John Henry Lewis, in my opinion, is an underrated LHW and should be ranked in the top 10 LHWs of all time. He beat the likes of: Max Rosenbloom Jimmy Braddock Jock McAvoy Tiger Jack Fox Al Ettore Bob Olin Len Harvey Elmer Ray Al Gainer
One of the ATG light heavyweights, verry arguably top 10. The fact that he is not a lock for top 10 reflects the enourmous depth of talent in this division.
Nice post eco. Hands down the most underrated champ in the division's history. I'm embarrassed to say I know **** all about him. I'm gonna keep bumping this thread until its choc full of info for me.
I consider John Henry Lewis one of the all-time great light-heavyweights. It's a division with plenty of greats in its ranks historically, and probably the division most full of greats who never won the world's championship, so assessing a definitive list gets tricky. Still, I wouldn't be surprised to end up with J H Lewis in the top 5 or 10.
He's at least great.Who knows what could've happened if the eye didn't become blind.Lewis probably could've beaten Conn too under the right conditions.
He was an ATG fighting during one of the strongest stretches in 175 lb history. Read the reports on his bouts vs Al Gainer (who would have been champ had there been no Lewis, imo). They were classic boxer vs puncher matchups. Lewis and his stablemate Red Bruce used to act as bodyguards for Gus Greenlee (yes, THAT Gus Greenlee!). When Gus would show up to the stadiums and fight clubs of Pittsburgh in his big overcoat ala' Lee J. Cobb in "On The Waterfront" he would stroll to his seat up front, Lewis and Bruce on either side of him. For some reason I just love that visual:hat
