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In a poll we recently ran, Joe Calzaghe won the votes for the best pound for pound boxer to come from these shores. 

Do you agree? or do you believe we have forgotten just how good Ted “Kid” Lewis was? Bert Randolph Sugar, in his authoritative book, The 100 Greatest Boxers of All Time, ranked Lewis at number 33, ahead of such fighters as “Gentleman Jim” Corbett, Jake LaMotta, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Georges Carpentier! 

During his career Ted “Kid” Lewis   (left) won 9 titles at weights ranging from featherweight to middleweight. Ted Lewis was born in London 24 Oct 1894 and was to start boxing professionally at the age of 14.

In 1914, after winning the British (October 1913) and the European (February 1914) featherweight titles at the Premierland boxing hall on Back Church Lane, East London, he went to Australia where he had five 20 round contests all within a period of 63 days. At that time he was the youngest ever holder of the British Featherweight title. 

He then moved onto the United States, as a welterweight, and during the course of the next 5 years he was to win the World title twice, have 10 championship bouts and in total won 26 fights, lost 5, drawn 2 and also chalk up 63 no-decision contests – the majority of which it was judged he won. 

Mike Tyson former heavyweight champion and renowned boxing historian, said Ted “Kid Lewis” Lewis was “probably the greatest fighter to ever come out of Britain.” Lewis was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992. He finished his career with a record of 283 fights, won 215 (71 KOs), lost 44, drew 24, and conceded significant poundage to a great many of his opponents and also going into their back yards to do so.

Leaving Britain to find fights on the world stage, he fought in America, Australia, Canada, South Africa, France, Italy and Germany, Incredibly, he once fought six times in seven nights in different cities.  read more about Ted “Kid” Lewis

Surely Lennox Lewis? he was an undisputed heavyweight champion who cleaned up the heavyweight division and defeated every man he ever faced? In 2009, in his first year of eligibility, Lewis was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

With a career record of 41 Wins (32 knockouts, 7 decisions, 2 disqualifications), 2 Losses (2 knockouts), 1 Draw, including wins over his other modern day great rivals Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson.

Did we forget that Lloyd Honeyghan defeated the American superstar and pound for pound champion of the time in Donald Curry.

During his career Honeyghan lost just five contests, and in an amazing career in a pool of quality fighters of the day, won the WBC Welterweight Championship of the World, the WBA Welterweight Championship of the World, the IBF Welterweight Championship of the World, the EBU Welterweight Championship of Europe, the Light Middleweight Championship of the British Commonwealth (Empire), the Welterweight Championship of the British Commonwealth (Empire), the BBBC Light Middleweight Championship of Great Britain, the BBBC Welterweight Championship of Great Britain and the BBBC Welterweight Championship of the Southern Area.

As well as beating Curry, he also defeated such men as Gianfranco Rosi, Maurice Blocker, Gene Hatcher, Johnny Bumphus, Harold Brazier, Cliff Gilpin, Danny Paul, Sylvester Mittee, Horace Shufford, Jorge Vaca, Yung-Kil Chung, Lloyd Hibbert, Roger Stafford, Sid Smith, John Welters, Mickey Hughes and Darryl Anthony.

So here are three other fighters to consider when making your judgement on, just who is the greatest pound for pound boxer to come from the UK? 

So we come to the present decade and Joe Calzaghe, the Italian Dragon, the Welsh Wizard who finished his career in Halcyon days, when defeating two of the all time greats Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Junior, which came on top of his master class showing, of pure boxing genius to batter America’s next top model in the mold of Mike Tyson, Jeff Lacey to really get the world to notice.

Joe Retired last year with an incredible record of 46 fights, 46 wins with 32 by knockout. He fought and beat the best he had put in front of him.

• Ken Buchanan
• Ted Kid Lewis
• Jimmy Wilde
• Randolph Turpin
• Walter McGowan
• Dave Charnley
• Howard Winston
• Freddie Mills
• Alan Minter
• Terry Downes
• Jackie Patterson
• John Conteh
• Barry McGuigan
• Lloyd Honeyghan
• Jim Watt
• Duke McKenzie
• Nigel Benn
• Chris Eubank
• Naseem Hamed
• Ricky Hatton
• Lennox Lewis
• Joe Calzaghe
• Bob Fitzsimmons
• Carl Froch
• David Haye
• Amir Khan

WHO WAS The Best British Boxer ever ? Have we missed your favorite? Let us know please comment below…..

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11 Comments

1. 

   Sambouragh

   May 27, 2011 at 11:10 am

   Howard Winston followed by Lennox Lewis

   Reply
2. 

   Anonymous

   September 30, 2011 at 10:34 pm

   I would argue for the inclusion of Mo Hope-although an Antiguan,he fought for England as an amamteur and certainly represented us as a pro.His accomplishments and his record speak for themselves!

   Reply
3. 

   Anonymous

   January 21, 2012 at 3:56 am

   naseem hamed was top pound 4 pound at point, maroles didn wanna fyt him, no1 did buh den barrera manned up

   Reply
4. 

   Anonymous

   January 29, 2012 at 1:17 pm

   jimmy wilde by a mile

   Reply
5. 

   Anonymous

   February 28, 2012 at 6:04 pm

   Evan Armstrong, the first scottish boxer in 30 years to win a londsdale belt, and he never got or gets the recognition he deserves. the belt that he has was the last one to be made of solid gold

   Reply
6. 

   Anonymous

   March 8, 2012 at 12:02 am

   prince naseem best entertainer
   skill level unique style knock out power gave you most exciting on the edge of you seat entertainment simply the best by far

   Reply
7. 

   Anonymous

   March 16, 2012 at 2:06 pm

   im surprised no one has said bob fitzsimmons, the only man ever to win middleweight, light-heavyweight and the heavyweight championship of the world. a feat that will never happen again.

   Reply
8. 

   Anonymous

   June 28, 2012 at 5:18 pm

   Tyson fury good he’s a gypsy bad boy !

   Reply
9. 

   IBBI

   July 2, 2012 at 3:54 pm

   First Tyson and then Amir Khan and David Haye.

   ***Win Amir Khan Vs. Danny Garcia Fight Tickets for free at Wishfree.com***

   Just tell us why should you win these tickets and promote your reason; you are on board to Vegas.

   Reply
10. 

    Anonymous

    September 2, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    Jock McAvoy and Bert Gilroy are Britain’s greatest middleweights Full Stop…

    both FEARED & Cheated out of what they rightfully would have won, and from “the single greatest period in Boxing History” ta boot!!!

    Reply
11. 

    BritishBoxers

    September 2, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    Jock McAvoy and Bert Gilroy were great fighters, great call and deserving of a place. This article will be updated again soon with a more detailed look at more of the great British fighters

    Reply