Boxing at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Lightweight

Men's lightweight boxing
at the Games of the IV Olympiad
DateOctober 27
Competitors12 from 3 nations
Medalists
   Great Britain
   Great Britain
   Great Britain
Boxing at the
1908 Summer Olympics
Bantamweight
Featherweight
Lightweight
Middleweight
Heavyweight

The lightweight was one of five boxing weight classes contested on the boxing at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. Like all other boxing events, it was open only to men. The boxing competitions were held on October 27. The lightweight was the middle class, allowing boxers of up to 140 pounds (63.5 kg).

Twelve boxers from three nations competed.

Bracket

Round of 16
October 27
  Quarterfinals
October 27
  Semifinals
October 27
  Final
October 27
                           
  Harry Johnson (GBR) 2  
  Hemming Hansen (DEN) 0       Johnson (GBR) 2  
  Harold Holmes (GBR) KO2     Holmes (GBR) 1  
  André Bouvier (FRA) L         Johnson (GBR) 0  
  George Jessup (GBR) KO1         Spiller (GBR) 2  
  Frank Osborne (GBR) L       Jessup (GBR) L
  Patrick Fee (GBR) 0     Spiller (GBR) KO2  
  Frederick Spiller (GBR) 2         Spiller (GBR) 0
  Matt Wells (GBR) 2 (4th)         Grace (GBR) 2
  Waldemar Holberg (DEN) 1       Wells (GBR) 0  
  Frederick Grace (GBR) 2     Grace (GBR) 2  
  Edward Fearman (GBR) 0         Grace (GBR) -
 None -        Bye -  
 None -      None -
 None -    None -  
 None -  

Competition

Round of 16

Wells and Holberg split the judges over the course of the first three rounds. The referee declared a fourth round, which Wells won in a contest with involved much grappling rather than punching. Bouvier was knocked down several times by Holmes before the referee stopped the contest. Jessup dominated his match, with Osborne not lasting past the first round. Grace, Spiller, and Johnson each won by decisions varying in closeness.

Quarterfinals

Spiller had the easiest time of it in the round, nearly eliminating Jessup in the first. The second round saw Jessup counted out. Grace and Wells fought a defensive bout, without either receiving much punishment. Johnson won a tight bout with Holmes by referee's decision.

Semifinals

Grace took a bye in the semifinals and Spiller's easy win made the round an uneventful one.

Final

Each boxer went to the mat in the second, but Grace piled on more hits than did Spiller to win the bout.

Standings

Place Name Nation
1 Frederick Grace Great Britain
2 Frederick Spiller Great Britain
3 Harry Johnson Great Britain
4 Harold Holmes Great Britain
George Jessup Great Britain
Matt Wells Great Britain
7 André Bouvier France
Edward Fearman Great Britain
Patrick Fee Great Britain
Hemming Hansen Denmark
Waldemar Holberg Denmark
Frank Osborne Great Britain

Sources