Ted "Kid" Lewis

Ted "Kid" Lewis
Born	Gershon Mendeloff Varies depending on source, either 28 October 1893 or 24 October 1894 Parish of St George in the East, London
Died	20 October 1970(1970-10-20) (aged 75) London
Nationality	English
Other names	The Aldgate Sphinx
Statistics
Weight(s)	Light Heavyweight Middleweight Welterweight
Height	5 ft 7.5 in (1.71 m)
Reach	69 in (175 cm)
Boxing record
Total fights	303
Wins	234
Wins by KO	80
Losses	46
Draws	23
No contests	0

Ted "Kid" Lewis (born Gershon Mendeloff; 28 October 1893 – 20 October 1970) was an English professional boxer who twice won the World Welterweight Championship (147 lb). Lewis is often ranked among the all-time greats, with ESPN ranking him 41st on their list of the 50 Greatest Boxers of All-Time and boxing historian Bert Sugar placing him 46th in his Top 100 Fighters catalogue. Statistical boxing website BoxRec ranks Lewis as the 17th best welterweight of all-time and the 7th best UK boxer ever. He is a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Boxing career

Career beginnings

Lewis was born as Gershon Mendeloff in a gas-lit tenement in the now demolished Umberston Street, in the Aldgate Pump section of London's East End. His father was a cabinet-maker. One of his elder brothers had become a boxer under the name of Lou Lewis. At the suggestion of a police officer – who had witnessed his performance in a street brawl – he entered the boxing ring in 1909, making his fighting debut as ‘Kid’ Lewis, having joined as a member of the Judaean Club, Whitechapel (the name "Ted" was added later, in America). He subsequently won the Club's Flyweight title and took home a cup of imitation silver.

He became a professional boxer in 1909. On 6 October 1913, Lewis won the British Featherweight Championship with a 17th-round knockout of Alec Lambert at London's National Sporting Club. A year later, on 2 February 1914, at London's Premierland (in Whitechapel), he won the European Featherweight title from the French boxer Paul Til via a 12th round foul. Still in 1914, campaigning as a lightweight and welterweight, Lewis left London and toured Australia. In 1915 Lewis travelled to the United States, fighting Phil Bloom in New York's Madison Square Garden and winning by a decision.

Taking the world welterweight title; rivalry with Jack Britton

Lewis (left), shaking hands with arch-rival Jack Britton

In Boston’s Armory, on 31 August of that same year, he fought the man known as the "Boxing Marvel," Jack Britton, for the Welterweight title. Lewis won in a twelve-round decision, becoming World Welterweight Champion and beginning an historic rivalry. Lewis became the first English boxer to cross the Atlantic and beat an American for a world title.

The fights between Lewis and Britton for the world title were particularly notable. Their relationship has been described as one of the greatest rivalries in boxing history, and it was said that ‘they winced and ducked every time they heard the other man’s name’. From 1915 to 1921 Lewis and Britton fought 20 times, a total of 224 rounds.

On 24 April 1916, in New Orleans, Lewis lost the title to Britton. He reclaimed it on 25 June 1917, at Westwood Field, Dayton, Ohio. He lost the title for the last time on 17 March 1919, in Canton, Ohio, when Britton knocked him out in the 9th round — the only knockout of the series. The roundup of his matches with Britton: Lewis won 3, lost 4, and had 1 draw. There were 12 no decisions. After his last loss to Britton, Lewis returned to England.

Taking the British and European welterweight titles

On 9 June 1920, at London's Olympia Exhibition Centre, he beat Johnny Basham to win the British and European Welterweight titles. He relinquished these in December of that year due to difficulty in making the weight. His drive to fight Georges Carpentier, World and European Light Heavyweight Champion, came to fruition on 11 May 1922, in the Olympia. Lewis, fighting at 150 pounds to Carpentier's 175, spent most of the first round giving the heavier man a drubbing. Then referee Joe Palmer put a hand on Lewis's shoulder to warn him against holding. Carpentier took advantage of this distraction and sneaked in a vicious right. The Kid went crashing to the canvas and was counted out. The Olympia crowd erupted furiously, crying, "foul," but to no avail. The Kid remained nonplussed. "I felt cheated, but I didn’t bear any grudge," he would later say.

Taking the British and European middleweight titles

On 6 June 1922, at Holland Park Rink, London, Lewis knocked out Frankie Burns to win the British Middleweight title. On 11 November the same year, also at Holland Park Rink, he beat Roland Todd to win the European Middleweight title. He did not hold either title long, losing both at the Royal Albert Hall on 15 February 1923 after a gruelling rematch with Todd.

