Greatest English fighter ever?

As for Wales :
Jimmy Wilde, Freddie Welsh and Jim Driscoll are all among the ALL TIME ELITE globally.
They were all active at the same time too.
Of course, there are dozens of other great Welsh boxers too.
The country has 3 million people to this day.

 

Frank Bruno

 

Len Harvey. Fought from flyweight to heavyweight, sublimely skilled fighter, brilliantly conditioned, quality resume .. beat Marcel Thil , Larry Gains, Jock McAvoy, Billy Bird, Len Johnson.. amazing career. Overlooked fighter.

 

Ted kid Lewis
Followed by Lennox Lewis (who I definitely class as English)

 

Lennox Claudius Lewis.

 

Greatest p4p:

English = Fitzsimmons if we claim him, Ted Kid Lewis just ahead of Lennox Lewis, if we can't, imo.

British = Fitzsimmons if we claim him, Jimmy Wilde if not.

 

Ruby Robert, Kid Lewis, Kid Berg, LL all should be in the debate.

 

Ruby Robert is definitely English. He is from Cornwall, which is in England, not Australia or the US or New Zealand. Doesn't matter how many times he changed his nationality. LL is from West Ham, London. Doesn't matter he fought for Canada in the Olympics. He is English.

 

I'n not so retro-focused to say that Jem Driscoll was the greatest English fighter ever (does Wales count as a part of England? -- shout out to jyeahfosho here) I think he may have had more influence on spreading pride in British boxing and and codifying not only the British style of boxing, but through his analysis of Jimmy Wilde's tactics, many elements that were similar to Mike Gibbons' methods. I highly recommend Driscoll's "The Textbook of Boxing," "Out-Fighting," "Ringcraft," and "The Straight Left" as having much relevance even today. Jimmy Wilde's "The Art of Boxing," and "Hitting and Stopping" are eye-openers too.

 

Lennox Lewis.

 

No, Wales isn't part of England.

England, Wales and Scotland form Great Britain.

The United Kingdom is compromised of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

I'm English, so I don't mind, but a sure way to antagonise a Welsh or Scottish person would be to ask if they were English.

 

Thank you for making this clear to me. Coming from the other side of the Atlantic pond, I'm embarrassed to say that the distinctions between "England," "the United Kingdom," and "Great Britain" have never been clear to me. I will try to tread more lightly from now on!

 

You're welcome and don't worry, most people won't take offence at any confusion.

There is some anti England/UK feeling in Wales and Scotland, but in my experience that's anti England/UK for historical and political reasons, rather than ani English people, as both Welsh and Scottish people have been nothing but hospitable and friendly to me on the numerous times I've visited both.

 

It heartens me to see that gentle and politely enquiring racism is still a thing, Kid. Good on you for asking my man. Just never ask it in England or Wales unless you have a predilection for being rectally invaded with broken bottles.

 

This is very true. For my part though Greg where the Welsh and Scots are concerned, it isn't historical, political etc. It isn't even hatred or racial prejudice, nothing so pernicious. It's more of a mild physical intolerance, like gluten or dairy. A bit of sick in the old throat that can be swallowed within an insincere grin. I don't really think you say it's my fault.