Alvin Lewis (boxer)

Al Lewis
Statistics
Real name Alvin Lewis
Nickname(s) Blue
Rated at heavyweight
Nationality American
Born 1943
Detroit, Michigan,
Stance orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 36
Wins 31
Wins by KO 19
Losses 5
Draws 0
No contests 0

Alvin Lewis, also known as Al Lewis, (born 1943) is an American professional boxer who fought in the heavyweight division under the alias "Al "Blue" Lewis". Lewis was a long-term sparring partner of Muhammad Ali and is mentioned in Ali's autobiography. He was a well-known powerful gym adversary. He also sparred with, among others, George Foreman for the Champ's then upcoming match with Ken Norton.

Professional career

Lewis was born in Detroit and, after a troubled youth background, turned professional in June 1966 in Canton, Ohio. In his debut Lewis faced "Clown Prince" Art Miller. Lewis won this fight with a 1st round knockout.[1]

Other matches

He accrued 15 wins from his debut. But then Bob Stallings stopped him in seven in 1967. But Lewis won their rematch a year later by a 2nd round knock out. Lewis also fought Leotis Martin twice a while later, losing the first by KO in 9 and the direct rematch by decision. Lewis outpointed fringe contender Dick Wipperman in 1967.

He fought an ageing Cleveland Williams whom he stopped in four in 1970, Oscar Bonavena against whom he lost by disqualification after decking Oscar several times in 1971 and Jack O'Halloran, against whom he lost on points in 1973.[1]

The Ali fight

He is best remembered for a non-title fight with Muhammad Ali which took place at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland on July 19, 1972, which he lost by an 11th-round TKO.[1] Lewis was outclassed. Down in the 5th it looked like the end. But he rallied onwards. He then surprised many by launching offensives just when it wasn't expected, typically after an Ali burst. The Lewis-Ali event is described in the documentary film, When Ali Came to Ireland.

Retirement

He last fought in November 1973. His retirement then came suddenly and unexpected. A Ring Magazine article detailed he'd stopped to help a Priest with a broken down car. In looking in the engine bay the battery sparked spitting acid in one eye which meant his licence was revoked.

Lewis's final record was 30W(19Ko's)-6L-0D.

Professional boxing record

31 Wins (20 knockouts, 11 decisions), 5 Losses (2 knockouts, 2 decisions, 1 DQ)[2]
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Win 4-15 United States JD McCauley KO 2 November 14, 1973 United States Dayton, Ohio
Win 18-5 United States Jimmy Cross KO 6 September 4, 1973 United States Oklahoma City
Win 29-2 United States Humphrey McBride TKO 3 July 19, 1973 Canada Halifax, Nova Scotia Referee stopped the bout at 1:45 of the third round.
Loss 29-15-2 United States Jack O'Halloran PTS 10 March 1, 1973 United States Detroit, Michigan
Win 7-7-1 United States Charlie Reno PTS 10 January 22, 1973 United States Detroit Olympia, Detroit, Michigan
Loss 37-1 United States Muhammad Ali TKO 11 July 19, 1972 Republic of Ireland Croke Park, Dublin Referee stopped the bout at 1:15 of the 11th round.
Loss 46-7-1 Argentina Oscar Bonavena DQ 7 October 4, 1971 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires
Win 7-3-2 United States Bob Mashburn TKO 5 May 7, 1971 United States Michigan State Fair, Detroit, Michigan
Win 74-10-1 United States Cleveland Williams TKO 4 October 21, 1970 United States Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Win 10-6-3 United States Billy Joiner UD 10 July 15, 1970 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win 4-5-2 Jamaica Edmund Stewart TKO 7 June 29, 1970 United States Detroit, Michigan
Win 8-4-1 United States Charles "Hercules" Williams TKO 6 February 27, 1970 United States Michigan State Fair, Detroit, Michigan
Win 25-21-2 United States Bill McMurray PTS 10 November 19, 1969 United States Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio 50-37, 49-40, 48-41.
Win 10-4-1 United States Willie McMillan PTS 10 April 14, 1969 United States Palisades Rink, McKeesport, Pennsylvania
Loss 27-5 United States Leotis Martin SD 10 February 26, 1969 United States Detroit Olympia, Detroit, Michigan
Loss 26-5 United States Leotis Martin TKO 9 November 26, 1968 United States Detroit, Michigan Referee stopped the bout at 1:33 of the ninth round.
Win 13-17 United States Bob Stallings TKO 2 September 21, 1968 United States Detroit, Michigan
Win 25-2-5 Argentina Hector Eduardo Corletti KO 2 July 24, 1968 United States Detroit Olympia, Detroit, Michigan
Win 27-10-1 United States Johnny Featherman KO 2 May 29, 1968 United States Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana
Win 13-15 United States Bob Stallings UD 10 May 8, 1968 United States Palisades Rink, McKeesport, Pennsylvania 48-43, 50-43, 49-42.
Win 8-17-3 United States Dave Russell TKO 7 April 3, 1968 United States Palisades Rink, McKeesport, Pennsylvania
Win 12-11 United States Bob Stallings TKO 7 December 12, 1967 United States Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York
Win 32-10-1 United States Dick Wipperman UD 10 October 17, 1967 United States Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York 8-2, 8-1, 6-3.
Win 11-6-1 United States Toro Smith KO 3 September 25, 1967 United States Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Win 9-1 United States Willie McMillan PTS 8 August 24, 1967 United States Detroit, Michigan
Win 11-1-1 United States Aaron Eastling KO 5 June 5, 1967 United States Milwaukee Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Eastling knocked out at 1:16 of the fifth round.
Win 4-3 United States Earl Averette PTS 6 May 12, 1967 United States Detroit, Michigan
Win 5-6 United States Buddy Moore PTS 6 January 25, 1967 United States Palisades Rink, McKeesport, Pennsylvania
Win 7-7 United States Mert Brownfield PTS 6 December 14, 1966 United States Palisades Rink, McKeesport, Pennsylvania
Win 7-6 United States Mert Brownfield PTS 4 November 14, 1966 United States Akron, Ohio
Win 8-3 United States Mac Harrison KO 3 October 26, 1966 United States Akron Armory, Akron, Ohio
Win 6-13-2 United States Larry McGee KO 2 September 13, 1966 United States Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Win 4-5 United States Vic Brown TKO 1 August 29, 1966 United States Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Win 0-2 United States John Hall TKO 1 August 5, 1966 United States Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Win 0-7 United States Gene Hunt TKO 2 July 11, 1966 United States Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan
Win 7-10-1 United States Art Miller KO 1 June 21, 1966 United States Canton, Ohio

References

  1. 1 2 3 Boxrec. "Alvin Lewis". Boxrec Fighter Page. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  2. ↑ http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=9389&cat=boxer

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/10/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.