Lewis won his last two titles, the British and European Welterweight crowns, on 3 July 1924 — again at London's Royal Albert Hall — by defeating Johnny Brown. Two years later, on 26 November 1924, at Waverley Market Hall in Edinburgh, he lost these championships to the much younger Scotsman, Tommy Milligan. He continued boxing until 1929, adding 20 more fights.

His final record counting newspaper decisions was: 299 bouts, 233 won, 41 lost, 25 draws, 65 no decisions, 80 knockouts. Lewis started his career as an evasive, defensive boxer with a long left. During the six years he spent in America he changed his style radically, becoming a very aggressive, swarming, combination boxer-fighter.

Professional boxing record

238 fights	192 wins	32 losses
By knockout	78	6
By decision	111	20
By disqualification	3	6
Draws	14

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
238	Loss	192–32–14	Charley Belanger	DQ	1 (15)	Dec 17, 1928	Coliseum, Toronto	For Commonwealth light heavyweight title
237	Loss	192–31–14	Maxie Rosenbloom	DQ	6 (15)	Jul 31, 1928	Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, Queens
236	Draw	192–30–14	Johnny Squires	KO	1 (10)	Jan 07, 1928	Town Hall, Johannesburg
235	Win	192–30–13	Alec Storbeck	KO	1 (10)	Dec 03, 1927	Town Hall, Johannesburg
234	Win	191–30–13	Joe Rolfe	RTD	11 (15)	Nov 15, 1927	Premierland, Whitechapel
233	Win	190–30–13	Robert Amssens	TKO	1 (15)	Oct 02, 1927	Premierland, Whitechapel
232	Win	189–30–13	Ted Coveney	TKO	6 (15)	Sep 11, 1927	Premierland, Whitechapel
231	Win	188–30–13	Nol Steenhorst	RTD	9 (15)	Aug 28, 1927	Premierland, Whitechapel
230	Win	187–30–13	Jim Carr	KO	3 (15)	Aug 14, 1927	Premierland, Whitechapel
229	Win	186–30–13	Joe Green	RTD	4 (15)	Aug 04, 1927	Skating Rink, Ilford
228	Win	185–30–13	Billy Mattick	DQ	5 (20)	Mar 21, 1926	Premierland, Whitechapel
227	Win	184–30–13	Billy Pritchard	TKO	10 (15)	Mar 07, 1926	Premierland, Whitechapel
226	Loss	183–30–13	Len Johnson	RTD	10 (20)	Nov 27, 1925	King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester
225	Loss	183–29–13	Simon Rosman	DQ	8 (15)	Nov 08, 1925	Premierland, Whitechapel
224	Loss	183–28–13	Marcel Thuru	DQ	1 (15)	Oct 08, 1925	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
223	Win	183–27–13	Bob Sage	PTS	10	Jul 10, 1925	Legion Stadium, Hollywood
222	Loss	182–27–13	Tommy Mulligan	DQ	5 (20)	Mar 19, 1925	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
221	Win	182–26–13	Francois Charles	PTS	20	Jan 22, 1925	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
220	Loss	181–26–13	Tommy Mulligan	PTS	20	Nov 26, 1924	Industrial Hall, Edinburgh	Lost EBU, BBBofC British, and Commonwealth welterweight titles
219	Win	181–25–13	Johnny Brown	PTS	20	Jul 03, 1924	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington	Won EBU, BBBofC British, and Commonwealth welterweight titles
218	Draw	180–25–13	Piet Hobin	PTS	20	Jun 01, 1924	Stade Buffalo, Montrouge
217	Win	180–25–12	Erich Milenz	KO	8 (10)	Apr 12, 1924	Sportpalast, Schoeneberg
216	Draw	179–25–12	Chich Nelson	PTS	15	Apr 06, 1924	Zirkus Busch
215	Win	179–25–11	Francois Charles	PTS	15	Mar 18, 1924	Cirque de Paris, Paris
214	Win	178–25–11	Bruno Frattini	KO	17 (20)	Feb 12, 1924	Palazzo dello Sport (Pad. 3 Fiera), Milan
213	Win	177–25–11	Sergeant Sid Pape	RTD	2 (20)	Jan 28, 1924	Windsor Hall, Bradford
212	Win	176–25–11	Fred Davies	PTS	20	Dec 26, 1923	Premierland, Whitechapel
211	Win	175–25–11	Fred Archer	PTS	20	Nov 08, 1923	Premierland, Whitechapel
210	Win	174–25–11	Frank Burns	PTS	20	Oct 04, 1923	Premierland, Whitechapel
209	Loss	173–25–11	Augie Ratner	PTS	20	Jul 30, 1923	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
208	Loss	173–24–11	Roland Todd	PTS	20	Feb 15, 1923	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington	Lost EBU, BBBofC British, and Commonwealth middleweight titles
