Hedgemon Lewis

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Hedgemon Lewis
Statistics
Real name Hedgemon Lewis
Rated at Welterweight
Nationality US American
Born (1946-02-25) February 25, 1946
Greensboro, Alabama
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 62
Wins 53
Losses 7
Draws 2

Hedgemon Lewis (born 25 February 1946) is a former American professional boxer and trainer. Lewis began boxing at the age of 12, out of the Northern Recreation Center in Detroit. As a young, aspiring fighter he boxed as part of the same camp as renowned coach Emmanuel Steward. During a distinguished amateur career, Lewis picked up the National Golden Gloves Lightweight title in 1964 and the Welterweight title in 1966. He turned professional in May 1966.[1]

Professional career

Lewis was initially taken under the wing of Detroit based coach Luther Burgess, who presided over his formative boxing years and was later trained by Eddie Futch. Due to Lewis’s exciting style, he soon attracted the attention of Hollywood. His management company consisted of actors and entertainment stars in Ryan O’Neil, Bill Cosby and Robert Goulet.

Racing through the early part of his career, Lewis was victorious in his first 22 fights. Fighting out of Detroit initially, before basing himself in Los Angeles. Establishing himself as one of boxing’s top prospects, Lewis was poised to take on his biggest fight to date, against Ernie ‘Indian Red’ Lopez. In the first 4 rounds, Lewis outclassed his opponent, before Lopez came from behind to win.

Lewis bounced back to win his next 5 fights back to back, including defeating highly rated contender Oscar “Shotgun” Albarado over ten rounds. This set the stage for a rematch against former foe Ernie Lopez. In a closely fought and exciting contest, Lewis picked up the decision, flooring his opponent in round 4.[2]

Fighting for the world title

Embarking on a succession of impressive wins, Lewis improved his record to 40-3. In December 1971, Lewis took on Cuban fighter Jose Napoles for the WBC and WBA World Welterweight titles. The bout was tightly contested, with Lewis pushing the world champion for the full 15 rounds. The decision went to Napoles, but all 3 judges scorecards registered a very close fight. Still at a relatively young age of 25, Lewis returned to winning ways, racking up 11 straight wins on the bounce. This included a double header against former world champion Billy Backus.

Lewis travelled to Syracuse, New York, the home town of Backus, for the first bout in June 1972. In what turned out to be one of the fights of the year, Lewis dropped his rival in round 4 on his way to a decision victory. In the rematch later on that year, Lewis would once again claim victory.[3] In defeating Backus, Lewis picked up the New York version of the World Welterweight title. He also gained the admiration of the New York boxing scene. Continuing on with varying degrees of success, Lewis would fight twice more for the world title, including a rematch against Jose Napoles, without success.[4] Hedgemon Lewis retired in 1976 at the age of 30. His final career record read 53-7-2. Lewis was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006.

Post professional boxing career

Not yet finished with the sport, Lewis became a noted coach and cornerman in the world of boxing. He worked the corners with legendary figures such as Eddie Futch, Thell Torrence and Freddy Roach. He would play a key role as part of Futch’s camp in the epic ‘Thriller in Manila’ fight. Lewis still trains fighters to this day. Outside of boxing, he also achieved success in the Los Angeles real estate market.[5]

