ma W 12
Jul 4 Johnny Griffiths Akron, Oh ND 20
Aug 3 Tommy Robson Boston, Ma W 12
Aug 17 Walter Mohr Jersey City, NJ ND 8
Sep 23 Benny Leonard Newark, NJ ND 8
1919
Jan 1 William Bryan Downey Columbus, Oh ND 12
Jan 15 Georges Rivet Montreal, Que, Can ND 10
Mar 10 Johnny Griffiths Memphis, Tn ND 8
Mar 17 Jack Britton Canton, Oh Koby 9
-Welterweight Championship of the World
Jul 14 Steve Latzo Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
Jul 28 Jack Britton Jersey City, NJ ND 8
Aug 4 Steve Latzo Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
Sep 1 Mike O'Dowd Syracuse, NY ND 10
Oct 11 K.O. Loughlin Portland, Me KO 1
Oct 16 Jimmy McCabe Atlanta, Ga KO 1
Oct 29 Jake Abel Atlanta, Ga W 10
Dec 26 Matt Wells London, Eng TK 12
1920
Jan 13 Frank Moody Manchester, Eng KO 1
Feb 14 Maurice Prunier Paris, Fr KO 6
Feb 28 Jerry Shea Mountain Ash, Eng KO 1
Mar 4 Gus Platts Sheffield, Eng TK 18
Mar 11 Johnny Bee London, Eng KO 4
Apr 5 Kid Doyle Liverpool, Eng KO 11
Apr 30 Kid Doyle London, Eng KO 5
Jun 9 Johnny Basham London, Eng TK 9
Sep 23 Mike O'Dowd Jersey City, NJ ND 12
Oct 12 Marcel Thomas Jersey City, NJ ND 8
Nov 19 Johnny Basham London, Eng KO 19
1921
Feb 7 Jack Britton New York, NY L 15
Mar 16 Jack Perry Detroit, Mi ND 10
Apr 8 Nate Siegel Boston, Ma L 10
Apr 13 Augie Ratner New York, NY L 15
Jun 27 Jack Bloomfield London, Eng W 20
Sep 21 Ernie Barrieau Toronto, Ont, Can KO 10
Oct 14 Johnny Basham London, Eng TK 12
Nov 17 Noel "Boy" McCormick London, Eng KO 14
1922
Feb 16 Tom Gummer Brighton, Eng KO 1
May 11 Georges Carpentier London, Eng Koby 1
-Light Heavyweight Championship of the World
Jun 19 Frankie Burns London, Eng KO 11
Sep 4 Marcel Thomas London, Eng TK 4
Nov 20 Roland Todd London, Eng W 20
1923
Feb 15 Roland Todd London, Eng L 20
Jul 30 Augie Ratner London, Eng L 20
Oct 4 Frankie Burns London, Eng W 20
Nov 8 Fred Archer London, Eng W 20
Dec 26 Fred Davies London, Eng W 20
1924
Jan 22 Sid Pape Bradford, Eng TK 2
Feb 12 Bruno Frattini Milan, It KO 17
Mar 18 Francis Charles Paris, Fr W 15
Apr 5 Chic Nelson Hamburg, Ger D 15
Apr 12 Eric Milenz Berlin, Ger KO 8
Jun 1 Piet Hobin Paris, Fr D 20
Jul 3 Johnny Brown London, Eng W 20
Nov 26 Tommy Milligan Edinburgh, Scot L 20
1925
Jan 22 Francis Charles London, Eng W 20
Mar 19 Tommy Milligan London, Eng L D.Q 5
Jul 10 Bob Sage Hollywood, Ca W 10
Oct 8 Marcel Thuru London, Eng L D.Q 1
Nov 8 Simon Rossman London, Eng L D.Q 8
Nov 27 Len Johnson Manchester, Eng Tkoby 9
1926
Mar 7 Billy Pritchard London, Eng KO 10
Mar 21 Billy Mattick London, Eng W D.Q 5
1927
Aug 4 Joe Green London, Eng TK 4
Aug 14 Jim Carr London, Eng KO 3
Aug 28 Nol Steenhorst London, Eng TK 9
Sep 11 Ted Coveney London, Eng TK 6
Oct 6 Robert "Young" Ansemes London, Eng KO 1
Oct 16 Joe Rolfe London, Eng KO 11
Dec 3 Alec Storbeck Johannesburg, Trans, SA KO 1
1928
Jan 7 Johnny Squires Johannesburg, Trans, SA D 15
Jul 23 Maxie Rosenbloom Long Island City, NY L D.Q 6
Dec 17 Charley Belanger Toronto, Ont, Can L D.Q 1
1929
Dec 13 Johnny Basham London, Eng KO 3