207	Win	173–23–11	Roland Todd	PTS	20	Nov 20, 1922	Holland Park Rink, Kensington	Won EBU, BBBofC British, and Commonwealth middleweight titles
206	Win	172–23–11	Marcel Thomas	TKO	4 (15)	Sep 04, 1922	Premierland, Whitechapel
205	Win	171–23–11	Frank Burns	KO	11 (20)	Jun 19, 1922	Holland Park Rink, Kensington
204	Loss	170–23–11	Georges Carpentier	KO	1 (20)	May 05, 1922	The Dome, Brighton	For EBU and lineal light heavyweight titles
203	Win	170–22–11	Tom Gummer	KO	1 (20)	Feb 17, 1922	The Dome, Brighton
202	Win	169–22–11	Boy McCormick	TKO	14 (20)	Nov 17, 1921	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington	Won BBBofC british light heavyweight title
201	Win	168–22–11	Johnny Basham	RTD	12 (20)	Oct 14, 1921	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington	Retained EBU and BBBofC British welterweight titles
200	Win	167–22–11	Ernie Barrieau	KO	10 (10)	Sep 20, 1921	Arena, Toronto
199	Win	166–22–11	Jack Bloomfield	PTS	20	Jun 27, 1921	Holland Park Rink, Kensington	Won vacant BBBofC middleweight title
198	Loss	165–22–11	Augie Ratner	PTS	15	Apr 13, 1921	Manhattan Casino, New York
197	Loss	165–21–11	Nate Siegel	PTS	10	Apr 08, 1921	Arena, Boston
196	Loss	165–20–11	Jack Britton	UD	15	Feb 07, 1921	Madison Square Garden, New York	For lineal welterweight title
195	Win	165–19–11	Johnny Basham	KO	19 (20)	Nov 19, 1920	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington	Retained EBU, BBBofC British, and Commonwealth welterweight titles
194	Win	164–19–11	Johnny Basham	RTD	9 (20)	Jun 09, 1920	Olympia, Kensington	Won EBU, BBBofC British, and Commonwealth welterweight titles
193	Win	163–19–11	Kid Doyle	RTD	5 (20)	Apr 30, 1920	Holborn Stadium, Holborn
192	Win	162–19–11	Kid Doyle	RTD	11 (20)	Apr 05, 1920	Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool
191	Win	161–19–11	Johnny Bee	KO	4 (20)	Mar 11, 1920	Holborn Stadium, Holborn	Won vacant BBBofC British middleweight title
190	Win	160–19–11	Gus Platts	RTD	18 (20)	Mar 04, 1920	Edmund Rd Drill Hall, Sheffield
189	Win	159–19–11	Jerry Shea	KO	1 (20)	Feb 28, 1920	Pavilion, Mountain Ash
188	Win	158–19–11	Maurice Prunier	KO	6 (20)	Feb 14, 1920	Cirque de Paris, Paris
187	Win	157–19–11	Frank Moody	KO	1 (15)	Jan 13, 1920	Free Trade Hall, Manchester
186	Win	156–19–11	Matt Wells	RTD	12 (20)	Dec 26, 1919	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
185	Win	155–19–11	Jake Abel	PTS	10	Oct 28, 1919	Armory Auditorium, Atlanta
184	Win	154–19–11	Jimmy McCabe	KO	1 (10)	Oct 16, 1919	Atlantic City S.C., Atlantic City
183	Win	153–19–11	KO Willie Loughlin	KO	1 (10)	Oct 11, 1919	Arena, Boston
182	Loss	152–19–11	Jack Britton	KO	9 (12)	Mar 17, 1919	Arena, Boston	Lost lineal welterweight title
181	Win	152–18–11	Tommy Robson	PTS	12	Aug 13, 1918	Arena, Boston
180	Win	151–18–11	Tommy Robson	PTS	12	Jun 25, 1918	Arena, Boston
179	Win	150–18–11	Johnny Tillman	UD	20	May 17, 1918	Stockyards Stadium, Denver	Retained lineal welterweight title
178	Win	149–18–11	Lockport Jimmy Duffy	TKO	1 (15)	Feb 18, 1917	Dreamland Rink, San Francisco
177	Win	148–18–11	Johnny McCarthy	PTS	4	Nov 13, 1917	Dreamland Rink, San Francisco
176	Draw	147–18–11	Battling Ortega	PTS	4	Oct 24, 1917	Arena, Emeryville
175	Win	147–18–10	Albert Badoud	KO	1 (12)	Aug 31, 1917	St. Nicholas Arena, New York
174	Loss	146–18–10	Mike O'Dowd	PTS	12	Aug 28, 1917	Arena, Boston
173	Win	146–17–10	Jack Britton	PTS	20	Jun 25, 1917	Westwood Field, Dayton	Won lineal welterweight title
172	Win	145–17–10	Joe Eagan	PTS	12	May 22, 1917	Arena (Armory A.A.), Boston
171	Win	144–17–10	Joe Eagan	PTS	12	May 22, 1917	Arena (Armory A.A.), Boston
170	Win	143–17–10	Jimmy O'Hagen	KO	2 (10)	May 04, 1917	Harlem S.C., New York
169	Win	142–17–10	Billy Weeks	KO	12 (12)	Apr 12, 1917	Gymnastic Club, Dayton
168	Win	141–17–10	Jimmy Coffey	KO	1 (12)	Apr 04, 1917	Hunts Point Palace, Bronx