Professional boxing record

53 Wins (26 knockouts, 27 decisions), 7 Losses (4 knockouts, 3 decisions), 2 Draws[6]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 53-7-2England John H. Stracey TKO 10 (15) 1976-03-20 England Empire Pool, London, England For WBC Welterweight Title
style="background:#c5d2ea; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-draw" |Draw 53-6-2United States Harold Weston PTS 10 1975-12-12 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
style="background:#c5d2ea; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-draw" |Draw 53-6-1 (1)United States Carlos Palomino MD 10 1975-11-22 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 53-6 (1)United States Rafael Rodriguez SD 10 1975-05-07 United States Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 52-6 (1)United States Rafael Rodriguez UD 10 1975-03-19 United States Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 51-6 (1)Mexico Armando Muniz UD 10 1974-12-03 United States Forum, Inglewood, California
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 51-5 (1)Cuba Jose Napoles TKO 9 (15) 1974-08-03 Mexico Palacio de Deporte, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico For WBA World and WBC Welterweight Title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 51-4 (1)Mexico Felipe Vaca KO 4 (10) 1974-04-28 Mexico Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 50-4 (1)United States Jose Miranda UD 10 1974-03-01 United States Coliseum, San Diego, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 49-4 (1)United States Johnny Gant UD 10 1973-12-10 United States Felt Forum, New York City, New York
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 48-4 (1)Philippines Rudy Barro KO 3 (10) 1973-11-07 United States Sacramento, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 47-4 (1)Mexico Chucho Garcia UD 10 1973-10-13 United States Forum, Inglewood, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 46-4 (1)Mexico Ruben Vazquez Zamora TKO 6 (10) 1973-03-31 United States Sports Arena, San Diego, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 45-4 (1)United States Billy Backus UD 15 1972-12-08 United States War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York Defended NYSAC World Welterweight Title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 44-4 (1)Mexico Jose Luis Baltazar UD 10 1972-10-13 United States Coliseum, San Diego, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 43-4 (1)Mexico Mario Marquez KO 2 (10) 1972-07-21 United States San Diego, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 42-4 (1)United States Billy Backus UD 15 1972-06-16 United States War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York Won vacant NYSAC World Welterweight Title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 41-4 (1)Mexico Ruben Vazquez Zamora UD 10 1972-05-08 United States Forum, Inglewood, California
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 40-4 (1)Cuba Jose Napoles UD 15 1971-12-14 United States Forum, Inglewood, California For WBA World and WBC Welterweight Titles
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 40-3 (1)Mexico Jose Gabino KO 6 (10) 1971-09-24 United States Convention Center, Anaheim, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 39-3 (1)United States Cassius Greene TKO 6 (10) 1971-07-31 United States Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 38-3 (1)Mexico Arturo Lomeli KO 6 (10) 1971-06-28 Mexico Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 37-3 (1)United States Percy Pugh TKO 8 (10) 1971-05-17 United States New Orleans, Louisiana
style="background:#c5d2ea; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-draw" |NC 36-3 (1)United States Leroy Romero NC 3 (10) 1971-05-07 United States Minidome, Pocatello, Idaho
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 36-3United States Adolph Pruitt UD 10 1971-01-12 United States Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 36-2Mexico Manuel Avitia TKO 8 (10) 1970-10-31 United States Valley Music Theatre, Woodland Hills, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 35-2Mexico Raul Soriano UD 10 1970-10-08 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 34-2Mexico Chucho Almazan KO 8 (10) 1970-08-13 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 33-2Mexico Raul Rodriguez TD 2 (10) 1970-07-07 Mexico Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 32-2United States Severo Balboa KO 3 (10) 1970-06-19 United States Valley Music Theatre, Woodland Hills, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 31-2Puerto Rico Ricky Ortiz TKO 3 (10) 1970-05-26 United States Valley Music Theatre, Woodland Hills, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 30-2Mexico Gustavo Garcia KO 5 (10) 1970-05-13 Mexico Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 29-2United States Don Cobbs UD 10 1969-12-18 United States Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 28-2United States Ernie Lopez TKO 10 (10) 1969-10-04 United States Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 28-1United States Ernie Lopez UD 10 1969-07-10 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 27-1United States Oscar Albarado UD 10 1969-04-10 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 26-1United States Miguel Hernandez KO 1 (10) 1969-03-20 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 25-1Mexico Celso Olivas KO 1 (10) 1968-10-31 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 24-1Mexico Miguel Aguilar UD 10 1968-09-19 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 23-1United States Shelly Lyons PTS 10 1968-09-03 United States Circle Arts Theater, San Diego, California
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 22-1United States Ernie Lopez TKO 9 (10) 1968-07-18 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 22-0United States Doug McLeod TKO 2 (10) 1968-06-13 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 21-0United States Bob Murray UD 10 1968-05-16 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20-0Mexico Jose Valenzuela TKO 5 (10) 1968-04-25 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 19-0Mexico Ruben Rivera KO 2 (10) 1968-04-04 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18-0Mexico Miguel Aguilar UD 10 1967-10-19 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17-0United States Carl Jordan PTS 8 1967-09-18 United States Detroit, Michigan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16-0Canada Colin Fraser PTS 8 1967-06-26 Canada Toronto, Ontario, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15-0Canada Gary Broughton PTS 8 1967-06-15 United States Detroit, Michigan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14-0United States Primus Williams UD 8 1967-05-12 United States Detroit, Michigan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13-0United States Mel Fields KO 3 (5) 1967-04-13 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12-0United States Charley Lewis PTS 6 1967-03-23 United States Convention Center, Louisville, Kentucky
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11-0United States Sam Ivory TKO 5 (10) 1967-03-18 United States Armory, Newark, Ohio
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10-0United States Primus Williams PTS 6 1967-01-29 United States Newark, Ohio
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9-0United States Phil Garcia KO 3 (6) 1966-12-01 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8-0United States Dawson Smith PTS 6 1966-11-21 United States Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7-0United States Charley Lewis PTS 6 1966-11-01 United States Grand Rapids, Michigan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6-0United States Calves DeJarenente KO 1 1966-10-26 United States Armory, Akron, Ohio
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5-0United States Arnold Bushman KO 3 1966-09-13 United States Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4-0United States Mike Belski TKO 1 (6) 1966-08-29 United States Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3-0United States Larry Youngblood TKO 2 (4) 1966-08-05 United States Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2-0United States Larry Youngblood UD 4 1966-07-11 United States Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1-0United States Arnold Bushman KO 3 1966-05-13 United States Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio Lewis' professional debut

References

  1. ↑ Lindy Lindell, "Metro Detroit Boxing"
  2. ↑ Boxrec, "Professional boxing record for Hedgemon Lewis", "http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=012562&cat=boxer"
  3. ↑ Harry Mullan, "Great Book of Boxing"
  4. ↑ Peter Arnold, "The illustrated encyclopedia of world boxing"
  5. ↑ Harry Mullan, "Great Book of Boxing"
  6. ↑ "Hedgemon Lewis professional boxing record". BoxRec.com. 

External links

  • Professional boxing record of Hedgemon Lewis from Boxrec
Titles in pretence
Vacant World Welterweight Champion
NYSAC Recognition
June 16, 1972 - August 3, 1974 		Lost bid for undiputed title
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