Hall of Fame Professional Boxer. He was the World Welterweight Champion (1915 to 1916 and 1917 to 1919). Lewis, along with American-born boxer Jack Britton yielded a historic rivalry (1915 to 1921) for which included 20 contests and the Welterweight Title exchanging hands four-times. Born Gershon Mendeloff, on London's East End into an impoverished Jewish family, he was already fighting as a professional by the time he reached the age of fifteen. He had secured both the British and European Featherweight crowns, prior to moving up in weight- class to Welterweight. He went onto fight in the Middleweight class and captured the British and European titles, however his attempt to take the World Junior- Heavyweight title met with a knockout loss to the French champion George Carpentier in 1922. Lewis retired in 1929 after compiling a 173 win (71knockouts), 30 loss, 14 draw and 65 no decision record. Following his career as a fighter, he served as a boxing referee and found some acting roles. He was able to join the RAF during World War II, when he claimed his age was younger than it actually was. He was posthumously inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992. Lewis was believed to be the first boxer to use a protective mouthpiece.
Hall of Fame Professional Boxer. He was the World Welterweight Champion (1915 to 1916 and 1917 to 1919). Lewis, along with American-born boxer Jack Britton yielded a historic rivalry (1915 to 1921) for which included 20 contests and the Welterweight Title exchanging hands four-times. Born Gershon Mendeloff, on London's East End into an impoverished Jewish family, he was already fighting as a professional by the time he reached the age of fifteen. He had secured both the British and European Featherweight crowns, prior to moving up in weight- class to Welterweight. He went onto fight in the Middleweight class and captured the British and European titles, however his attempt to take the World Junior- Heavyweight title met with a knockout loss to the French champion George Carpentier in 1922. Lewis retired in 1929 after compiling a 173 win (71knockouts), 30 loss, 14 draw and 65 no decision record. Following his career as a fighter, he served as a boxing referee and found some acting roles. He was able to join the RAF during World War II, when he claimed his age was younger than it actually was. He was posthumously inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992. Lewis was believed to be the first boxer to use a protective mouthpiece.
Bio by: C.S.
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