I bear in mind him very nicely.
Some known as him the poor man’s Sugar Ray Robinson.
Let’s hold it actual. Hedgemon Lewis couldn’t punch just like the Sugar man, who scored 108 knockouts in his lengthy profession, in comparison with 26 for Lewis. Nor might he take a shot like Robinson. However he might transfer, with a pair of very quick palms.
Lewis was gifted and flashy.
“He was an excellent boxer with a implausible left jab,” wrote John H. Stracey, former welterweight champion of the world, responding to me a couple of weeks in the past on Fb. “Very, very underrated.”
I requested former champion Carlos Palomino about Lewis a couple of days in the past.
“Hedgemon was an unimaginable boxer,” mentioned Palomino, who fought to a majority draw with Lewis in 1975. “Nice hand velocity and defensive abilities.”
Lewis was barely 12 when he first laced on the gloves at Northern Recreation Middle in Detroit, MI. One in all his teammates was future coach Emmanuel Steward. Lewis rapidly revealed his expertise, capturing the Nationwide Golden Gloves competitors within the light-weight division in 1964.
After selecting up one other beginner trophy in 1966, Lewis, 20, turned skilled. He went 9-0, with 5 KOs. His win streak was at 22, when Lewis, now preventing out of Los Angeles, met the formidable Ernie Lopez on the legendary Olympic Auditorium.
This was a wonderful time within the annuals of the welterweight division within the Southern California space. The division was loaded with expertise. For the subsequent 10 years, a lot of the high fighters would face off in grueling affairs of the center.
Lewis boxed superbly within the first half of the battle, till the relentless Lopez started to catch him. The battle was stopped within the ninth spherical with Lopez declared the winner.
“I felt I used to be robust all the way in which,” Lewis advised the AP after the bout. “However he nailed me with a very good proper and he was capable of comply with it up.”
Lewis was again within the ring lower than two months later, after his loss to Lopez. He gained a number of fights earlier than going through the damaging Oscar “Shotgun” Albarado on the Olympic in 1969. Albarado was driving a 24-fight successful streak. Lewis ended it, utilizing velocity and elusiveness to slice and cube Albarado.
Subsequent up was a rematch with Lopez again on the Olympic. Lewis floored Lopez within the fourth spherical, and gained the battle by determination. Some at ringside disagreed. An instantaneous rematch was organized, this time on the Sports activities Enviornment in Los Angeles.
Like the primary battle between the pair, Lewis acquired off to a lead. The decided Lopez saved chasing, bouncing pictures off Lewis within the later rounds. The battle was up for grabs coming into the tenth and ultimate spherical.
“I knew it was shut going into the final spherical,” mentioned Lopez. “I didn’t need to get robbed once more, so I shot the works.”
Sure, he did. Lopez gained by stoppage within the final spherical in a “Struggle of the 12 months” candidate.
No relaxation for the weary, Lewis returned to Detroit two months later and gained by stoppage.
He was decided to get again within the title combine.
An in depth loss to gifted Adolph Pruitt didn’t deter a title shot towards legendary Jose Napoles on the Discussion board in Inglewood, CA. The battle was a see-saw battle with aggressive Napoles working the physique and head, whereas Lewis tattooed the champion with quite a few jabs. Napoles gained the battle by shut unanimous determination.
Lewis was 25. He had compiled a powerful file of 40 wins and solely 4 losses. Six months after the disappointing loss to Napoles, Lewis traveled to Syracuse, NY, to battle former welterweight champion, and native favourite, Billy Backus for the vacant New York State Athletic Fee belt. Lewis knocked down Backus in spherical two—successful the match by unanimous determination.
He defended the title as soon as, defeating Backus once more in 1972. Lewis confronted Napoles for the second time in 1974. Napoles ignored a reduce over his eye and beat up Lewis till the battle was stopped in spherical 9.
Lewis wasn’t performed but. He misplaced an in depth determination to Armando Muniz a couple of months after the Napoles battle. Being a Muniz fan, I used to be frightened going into the bout. Lewis had been in some wars, and maybe slowed down a tad, however he was nonetheless a tough boxer.
Palomino discovered that out eleven months later on the Olympic. Most boxing scribes mentioned Lewis was an “previous” 29. He had engaged in 59 fights in 9 years. Palomino had gained 17 of 18 fights. He was favored, however Lewis fought nicely, the bout ending in a majority draw.
Lewis went to London to battle titleholder Stracey in 1976. He knew this was his final probability. He tried, however Stracey wore him down and gained by stoppage in spherical 10.
“He (Lewis) was presumably the hardest opponent I ever fought,” mentioned Stracey.
Lewis retired after his loss, having been victorious in 53 of 60 fights. He stayed close to the game he cherished, working the nook along with his former coach and Corridor of Famer, Eddie Futch. Lewis was well-liked. Palomino known as him a “nice man” as did Muniz. He was stylish and soft-spoken, greeting folks with a handshake and hug.
He shared an in depth friendship along with his former supervisor, actor Ryan O’Neil.
Lewis’ older sister mentioned in an article by John Monaghan of the Detroit Free Press that Lewis and O’Neil have been like brothers.
Hedgemon Lewis fought at a time when the welterweight division was loaded with expertise. He mainly met all of them, gained part of a title, and got here near successful a world title.
Now 73, and sick, Lewis lives in an assisted residing facility in Detroit, MI.
A lot of years in the past, Lewis advised Dean Juipe of the Las Vegas Solar:
“I’ve performed one of the best I might in boxing, I’ve had enjoyable. I’ve had a ball. I acquired to journey and I met lots of people.”
As all the time, stylish.
Hedgemon Lewis handed away March 31, 2020. Relaxation in peace.
