Record for most fights in a year???

[punchoutsb]

Anyone know who holds this?

Len Wickward fought 44 (FOURTY FOUR!!!!!) times in 1930, which is impressive I don't care the caliber of competition.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I think Greb was 45-0 one year.

[man]

I think Greb was 45-0 one year.

goodness. that is crazy.

[Panzerfaust]

The fact that Greb's 45 1919 fights were mostly 10 or 12 rounders that went the distance for a amazin 426 rounds in 1919

[orbtastic]

Ted Kid Lewis
Len Wickwar
Joe Grim

[Crease]

I think Greb was 45-0 one year.

Shows what a great he really was.
And people these days are delighted if the World Champions fight twice in a year.

Really puts that in to perspective.

[orbtastic]

From elsewhere:

58…Ted “Kid” Lewis……………1911
58…Len Wickwar…………….…1934
53…Joe Grim……………………1902
51…Len Wickwar……….………1935
50…Len Wickwar………….……1932
49…Len Wickwar………….……1933
48…Len Wickwar………….……1936
46…John “Unk” Russell……...…1905
44…Len Wickwar…………….…1930
44…Harry Greb…………………1919
43…Young Erne…………………1902
42…Young Griffo………….……1890
41…Len Wickwar………….……1931
40…Len Wickwar………….……1937
39…Young Stribling……….……1928
39…Young Stribling……….……1924
38…Wildcat Monte………..……1924
37…Battling Levinsky….………1914
37…Harry Greb…………………1917
37…Young Ahearn………..……1910
37…Knockout Brown…….……1908
37…Cuddy DeMarco……………1923
36…“Wild” Bill McDowell……1935
36…Young Griffo………..……1899
36…Wildcat Monte……………1923
36…Wildcat Monte……………1933
35…Freddie Miller……………1935
35…Cuddy DeMarco…………1926
35…Jack White……….………1908
34…Dave Holly………………1902
34…Duke Tramel……….……1925
34…Johnny Fitzpatrick……………1933
34…Wildcat Monte……………1929
33…Jimmy Wilde………..……1913
33…Joey DeJohn………..……1947
33…Freddie Miller……………1928
33…Young Stribling……………1925
33…Young Griffo……………1888
33…Duke Tramel……….……1924
33…John “KO” Eggers……………1913
33…Walter Mohr……….……1916
32…Lamar Clark………..……1958
32…Matty Baldwin……………1903
32…Ralph Brady……….……1919
31…James “Tut” Jackson……………1922
31…Dutch Brandt……….……1912
31…“Philadelphia” Jack O’Brien……………1902
31…Len Wickwar……………1938
31…Willie Russell………………1945
31…Willie Houck………………1909
31…Tommy Feltz………………1900
31…Charley Johnson……………1896
31…Willard “Big Boy” Hogue……………1939
31…Otto “Young” Wallace……………1919
30…Knockout Brown……………1910
30…Ernie Maurer……….………1932
30…Johnny Lamar………………1922
30…Johnny Ray…………………1913
30…Cuddy DeMarco……………1924
30…Battling Murray……………1916
30…Wildcat Monte………..……1926
30…Wildcat Monte………..……1931

[prewarboxing]

I have traced 75 contests for Jack Marks (Aldgate, London) in 1911.