167	Win	140–17–10	Willie Moore	KO	1 (10)	Mar 19, 1917	Hunts Point Palace, Bronx
166	Win	139–17–10	Kid Graves	KO	9 (10)	Feb 06, 1917	Broadway S.C., Brooklyn
165	Win	138–17–10	Sam Robideau	PTS	15	Jan 31, 1917	Marieville Gardens, North Providence
164	Draw	137–17–10	Jack Britton	PTS	12	Nov 14, 1916	Arena, Boston	For lineal welterweight title
163	Loss	137–17–9	Jack Britton	PTS	12	Oct 17, 1916	Arena, Boston	For lineal welterweight title
162	Win	137–16–9	Mike Glover	PTS	12	Jun 13, 1916	Arena (Armory A.A.), Boston
161	Win	136–16–9	Eddie Moha	KO	5 (15)	May 24, 1916	Gymnastic Club, Dayton
160	Loss	135–16–9	Jack Britton	PTS	20	Apr 24, 1916	Louisiana Auditorium, New Orleans	Lost lineal welterweight title
159	Win	135–15–9	Jack Abel	PTS	8	Apr 19, 1916	Tommy Burns Arena, New Orleans
158	Win	134–15–9	Harry Stone	PTS	20	Mar 01, 1916	Tommy Burns Arena, New Orleans	Retained lineal welterweight title
157	Win	133–15–9	Harry Trendall	KO	7 (8)	Feb 24, 1916	Coliseum, Saint Louis
156	Win	132–15–9	Young Neil	PTS	15	Dec 03, 1915	Gymnastic Club, Dayton
155	Loss	131–15–9	Mike Glover	PTS	12	Nov 30, 1915	Arena (Atlas A.A.), Boston
154	Win	131–14–9	Lockport Jimmy Duffy	KO	1 (12)	Nov 23, 1915	Arena, Boston	Retained lineal welterweight title
153	Win	130–14–9	Milburn Saylor	PTS	12	Nov 02, 1915	Arena (Atlas A.A.), Boston
152	Win	129–14–9	Joe Mandot	PTS	12	Oct 26, 1915	Arena, Boston	Retained lineal welterweight title
151	Win	128–14–9	Jack Britton	PTS	12	Sep 28, 1915	Arena (Atlas A.A.), Boston	Retained lineal welterweight title
150	Win	127–14–9	Jack Britton	PTS	12	Aug 31, 1915	Arena, Boston	Won lineal welterweight title
149	Win	126–14–9	Mike Glover	PTS	12	Aug 03, 1915	Arena (Atlas A.A.), Boston
148	Win	125–14–9	Johnny Lustig	PTS	10	Mar 30, 1915	Sohmer Park, Montreal
147	Win	124–14–9	Frankie Mack	PTS	20	Mar 10, 1915	Estadio Tropical, Havana
146	Win	123–14–9	Bobby Moore	PTS	20	Aug 01, 1914	Baker's Pavilion, Melbourne
145	Loss	122–14–9	Herb McCoy	PTS	20	Jul 11, 1914	Baker's Pavilion, Melbourne
144	Win	122–13–9	Joe Shugrue	PTS	20	Jun 27, 1914	Sydney Stadium, Sydney
143	Win	121–13–9	Hughie Mehegan	PTS	20	Jun 13, 1914	Sydney Stadium, Sydney
142	Win	120–13–9	Herb McCoy	PTS	20	May 30, 1914	Sydney Stadium, Sydney
141	Win	119–13–9	Ted Saunders	KO	6 (10)	Mar 18, 1914	Drill Hall, Coventry
140	Win	118–13–9	Harry Kid Berry	KO	3 (15)	Mar 14, 1914	Premierland, Whitechapel
139	Win	117–13–9	Paul Til	DQ	12 (20)	Feb 02, 1914	Premierland, Whitechapel	Retained EBU featherweight title
138	Win	116–13–9	George Buswell	TKO	2 (20)	Jan 05, 1914	The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
137	Win	115–13–9	Alec Lambert	TKO	17 (20)	Oct 06, 1913	National Sporting Club, Covent Garden	Won vacant EBU and National Sporting Club featherweight titles
136	Win	114–13–9	Fernand Quendreux	KO	10 (15)	Sep 15, 1913	The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
135	Win	113–13–9	Harry Sterling	PTS	15	Aug 23, 1913	The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
134	Win	112–13–9	Duke Lynch	PTS	15	Jul 26, 1913	The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
133	Win	111–13–9	Harry Sterling	RTD	7 (15)	Jul 19, 1913	The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
132	Win	110–13–9	Joe Starmer	PTS	15	Jun 02, 1913	National Sporting Club, Covent Garden
131	Win	109–13–9	Young Joe Brooks	PTS	15	Apr 07, 1913	National Sporting Club, Covent Garden
130	Win	108–13–9	Johnny Condon	PTS	20	Mar 03, 1913	The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
129	Win	107–13–9	Johnny Condon	PTS	20	Jan 27, 1913	The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
128	Draw	106–13–9	Nat Williams	PTS	15	Jan 16, 1913	Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool
127	Win	106–13–8	George Buswell	TKO	14 (15)	Jan 02, 1913	The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
