Harry Lewis
(Henry Besterman)

BORN   September 16 1886; New York, New York
DIED February 22 1956; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
HEIGHT 5-7
WEIGHT 130-155 lbs
MANAGERS E.W. Dickerson and Jacob Besterman (1903-1909), Al Lippe (1909-1913)
RECORD 62-18-6 (47 KO, 87 ND, 1 NC)

Lewis was a red-headed "Philadelphia fighter"; He was scrappy, tough and proficient at feints and counter-punches; His favorite blow was a left hook to the body; He was also game and was knocked out only twice in 171 bouts; Willie Lewis, arch-rival, once said "What Harry doesn't know about boxing isn't worth learning"

Among those he defeated during his career were Jimmy Bonner, Benny Yanger, Jimmy Briggs, Willie Fitzgerald, Jack Dougherty, Rube Smith, Mike "Twin" Sullivan, Dave Deshler, Jack Goldswain, Pat O'Keefe, Frank Mantell, Terry Martin, Billy "Honey" Mellody, Larry Conley, Larry Temple, John "Unk" Russell, Dick Nelson, Harry Mansfield, Eddie Chambers, Dan Sullivan, Howard Baker, Peter Brown, Aschel "Young" Joseph, Billy Glover, Geoff Thorne, Johnny Summers, Blink McCloskey, Dixie Kid (Aaron Brown) and Johnny Mathieson

Nat Fleischer ranked Lewis as the #6 All-Time Welterweight

1903
Aug 25 Billy Manning              Philelphia, Pa                   ND   6
Sep  1 Billy Boden                Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Sep 15 Harry Keegan               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Oct  5 Frank Dillon               Chester, Pa                      ND   6
Oct 27 "Young" Joe Grim           Philadelphia, Pa                 KO   4
Dec 17 George "Young" Marshall    Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6

1904
Jan 21 Tom Daly                   Philadelphia, Pa                 KO   1
Jan 28 Jack McKenzie              Philadelphia, Pa                 LT   2
Feb  8 Mexican Jim                Chester, Pa                      ND   6
Apr 15 Jim Kohler                 Philadelphia, Pa                 KO   1
May  6 Kid Allen                  Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
May  9 Kid Allen                  Chester, Pa                      ND   6
May 16 Mexican Jim                Chester, Pa                      ND   6
Jun 23 Rosario "Kid" Locke        Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Jun 27 George "Young" Mack        Chester, Pa                      ND   6
Jul  7 Griff Jones                Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Sep  5 George "Young" Mack        Chester, Pa                      ND   6
Sep  8 "Philadelphia" Jimmy Devine Philadelphia, Pa                ND   6
Sep  9 Griff Jones                Philadelphia, Pa                 NC   3
Sep 26 George "Young" Mack        Chester, Pa                      ND   6
Oct  3 Joe "Kid" Tyler            Chester, Pa                      ND   6
Oct 10 Mexican Jim                Chester, Pa                      KO   4
Oct 17 Fighting Maloney           Chester, Pa                      KO   4
Oct 29 Johnny Allen               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Nov  4 Joe Jackson                Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Nov  5 Joe "Kid" Tyler            Philadelphia, Pa                 TK   1
Nov  9 George Walker              Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Nov 13 Eddie Cody                 Philadelphia, Pa                 TK   6
Nov 19 Jim Bonner                 Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Nov 21 Rosario "Kid" Locke        Reading, Pa                       D  10
Nov 23 Jack Durane                Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Nov 26 Chester Goodwin            Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Dec 10 Johnny Dohan               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Dec 14 Buffalo Sunflower          Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6

1905
Jan  2 Tommy Lowe                 Glen Echo, Md                     D  15
Jan  7 Jack Cardiff               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Jan 24 Eddie Hanlon               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Jan 31 George "Kid" Decker        Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Feb 13 Tim Callahan               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Feb 17 Tony Moran                 Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Feb 22 Jim Bonner                 Pottsville, Pa                    W  15
Mar 13 Kid Sullivan               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Mar 17 Tommy "Kid" Love           Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Mar 25 Maurice Thompson           Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Apr 28 Kid Herman                 Baltimore, Md                     D  15
May  6 Aurelio Herrera            Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
May 19 Benny Yanger               Baltimore, Md                    TK   1
May 27 Young Erne                 Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Jun  3 Willie Fitzgerald          Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Jun 20 Young Erne                 Leiperville, Pa                   L  10
Jul  8 Abe "Kid" Goodman          Chelsea, Ma                       L  15
Aug  7 Young Erne                 Leiperville, Pa                   L  15
Aug 21 Young Donahue              Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Aug 24 Rosario "Kid" Locke        Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Aug 28 Sammy Smith                Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Sep  7 Young Erne                 Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Sep 22 Kid Sullivan               Baltimore, Md                     L  15
Sep 28 Jack Dorman                Chelsea, Ma                      TK   4
          -Some sources report "Jack Roller"
Oct 21 John "Unk" Russell         Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Oct 30 Young Donahue              Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Nov  9 John "Unk" Russell         Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Nov 16 Herman "Kid" Stein         Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Dec  4 Arthur Cote                Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Dec  5 Tommy Connelly             Reading, Pa                       W  10
Dec 25 Maurice Sayers             Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6