Jan 1 1911 George Cole(Poplar) DR St George's Judaeans AC 6
Jan 7 1911 Jack Townsend(Stepney) LP Lambeth Canterbury Music Hall 8
Jan 9 1911 Alf Defries(Long Acre) LP Lambeth South London Palace 6
Jan 11 1911 Bernard Pinion(St George's) DR St George's Judaeans AC 6
Jan 18 1911 Tom Rowes(Stratford) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Jan 25 1911 Peter Benson(Borough) LP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Jan 26 1911 Fred Anderson(Lambeth) LKO2 Southwark The Ring 6
Jan 29 1911 Young Smith(Bermondsey) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Feb 1 1911 Young Smith(Bermondsey) DR St George's Judaeans AC 8
Feb 8 1911 Young Sullivan(St George's) LP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Feb 11 1911 Tom Hughes WP Whitechapel Wonderland 3
8st novice competition 1st series
Feb 12 1911 Young Smith(Bermondsey) LP St George's Judaeans AC 10
Feb 13 1911 Young Sullivan LP Mile End Paragon Music Hall 3
8st novice competition 2nd series
Feb 15 1911 Joe Madden(St George's) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Feb 20 1911 Ted Haley(Bermondsey) DR Lambeth South London Palace 6
Feb 26 1911 Young Smith(Bermondsey) DR St George's Judaeans AC 6
Mar 4 1911 Bill Stevens(London) WP Whitechapel Wonderland 4
8st novice competition 3rd series
Mar 7 1911 Young Smith(Barnsbury) DR Barnesbury Athletic Club 6
Mar 12 1911 Charlie Farrell(USA) WS3 St George's Judaeans AC 6
Mar 13 1911 Yank Gilbert(USA) WP Whitechapel Wonderland 6
Mar 18 1911 Curly Hume(Aldgate) LP Lambeth Canterbury Music Hall 6
Mar 19 1911 George Cole(Poplar) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Mar 20 1911 Bill Smith(Bermondsey) WP Whitechapel Wonderland 6
Mar 22 1911 Young Sullivan(St George's) LP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Mar 23 1911 Tom Lee(Bow) DR Southwark The Ring 6
Apr 8 1911 Bill Olds(Bethnal Green) LP Whitechapel Wonderland 6
8st competition final
Apr 10 1911 Young Smith(Bermondsey) LP London Blechynden Hall 10
Apr 12 1911 Bernard Pinion(St George's) DR St George's Judaeans AC 6
Apr 19 1911 Bernard Pinion(St George's) LP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Apr 22 1911 Young Smith(Bermondsey) LP Poplar Hippodrome 6
Apr 23 1911 Ted Kid Lewis(St George's) LS7 St George's Judaeans AC 10
Apr 27 1911 Bernard Pinion(St George's) LP Chelsea Club 6
Apr 29 1911 Joe Madden(St George's) DR St George's Judaeans AC 6
May 7 1911 Fred Cooper(Bermondsey) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
May 11 1911 Tom Lee(Bow) WP Southwark The Ring 6
May 14 1911 Young Smith(Bermondsey) DR St George's Judaeans AC 6
May 21 1911 Fred Cooper(Bermondsey) DR St George's Judaeans AC 6
May 28 1911 Jim Downs(Stepney) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
May 31 1911 Young Sullivan(St George's) LP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Jun 25 1911 Fred Cooper(Bermondsey) LP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Jul 29 1911 Tom Smith(Walthamstow) WP Walthamstow Royal Standard Grounds 6
Sep 9 1911 George Burns(Bethnal Green) LP Southampton Coliseum 6
Sep 10 1911 Harry Jones(Stepney) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Sep 20 1911 Joe Lipman(Aldgate) DR St George's Judaeans AC 6
Sep 27 1911 Dave Conn(Aldgate) DR St George's Judaeans AC 6
Sep 30 1911 Harry Jones(Stepney) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Oct 4 1911 Harry Smith(Bethnal Green) WS3 St George's Judaeans AC 6
Oct 7 1911 George Couch(Stepney) LP Poplar Hippodrome 6
Oct 7 1911 Tom Keeling(Bermondsey) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Oct 8 1911 Bill Smith(Bermondsey) LP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Oct 15 1911 George Thacker(Hoxton) DR St George's Judaeans AC 6
Oct 18 1911 George Thacker(Hoxton) DR St George's Judaeans AC 6
Oct 19 1911 Jack Wayland(Edmonton) LP Southwark The Ring 6
Oct 21 1911 Jack Smith(Stepney) DR St George's Judaeans AC 6
Oct 22 1911 Harry Jones(Stepney) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Oct 23 1911 Bill Smith(Bermondsey) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Oct 25 1911 Jack Lewis(Aldgate) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Oct 28 1911 Jack Smith(Stepney) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Oct 29 1911 Jack Lewis(Aldgate) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Nov 1911 Young Smith(Bermondsey) WP Ipswich Crown Hall 10
Nov 4 1911 Bob Elliott(Stratford) DR Ipswich Crown Hall 10
Nov 11 1911 Bill Smith(Bermondsey) WP Poplar Hippodrome 6
Nov 12 1911 Fred McQuillan(Bermondsey) WS2 St George's Judaeans AC 6
Nov 13 1911 Young Smith(Bermondsey) DR Bloomsbury International AC 6
Nov 19 1911 Tom Keeling(Bermondsey) LP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Nov 23 1911 Bill Smith(Bermondsey) WP Southwark The Ring 6
Nov 26 1911 Jack Smith(Stepney) DR St George's Judaeans AC 6
Dec 2 1911 Young Smith(Bermondsey) WP Ipswich Crown Hall 15
Dec 4 1911 Tom Keeling(Bermondsey) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Dec 6 1911 J Wood(Aldgate) WR4 St George's Judaeans AC 6
Dec 13 1911 George Thacker(Hoxton) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Dec 17 1911 Jim Scraggs WS4 St George's Judaeans AC 6
Dec 21 1911 Ted Saunders(Stepney) WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Dec 28 1911 L/Cpl. Murphy WP St George's Judaeans AC 6
Dec 31 1911 Arthur Brown LP St George's Judaeans AC 6

Anyone who knows about British boxing during this period will recognise some good names on this list, for anyone who doesn't then the name Ted Kid Lewis should stand out at least (April 23 1911). I have seen Ted Kid Lewis record with another bout against Marks on Jan 18 1911 but the report for this show in 'Boxing' does not include the contest. The show was not covered by Mirror of Life and so until I find the eviedence for it I have not included it in my data. If found then Marks goes to 76 for the year !