126	Win	105–13–8	Jim Lloyd	PTS	10	Jan 02, 1913	Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool
125	Win	104–13–8	Harry Kid Berry	PTS	15	Dec 21, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
124	Win	103–13–8	Jim Shires	PTS	10	Dec 16, 1912	The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
123	Win	102–13–8	Private Jack Harrison	KO	3 (6)	Dec 02, 1912	National Sporting Club, Covent Garden
122	Win	101–13–8	George Ruddick	PTS	12	Nov 30, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
121	Win	100–13–8	Alf Small	KO	5 (10)	Nov 16, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
120	Win	99–13–8	Fred Young Halsband	PTS	10	Nov 09, 1912	National Sporting Club, Covent Garden
119	Win	98–13–8	Jim Campbell	PTS	6	Oct 21, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
118	Win	97–13–8	Young Jack Chinney	KO	3 (10)	Oct 19, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
117	Win	96–13–8	Jim Lloyd	PTS	10	Oct 12, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
116	Loss	95–13–8	Con Houghton	DQ	5 (15)	Oct 05, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
115	Win	95–12–8	Tom Allen	PTS	10	Sep 28, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
114	Win	94–12–8	Fred Blake	PTS	6	Sep 21, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
113	Win	93–12–8	Sam Russell	PTS	10	Sep 14, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
112	Win	92–12–8	Tom Clifford	PTS	6	Sep 07, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
111	Loss	91–12–8	Fred Young Halsband	PTS	10	Aug 31, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
110	Loss	91–11–8	Young Joe Brooks	PTS	15	Aug 10, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
109	Win	91–10–8	Jack O'Neil	KO	3 (10)	Jul 27, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
108	Win	90–10–8	Harry Wilson	PTS	10	Jul 17, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
107	Win	89–10–8	Seaman Arthur Hayes	PTS	10	Jul 06, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
106	Win	88–10–8	George Ruddick	PTS	10	Jun 22, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
105	Win	87–10–8	Darkey Haley	PTS	10	Jun 10, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
104	Win	86–10–8	Young Jack Chinney	PTS	6	Jun 08, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
103	Win	85–10–8	Leon Victor Truffier	PTS	10	May 25, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
102	Win	84–10–8	Jim Shires	TKO	2 (10)	May 18, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
101	Win	83–10–8	Gus Venn	PTS	10	Apr 27, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
100	Win	82–10–8	Gus Venn	TKO	7 (10)	Apr 06, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
99	Win	81–10–8	Leon Victor Truffier	PTS	10	Apr 03, 1912	Cirque de Paris, Paris
98	Loss	80–10–8	Duke Lynch	KO	1 (15)	Apr 01, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
97	Win	80–9–8	Jim Shires	KO	2 (10)	Mar 18, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
96	Win	79–9–8	Allan Porter	PTS	10	Mar 16, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
95	Win	78–9–8	George Buswell	PTS	10	Mar 02, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
94	Win	77–9–8	Alf Mitchell	PTS	6	Feb 24, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
93	Win	76–9–8	Tommy Mack	PTS	6	Feb 17, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
92	Win	75–9–8	Duke Lynch	PTS	10	Feb 10, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
91	Win	74–9–8	Harry Wilson	PTS	10	Jan 20, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
90	Win	73–9–8	Billy Taylor	PTS	8	Jan 13, 1912
89	Win	72–9–8	Jewey Murray	TKO	1 (10)	Jan 06, 1912	Premierland, Whitechapel
88	Win	71–9–8	Eddie Fay	PTS	6	Dec 31, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
87	Win	70–9–8	Eddie Fay	PTS	6	Dec 25, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
