R.I.P. Hedgemon Lewis, 1960s and 1970s Welterweight Contender

[Chuck1052]

Hedgemon Lewis, a welterweight contender during the 1960s and 1970s, has passed away. According to various reports in recent years, Lewis had been in bad shape and was in a nursing home for awhile.

- Chuck Johnston

[margaret thatcher]

Rip Hedge

[Alguiffer]

Another top fighter has pasted - RIP to the exciting to watch Hedgemon Lewis. June 1972, Syracuse New York War Memorial Arena, local fighter (and former welterweight champ) Billy Backus squares off with Hedgemon Lewis. Longtime boxing pal Frankie La La and myself were huge Backus fans and would always hang out near the fighter's entry to see Billy Backus, his manager Mr. Tony Graziano, and his Uncle Mr. Carmine Basilio walk by on their way to the ring and to get a glove touch with Billy Backus. Standing there and leaning with his foot against the wall is this guy who immediately locks eyes with Frankie La La. Frankie says, "what you looking at pretty-boy" (yea - back in the day La La could be a real knucklehead at times). The guy then says, "put your money where your mouth is, $20 says Lewis beats Backus easy". Use of the word "easy" enrages La La and more heated words are exchanged. Security guy says we have to leave the area. We head back to our seats and the ring announcer makes a few introductions prior to the bout. La La and I are amazed to see the "pretty boy" standing center ring. The pretty boy is introduced by the ring announcer as actor Ryan O'Neal and the crowd goes wild. Later on we find out that O'Neal (along with Bill Cosby and a few other Hollywood elites) were backers of Hedgemon Lewis. Lewis ended up beating Billy Backus that night to garner the New York State Athletic Commission Welterweight Title. In a rematch a few months later Lewis beat Backus a second time. Lewis lost a tough and close decision in a world title bout with legendary Jose Napoles in 1971 - many thought it was a draw. Lewis faced Napoles again a few years later and was stopped. Hedgemon Lewis was an exciting to watch and top welterweight contender having fought really tough fights with the likes of Percy Pugh, Adolph Pruitt, Ernie Lopez and Amando Muniz (to name just a few).

[candyslim]

I just caught up with this sad news. I was only thinking about him just the other day for the first time in years, due to the thread about ATG fighters. It was more that I was thinking about Jose Napoles that started me thinking about Hedgemon Lewis, Ernie "Red" Lopez and other fine welterweights of a fine era that was the precursor to a really great era the following decade.

Sadly it seems Napoles has been largely forgotten now and few younger boxing fans will have heard of Lewis. He was a very good fighter nonetheless R.I.P.

[Onetimeonly]

I just caught up with this sad news. I was only thinking about him just the other day for the first time in years, due to the thread about ATG fighters. It was more that I was thinking about Jose Napoles that started me thinking about Hedgemon Lewis, Ernie "Red" Lopez and other fine welterweights of a fine era that was the precursor to a really great era the following decade.

Sadly it seems Napoles has been largely forgotten now and few younger boxing fans will have heard of Lewis. He was a very good fighter nonetheless R.I.P.

Cokes is another excellent fighter many will never come across.

[candyslim]

Yep Curtis Cokes was another good one.

[dookus]

RIP. Rated very highly by former opponent John H Stracey I believe.