John Henry Lewis
Encyclopedia
John Henry Lewis was an African American
boxer
who was the world Light Heavyweight champion from 1935 to 1939.
One interesting fact of his is that Lewis was managed by a gambler and racketeer of the 1930s: Gus Greenlee
, a man who became very important to baseball
's Negro Leagues as a commissioner and team owner.
. His first 14 fights were in that city, until 1931, when he travelled to Prescott
, to fight Sam Terrain on March 11. This proved to be a tragic event, as Terrain died as a consequence of the blows received during Lewis' fourth round knockout
win.
Lewis had nine more wins in a row before facing future world Heavyweight champion, The Cinderella Man, James J. Braddock
. He defeated Braddock in a 10th round decision, but, after two more wins, on November 16, 1932, he lost for the first time to fellow world Light Heavyweight champion Maxie Rosenbloom
, by a decision in ten.
Lewis defeated four more men before winning three and withdrawing one, before getting a chance at avenging his loss to Rosenbloom in 1933, and he won a 10 round decision in their rematch, and again in their third match.
In 1934, Lewis had 12 bouts, going 9-1-2 in that period. He tried to win the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight title, drawing with Young Firpo
in ten rounds, and he lost in a rematch with Braddock, by decision.
In 1935, Lewis won nine bouts in a row, including one by decision over World Light Heavyweight Champion Bob Olin
. Ironically, after he lost two bouts in a row, he was given a chance at the world's Light Heavyweight championship by Olin. On Halloween night
of that year, in St. Louis
, Lewis became the world's Light Heavyweight champion by outpointing Olin over 15 rounds.
In his next fight, he lost to Rosembloom in a 10 round, non-title bout by decision.
In 1936, Lewis had 20 fights, going 18-1-1 that year, but only two of those were world championship bouts. He retained his belt against Jock McAvoy
and Len Harvey
, the latter of which was defeated at London
. Lewis won both title defenses by decision in 15 rounds.
1937 was another busy year for the world's Light Heavyweight champion, with 20 more fights and a record of 18-2 that year. Standing out that year were his two fights against Al Ettore, of which in the first, fought over ten rounds, Ettore was declared the winner but the Pennsylvania
boxing commission changed the official decision to a draw, and in the second, he beat Ettore by a decision in 15, following with his eight round knockout of Olin to defend the title, and his non-title win over Johnny Risko.
In 1938, he fought 12 times, going undefeated, retaining the title against Emilio Martinez by a knockout in round four, and against Al Gainer, by decision in 15.
Lewis tried, in 1939, to become the first Light Heavyweight champion in boxing history to go up in weight and conquer the world's Heavyweight championship. On January 25, he was faced with world Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis
, who knocked him out in the first round in New York
. This would turn out to be Lewis' last fight, even through he didn't know it at the time.
His next fight would have been a rematch with Len Harvey in London, but Lewis did not pass the medical tests before the fight, and the fight was cancelled, so in June of that year, he announced his retirement.
Lewis had a record of 103 wins, 9 losses and 6 draws, with 60 wins by knockout. His 60 knockout wins makes him a member of boxing's exclusive club of winners by knockout 50 or more times.
Lewis is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who was the world Light Heavyweight champion from 1935 to 1939.
One interesting fact of his is that Lewis was managed by a gambler and racketeer of the 1930s: Gus Greenlee
Gus Greenlee
William Augustus "Gus" Greenlee was a Negro League baseball owner and an African American businessman....
, a man who became very important to baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
's Negro Leagues as a commissioner and team owner.
Professional career
Lewis began his professional career in 1928, beating Buster Grant by a four round decision, in PhoenixPhoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. His first 14 fights were in that city, until 1931, when he travelled to Prescott
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
, to fight Sam Terrain on March 11. This proved to be a tragic event, as Terrain died as a consequence of the blows received during Lewis' fourth round knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
win.
Lewis had nine more wins in a row before facing future world Heavyweight champion, The Cinderella Man, James J. Braddock
James J. Braddock
James Walter "The Cinderella Man" Braddock was an American boxer who was the world heavyweight champion from 1935 to 1937....
. He defeated Braddock in a 10th round decision, but, after two more wins, on November 16, 1932, he lost for the first time to fellow world Light Heavyweight champion Maxie Rosenbloom
Maxie Rosenbloom
Max Everitt Rosenbloom, known as Slapsie Maxie was an American boxer, actor, and television personality.-Life and career:...
, by a decision in ten.
Lewis defeated four more men before winning three and withdrawing one, before getting a chance at avenging his loss to Rosenbloom in 1933, and he won a 10 round decision in their rematch, and again in their third match.
In 1934, Lewis had 12 bouts, going 9-1-2 in that period. He tried to win the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight title, drawing with Young Firpo
Young Firpo
Young Firpo was a professional light-heavyweight boxer. He was a popular fighter in the Pacific Northwest during the 1920s and 1930s, particularly in Portland, Oregon...
in ten rounds, and he lost in a rematch with Braddock, by decision.
In 1935, Lewis won nine bouts in a row, including one by decision over World Light Heavyweight Champion Bob Olin
Bob Olin
Robert Lous "Bob" Olin was an American boxer.He won the World Light Heavyweight Championship.-Boxing career:In 1928 Olin won the New York City Golden Gloves Open Championship...
. Ironically, after he lost two bouts in a row, he was given a chance at the world's Light Heavyweight championship by Olin. On Halloween night
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
of that year, in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Lewis became the world's Light Heavyweight champion by outpointing Olin over 15 rounds.
In his next fight, he lost to Rosembloom in a 10 round, non-title bout by decision.
In 1936, Lewis had 20 fights, going 18-1-1 that year, but only two of those were world championship bouts. He retained his belt against Jock McAvoy
Jock McAvoy
Jock McAvoy was a British boxer who fought from 1927 to 1945. He was born Joseph Patrick Bamford in Rochdale, Lancashire. Jo Bamford adopted the name Jock McAvoy so that his mother did not realise he was boxing...
and Len Harvey
Len Harvey
Len Harvey was a boxer born in Stoke Climsland, Cornwall. A great tactician and defensive boxer who boxed at every weight division of his day. He began boxing at the very young age of 12 and boxed to he was 36. He was British champion at three weights, middleweight, light-heavy and heavyweight...
, the latter of which was defeated at London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Lewis won both title defenses by decision in 15 rounds.
1937 was another busy year for the world's Light Heavyweight champion, with 20 more fights and a record of 18-2 that year. Standing out that year were his two fights against Al Ettore, of which in the first, fought over ten rounds, Ettore was declared the winner but the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
boxing commission changed the official decision to a draw, and in the second, he beat Ettore by a decision in 15, following with his eight round knockout of Olin to defend the title, and his non-title win over Johnny Risko.
In 1938, he fought 12 times, going undefeated, retaining the title against Emilio Martinez by a knockout in round four, and against Al Gainer, by decision in 15.
Lewis tried, in 1939, to become the first Light Heavyweight champion in boxing history to go up in weight and conquer the world's Heavyweight championship. On January 25, he was faced with world Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
, who knocked him out in the first round in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. This would turn out to be Lewis' last fight, even through he didn't know it at the time.
His next fight would have been a rematch with Len Harvey in London, but Lewis did not pass the medical tests before the fight, and the fight was cancelled, so in June of that year, he announced his retirement.
Lewis had a record of 103 wins, 9 losses and 6 draws, with 60 wins by knockout. His 60 knockout wins makes him a member of boxing's exclusive club of winners by knockout 50 or more times.
Lewis is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
.