86	Win	69–9–8	Jim Shires	PTS	10	Dec 16, 1911	The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
85	Win	68–9–8	Billy Taylor	PTS	8	Dec 09, 1911	Premierland, Whitechapel
84	Win	67–9–8	Jim Butler	TKO	2 (6)	Dec 04, 1911	The Ring, Blackfriars Road Matinee, Southwark
83	Win	66–9–8	Frank Warner	PTS	6	Dec 02, 1911	Hippodrome, Poplar
82	Win	65–9–8	Billy Griggs	KO	1 (6)	Nov 27, 1911	The Ring, Blackfriars Road Matinee, Southwark
81	Win	64–9–8	Kid Olds	PTS	6	Nov 18, 1911	Hippodrome, Poplar
80	Win	63–9–8	Alf Small	KO	2 (10)	Nov 12, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
79	Win	62–9–8	Jim Hales	PTS	6	Nov 09, 1911	Pitfield Street Baths, Hoxton
78	Win	61–9–8	Dick Murray	PTS	10	Nov 02, 1911	The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
77	Win	60–9–8	Tom Perkins	PTS	10	Oct 28, 1911	Hippodrome, Poplar
76	Win	59–9–8	Jack Bunner	PTS	10	Oct 23, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
75	Win	58–9–8	Alf Small	PTS	6	Oct 21, 1911	The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
74	Win	57–9–8	Tom Perkins	PTS	6	Oct 18, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
73	Win	56–9–8	Harry Ray	PTS	6	Oct 09, 1911	The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
72	Win	55–9–8	Harry Ray	PTS	6	Oct 08, 1911	The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
71	Win	54–9–8	Lew Cohen	KO	3 (6)	Oct 05, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
70	Win	53–9–8	Tom Perkins	PTS	6	Sep 30, 1911	Hippodrome, Poplar
69	Win	52–9–8	Ted O'Neill	TKO	5 (6)	Sep 20, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
68	Win	51–9–8	Billy Smith	TKO	4 (6)	Sep 17, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
67	Draw	50–9–8	Tom Perkins	PTS	6	Sep 10, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
66	Draw	50–9–7	Fred Young Halsband	PTS	6	Sep 03, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
65	Win	50–9–6	Walter Bill Marshall	TKO	3 (6)	Aug 28, 1911	The Ring, Blackfriars Road Matinee, Southwark
64	Win	49–9–6	Jack Harbour	DQ	3 (6)	Aug 27, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
63	Win	48–9–6	Tom Perkins	PTS	10	Aug 16, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
62	Win	47–9–6	Curley Hume	PTS	6	Aug 13, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
61	Win	46–9–6	George Marks	PTS	6	Jul 23, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
60	Win	45–9–6	Dick Murray	PTS	6	Jun 18, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
59	Win	44–9–6	Alf Small	KO	12 (12)	Jun 11, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
58	Win	43–9–6	Dick Murray	PTS	6	Jun 07, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
57	Win	42–9–6	Young Klein	KO	3 (6)	Jun 04, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
56	Win	41–9–6	Sid Venner	PTS	6	Jun 01, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
55	Win	40–9–6	Jack English	TKO	3 (6)	May 24, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
54	Draw	39–9–6	Jack Kid Greenstock	PTS	6	May 21, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
53	Win	39–9–5	Alf Small	PTS	10	May 14, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
52	Win	38–9–5	Joe Madden	PTS	12	May 05, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
51	Loss	37–9–5	Nat Young Brooks	PTS	15	Apr 30, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
50	Win	37–8–5	Young Jack Chinney	PTS	6	Apr 27, 1911	The Chelsea Club, Fulham
49	Win	36–8–5	Young Hyams	PTS	6	Apr 24, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
48	Win	35–8–5	Private Jack Marks	TKO	7 (10)	Apr 23, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
47	Loss	34–8–5	Jack Fisher	PTS	6	Apr 23, 1911	Poplar
46	Win	34–7–5	Private Jack Marks	TKO	7 (10)	Apr 23, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
45	Win	33–7–5	Nat Young Brooks	PTS	6	Apr 09, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
