History of London Boxing

World Welterweight Champ John H Stracey (Getty)

The early 1900s saw America dominate the sport but there were a handful of British fighters who made an impact on the boxing world.

London produced several world champions including George ‘Digger’ Stanley (World Bantamweight Champion 1910), Bill Ladbury (World Flyweight Champion 1913) and Teddy Baldock (World Bantamweight Champion 1927). In 1956 East London boxer Terry Spinks won the flyweight gold in Melbourne.

1960 was the year Cassius Clay, later Muhammad Ali, had his first professional fight and became the world's most famous boxer and sportsman. The United States held many of the boxing titles during the latter part of the 20th Century but several London fighters did claim world titles. They included;

• Terry Downes, Middleweight 1961
• John H. Stracey, Welterweight 1975-76
• Charlie Magri, Flyweight 1983
• Lloyd Honeyghan, Welterweight 1986
• Terry Marsh, Light-Welterweight 1987
• Duke McKenzie, Fly, Bantam & Super Bantamweight 1988-93
• Nigel Benn, Middleweight 1990, 1992-96
• Chris Eubank, Middleweight 1990-91, 1991-95
• Frank Bruno, Heavyweight 1995-1996
• Lennox Lewis, Heavyweight 1993-1994, 1997-2001, 2001-2004
• David Haye, Cruiserweight 2007

Ted 'Kid' Lewis (1894 - 1970), Getty Images

Ted 'Kid' Lewis

One of the greatest English fighters of the early 1900s was Ted 'Kid' Lewis from London's East End. Lewis, who was born Gershon Mendeloff, had his first fight at fourteen and went on to win the World Welterweight Championship in 1915 when he beat American Jack Britton - the first of twenty epic fights between them. 'Kid' Lewis had a total of 279 bouts and was the first Britain to make an impact in America. He also won many more British, European, Empire and World titles.

Henry Cooper

The 1900s were particularly bleak for the British Heavyweight division but one fighter came very close to making an impact on the American domination.

At Wembley Stadium on June 18 1963, toward the end of the fourth round, Henry Cooper hit Cassius Clay with one of the best left hooks seen at the famous stadium. Clay went down but managed to get up and back to his corner as the bell sounded for the end of the round. Clay was given extra time to recover after a split glove needed attention and he then went on to win in the fifth. The title rematch at Highbury in 1966 also saw Cooper retire with cuts in the sixth round.

Heavyweights

It took until 1993 for Britain to win a World Heavyweight title when London born Lennox Lewis won the WBC Heavyweight Championship where he defeated Tony Tucker in Las Vegas. Lewis was in fact awarded the belt before this fight but this was his first fight as Champion.

Lennox Lewis in action (Getty Images)

Lewis defended his title three times before losing it to Oliver McCall in September 1994. He regained heavyweight titles in 1997, 1998 and beat Evander Holyfield in 1999 after their first bout was controversially called a draw. He went on to beat Mike Tyson and is regarded as one of the best heavyweight boxers of his time.

Other British champions during the 20th Century were Frank Bruno (WBC champion, 1995-1996) who won the title from Oliver McCall in 1995 to fulfil his dream of becoming world champion, Henry Akinwande (WBO champion, 1996-1997) and Herbie Hide (WBO champion, 1994-1995, 1997-1999).

Safety

In 2000 the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) introduced new safety measures including a requirement to have an anaesthetist and two teams of paramedics at the ringside. The safety measures followed the Michael Watson and Chris Eubank fight in 1991 where the fight nearly cost Watson his life. Michael Watson won his court case after claiming the BBBC were liable for his injuries.