MW Tournament (Round 1): George Benton vs Ted Kid Lewis

Not a fair pairing. Ted Kid Lewis was a Welterweight, whilst Benton was a middleweight.
Like comparing George Benton against Floyd Patterson. Not fair to Ted Kid Lewis, one of the best welterweights of alltime...

 

Vic,of course he would have a chance. But Ted Kid Lewis's prime was as a welterweight, not when he fought Georges Carpentier who was a legit MW.
Vic, when we compare the great racehorses of alltime, we put equal weights on each horse. Cheers...

 

Vic, your correct about Ted Kid Lewis being the greater P4P fighter. He was Britain's best ever fighter, who today is so darn underated as a welterweight...Just think Kid Lewis had 282 recorded bouts in his career
against the finest fighters of his time. In comparison FOUR times the bouts Ray Leonard had !!!
I have him only behind Ray Robinson H2H and in the mix with Britton,
Ray Leonard, Tommy Ryan,Tommy Hearns, and Kid Gavilan. England's best
ever...Cheers...

 

I think the weight wouldn't be an issue for Lewis. However, although he could burst out into his punching bursts and throw looping shots, Benton would figure him out after a few rounds and win a comfortable, but certainly competitive, decision.

 

I don't rate fighters as it's impossible to be 100% accurate.

BUT I do agree with Burt - you don't make mythical matches that can tend to take away from a fighter. Ted Kid Lewis was a Welterweight and probably Britains best at the weight. So thats where we have to place him, compare him and rate him.

ALL fighters like Lewis who fight UP, - because they were good enough to do so - well win or lose, this only adds to their greatness and pedigree at their own weight, ALL of them.

Lewis could mix it with Benton and other great middles, but he would lose more often than not, But this takes nothing away from his greatness but only adds to it, because he had to be good enough in the first place to be allowed to do so!

remember untill about the late 50s perhaps early 60s fighting UP was more common place but still needed sanctioned approval by a boxing board, today it doesn't happen much and many a pairing like took place in bygone days just wouldn't be allowed.

thats what makes these past greats, better, because the best of them fought at the Top and UP on a 3 -5 weekly bases and for years on end.

 

This is a tournament of 2nd-3rd tier middleweights IIRC. No one is trying to downplay Lewis' ability or whatnot, don't know why everyone is so 'upset' by this :huh

He probably won't get many picks. Oh, well, with another draw he may well of, **** happens.

 

T, so well put !:happy

 

Benton would probably win but Lewis would as already said be competitive throughout the fight and the all-time great in this match-up can not be totally cast aside without the thought of a small upset entering ones head even for only a short period

and yes i agree england's greatest fighter