44	Win	32–7–5	Jack Guyon	TKO	3 (3)	Apr 05, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
43	Win	31–7–5	Young Joe Ross	PTS	3	Apr 05, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
42	Win	30–7–5	Charlie Young Smith	KO	4 (6)	Mar 29, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
41	Win	29–7–5	Jim Butler	KO	1 (6)	Mar 05, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
40	Win	28–7–5	Kid Levene	PTS	6	Feb 20, 1911	The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark
39	Draw	27–7–5	Joe Madden	PTS	6	Feb 19, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
38	Loss	27–7–4	Young Sullivan	PTS	6	Feb 12, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
37	Win	27–6–4	Billy Smith	KO	4 (6)	Feb 09, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
36	Win	26–6–4	Alf Small	TKO	2 (6)	Feb 05, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
35	Win	25–6–4	Young Klein	KO	3 (6)	Feb 01, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
34	Win	24–6–4	Joe Jacobs	PTS	6	Jan 29, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
33	Win	23–6–4	Joe Madden	PTS	6	Jan 25, 1911	Olympia Annexe, Kensington
32	Win	22–6–4	Alf Jacobs	PTS	6	Jan 22, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
31	Win	21–6–4	Private Jack Marks	PTS	6	Jan 15, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
30	Win	20–6–4	Bill Marsh	PTS	6	Jan 08, 1911	Judaens AC, St George's
29	Loss	19–6–4	Hugh Doyle	KO	3 (15)	Nov 21, 1910	International Hall, Liverpool
28	Win	19–5–4	Boyo Lambert	PTS	6	Nov 13, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
27	Win	18–5–4	Curley Bume	PTS	6	Oct 09, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
26	Win	17–5–4	Sid Venner	PTS	6	Aug 16, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
25	Win	16–5–4	Young Smith	TKO	3 (6)	Aug 14, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
24	Win	15–5–4	Ted O'Neil	KO	5 (6)	Aug 08, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
23	Draw	14–5–4	Joe Madden	PTS	6	Jul 31, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
22	Draw	14–5–3	Jack Kid Greenstock	PTS	6	Jul 25, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
21	Win	14–5–2	Alf Jacobs	PTS	6	Jul 24, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
20	Draw	13–5–2	Jack Kid Greenstock	PTS	6	Jul 17, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
19	Win	13–5–1	Joe Madden	RTD	3 (6)	Jun 05, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
18	Win	12–5–1	Young Sullivan	PTS	6	May 29, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
17	Win	11–5–1	Young Jack Morris	PTS	6	May 22, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
16	Win	10–5–1	Kid Levene	PTS	6	May 15, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
15	Win	9–5–1	Private Jack Marks	PTS	6	Feb 28, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
14	Win	8–5–1	Piper Holmes	PTS	6	Feb 27, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
13	Win	7–5–1	George Powell	RTD	1 (6)	Feb 13, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
12	Loss	6–5–1	Boyo Lambert	PTS	6	Feb 05, 1910	Winter Gardens, Peckham
11	Loss	6–4–1	Jim Brown	PTS	6	Jan 29, 1910	Hippodrome, Peckham
10	Win	6–3–1	Alf Jacobs	PTS	6	Jan 16, 1910	Judaens AC, St George's
9	Win	5–3–1	Bill Marsh	PTS	6	Jan 08, 1910	Hippodrome, Peckham
8	Win	4–3–1	Kid Levene	TKO	3 (6)	Dec 19, 1909	Judaens AC, St George's
7	Draw	3–3–1	Dick Hart	PTS	6	Dec 05, 1909	Judaens AC, St George's
6	Win	3–3	Private Jack Marks	PTS	6	Nov 27, 1909	Surrey Music Hall, Southwark
5	Loss	2–3	George Thomas	TKO	1 (3)	Oct 30, 1909	Judaeans AC, St George's
4	Win	2–2	Alf Cohen	PTS	6	Oct 09, 1909	Judaeans AC, St George's
3	Win	1–2	Young Lipton	PTS	6	Sep 19, 1909	Judaeans AC, St George's
2	Loss	0–2	Johnny Sharp	PTS	6	Sep 12, 1909	Judaeans AC, St George's
1	Loss	0–1	Kid Da Costa	PTS	6	Aug 29, 1909	Judaeans AC, St George's