I also have 60 for Len Wickwar in 1934, 59 for Siki Coulton (Mansfield) in 1928, 56 for Sandy McEwan (Aberdeen) in 1934 and 53 for Bill Huntley (Lambeth) in 1931.


Miles Templeton
www.prewarboxing.co.uk

[Alex]

75 (possibly 76) fights in a year... crikey, I wonder how Marks ended up.

I wonder who fought the most rounds in a year. Since Marks's bouts were mostly six-rounders, it may be that someone else holds that record.

[Alex]

It probably wasn't an uncommon name round the East End of London in the early 20th century, but was this Jack Marks the dentist (said to be a former fighter) who created the world's first gum shield for Ted Kid Lewis?

If so, he has two pretty special claims to fame.

[prewarboxing]

It probably wasn't an uncommon name round the East End of London in the early 20th century, but was this Jack Marks the dentist (said to be a former fighter) who created the world's first gum shield for Ted Kid Lewis?

If so, he has two pretty special claims to fame.

Not the same man Alex.

[Brutu]

http://books.google.com/books?id=wqQzAQ ... pg=PA34&dq

[basham]

Dates for Jack Marks v Kid Lewis given by Morton Lewis in his book on the life of his father
are 15-01-1911 and 16-04-1911.Note Kid Lewis became known as Ted Kid Lewis in 1914
when in America.

[prewarboxing]

Dates for Jack Marks v Kid Lewis given by Morton Lewis in his book on the life of his father
are 15-01-1911 and 16-04-1911.Note Kid Lewis became known as Ted Kid Lewis in 1914
when in America.

The record for Lewis in the Morton book is hugely inaccurate for his early career and I doubt the accuracy of it.

I will give just a few examples :

Oct 8 1911 - There was no bill at the Ring Blackfriars that day. There was a fighter active at this time called Harry Ray from Stepney and he boxed at the same weight as Lewis and it is, of course, highly likely that he may have fought Lewis. The origin of this bout came from the 1914 'Boxing' book of records, within which Lewis's 1911 bouts are listed. There are no dates and venues, just the results. The points win against Ray is clearly listed in this record book. All of Lewis' early bouts shown in the 1914 record book were repeated verbatim in the 1921 edition of the 'Boxing' record book and then Nat Fleischer lifted them all for the Lewis record he included in the Ring Record Book. This latter publication 'validated' the result (and many others) and it has been repeated ever since. The point is, I have never found any evidence for not only this bout, but many others that followed the same route. I have the copy of 'Boxing', a copy of the 'Mirror of Life' and have also taken results from the Sporting Life for this week in Oct 1911 and none of these publications includes a report or an advertisement for a bill at the Ring on this day. If the bout occurred at all then it did not occur on this date. Until such time as I found any more reliable evidence for the contest I am unwilling to include it in any record for Lewis.

Conversely, there is a contest that Lewis fought against Tom Perkins on Sep 10 1911 at the Judaean's. It is shown quite clearly on page 480 of 'Boxing' in the Sept 16 1911 edition. This result did not find its way into the 'Boxing' record book for 1914, it therefore wasn't included in the 1921 version or the Ring Record Book. It isn't on the Morton Lewis record and it isn't on BoxRec. But the result is shown loud and clear in 'Boxing'. It has been missed because the very many publishers of the Lewis record over the years (including Fleischer, Morton Lewis and BoxRec) are merely copying earlier versions which were copied by someone else and these mistakes live forever and eventually become facts.

Most of the dates quoted in the Morton Lewis book for the bouts that I have been able to trace have incorrect dates and I am very suspicious, in general, of this record and doubt its quality and accuracy.

On my website I list 137 contests for Lewis, this is because I have not yet entered his US results into my database. If anyone is interested enough then perhaps we can merge my data with the US contests listed on BoxRec to see if we can come up with a better record for this great fighter. As things stand his BoxRec record just ain't good enough. I would be more than happy to spend some time on this if someone else is prepared to validate the non British contests.

Miles

[kochamp]

Miles, have you got much info on Alick Lafferty of Airdrie, I know he got killed in the war, a lot of Scots say he was the best they've ever had.

Scott

[Alex]

Here's a record for Alex Lafferty from the collection of the late boxing historian, journalist and author Gilbert Odd - though I imagine Miles has some extra bouts.

What strikes me most about Lafferty's record is the number of knockouts he scored - a staggering amount for a fly/bantam/featherweight.

[basham]

Brilliant Research Miles. Would be interesting to see how many cf the so called world title bouts
in some Ted Kid Lewis records would have met British Boxing conditions for championship contests.

I asked a question on Record Queries and Updates=2 or 3 Minute Rounds Does It Matter but got no response.

[James The Great]

very good and interesting topic. these boxers are legends

[kochamp]

Thanks Alex,

A good record indeed.

[quote="Alex"]Here's a record for Alex Lafferty from the collection of the late boxing historian, journalist and author Gilbert Odd - though I imagine Miles has some extra bouts.

What strikes me most about Lafferty's record is the number of knockouts he scored - a staggering amount for a fly/bantam/featherweight.