Life after boxing

In 1929 Lewis fought the last of nearly 300 career bouts in Hoxton, London, winning by a knockout. Over the course of his career, he had lost only 41 times. He then announced his retirement from boxing and settled back in his native east London.

His success in America had also made Lewis very famous at home in the UK and he had become an international celebrity. He met his future wife Elsie Schneider in New York, and became a close friend of Charlie Chaplin, who would act as godfather to Lewis' son Morton. Lewis tried his hand in the movies, predominantly tackling boxing pictures. Inevitably, he was typecast: not only was Lewis best known as a fighter, he also looked like one, with many years of punishment having left their mark on his face.

Much to the dismay of friends and family, he later acted as a bodyguard for Oswald Mosley's New Party and was also persuaded to stand in the 1931 general election as a candidate for the party in his local Whitechapel and St Georges constituency; he polled only 154 votes. However, Lewis fell out with Mosley when his subsequent political movement, the British Union of Fascists revealed itself as openly anti-Semitic. After the defeat of 1931, Mosley embraced European-style fascism and founded the British Union of Fascists in 1932. Among other things, this saw him move towards more open anti-Semitism, particularly in Lewis' native East London. In his biography of his father, Morton Lewis describes how he was taken along by his father when he went to quit Mosley's movement. It involves Lewis violently arguing with Mosley and a pair of his henchmen at their headquarters, leaving the former reeling on the ground and the other two out cold. Then, after leaving, Lewis is described as returning to the building on a whim and knocking out two more of Mosley's guards without provocation.

Restless in his career choices, he worked as a boxing trainer and manager, a gambling bookmaker, a haberdasher, a purveyor of wines and spirits, a boxing referee, a security officer, a travel agent and he also made numerous personal appearances, trading on his celebrity. He stayed married to his wife Elsie for forty-five years until her death.

During the early 1960s, Lewis was befriended by the notorious Kray twins; the boxing-infatuated gangland bosses enjoyed bringing the famous old champion to their parties and charity evenings, and they even used him as a decoy when arranging the escape of a fellow criminal from Dartmoor prison.

In his final years, after his wife died, he was afflicted with failing eyesight and Parkinson's disease. From 1966 he lived comfortably in a south London retirement home for the Jewish elderly, Nightingale House in Clapham. He died there in October 1970. In 2003, an English Heritage blue plaque was erected at Nightingale House in his honour, which was unveiled by his son, Morton.

See also

• List of welterweight boxing champions
• List of select Jewish boxers

Further reading

• Bert Randolph Sugar, The 100 Greatest Boxers of all Time, 1984, A Rutledge Book published by Bonanza, Crown Publishers, pp. 88–89.
• Nat Fleischer and Sam Andre, updated by Dan Rafael, An Illustrated History of Boxing, 2001 Edition, Citadel Press, pp. 262, 264, 265.
• Morton Lewis, Ted "Kid" Lewis, His Life and Times, 1990, Robson Books, LTD, Great Britain.

External links

• Boxing record for Ted "Kid" Lewis from BoxRec (registration required)
• Cyber Boxing Zone - Ted "Kid" Lewis
• IBHOF Bio - Ted Kid Lewis
• Ted 'Kid' Lewis at IMDb