1906
Jan 13 Harry Edels                Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Jan 25 Willie Lewis               New York, NY                     ND   3
Feb  1 Ambrose "Amby" McGarry     New York, NY                     ND   3
Feb 10 Jimmy Gardner              Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Feb 24 Adam Ryan                  Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Mar 10 Jimmy Gardner              Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Mar 31 Willie Fitzgerald          Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
May 12 Willie Fitzgerald          Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Jun 15 Joe Gans                   Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Jun 28 T. Prendergast             Grand Rapids, Mi                 TK   4
Jul 12 Jimmy Briggs               Grand Rapids, Mi                  W  10
Aug  9 Maurice Sayers             Grand Rapids, Mi                 LF   6
Sep  3 Jimmy Briggs               Saginaw, Mi                       W  15
Sep 13 Kid Herrick                Grand Rapids, Mi                 KO   3
Sep 29 Joe Thomas                 Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Oct 13 Willie Fitzgerald          Philadelphia, Pa                 KO   2
Oct 19 Jack Dougherty             Milwaukee, Wi                     W  10
Nov  3 Willie Fitzgerald          Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Nov 15 Mike Ward                  Grand Rapids, Mi                 KO   9

1907
Jan 22 Rube Smith                 Denver, Co                       KO   8
Feb 21 Mike "Twin" Sullivan       Denver, Co                        W  10
Feb 28 Jim Perry                  Pueblo, Co                       TK   6
May 21 Jimmy Gardner              Denver, Co                        L  10
Jun  8 Tommy Sullivan             Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Jun 13 Jack Roller                Philadelphia, Pa                 KO   4
Jun 20 Billy Griffiths            Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Jun 22 Dave Deshler               Philadelphia, Pa                 TK   2
Jul  1 Billy Griffiths            New York, NY                     KO   2
Jul 16 Jack Goldswain             Philadelphia, Pa                 TK   5
Jul 25 Rosario "Kid" Locke        Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   3
Jul 25 Boxer Kelly                Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   3
Aug  8 Rosario "Kid" Locke        Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   3
Aug  8 Boxer Kelly                Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   3
Oct  3 Cub White                  Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   3
Oct  3 Herman "Kid" Stein         Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   3
Oct 17 Cub White                  Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Nov  1 Mike Donovan               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Nov 20 Jack Blackburn             Philadelphia, P                  ND   6
Dec 16 Terry Martin               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Dec 23 Pat O'Keefe                Chelsea, Ma                       W  12

1908
Jan 23 Frank Mantell              New Haven, Ct                    KO   3
          -Lewis claimed the Welterweight Championship of the World
Feb 15 Terry Martin               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Feb 20 Charles Hitte              New York, NY                     ND   6
Mar 26 Terry Martin               Baltimore, Md                     W  15
          -Welterweight Championship of the World
Apr 20 Billy "Honey" Mellody      Boston, Ma                       KO   4
          -Welterweight Championship of the World
Apr 27 Larry Conley               Augusta, Me                      KO   3
May  9 John "Unk" Russell         Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
May 19 Charles Hitte              New York, NY                     ND   6
May 23 John "Unk" Russell         Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Jun  9 Willie Lewis               New York, NY                     ND   6
Jun 23 Larry Temple               Boston, Ma                        W  12
Jun 29 Jim Donovan                Bangor, Me                        W   6
Jul 14 John "Unk" Russell         Bangor, Me                        D   6
Sep  7 John "Unk" Russell         Boston, Ma                        W  12
Sep 25 Terry Martin               New York, NY                     TK   5
Oct  1 John "Unk" Russell         Pittsburgh, Pa                   ND   6
Dec 14 Willie Lewis               New Haven, Ct                    ND  12

1909
Jan  5 Harry Mansfield            Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Feb  2 Bill McKinnon              Boston, Ma                        L  12
Mar  6 Tommy Sullivan             Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Mar 18 George Krall               Philadelphia, Pa                 KO   1
Mar 18 Johnny Dugan               Philadelphia, Pa                 TK   2
Mar 26 Terry Martin               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Apr 24 Frank Klaus                Philadelphia, Pa                 LF   6
Jun 24 Harry Mansfield            Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Jul 26 Tommy Crawford             Williamsport, Pa                 KO   2
Sep  3 Harry Mansfield            Williamsport, Pa                  W  10
Oct  6 Harry Mansfield            Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Oct 13 Eddie Chambers             Philadelphia, Pa                 TK   1
Oct 19 Dan Sullivan               Boston, Ma                       KO   1
Nov 27 Frank Klaus                Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6

1910
Jan 11 Howard Baker               Denver, Co                        W  10
Feb 19 Willie Lewis               Paris, France                     D  25
          -Welterweight Championship of the World
Mar 12 Charles Hitte              Paris, France                    LF   4
Apr 23 Willie Lewis               Paris, France                     D  25
          -Welterweight Championship of the World
May  4 Peter Brown                Paris, France                    KO   3
May 19 Bill Davies                Paris, France                    KO   1
May 19 Bert Ropert                Paris, France                    KO   2
May 19 Bob Scanlon                Paris, France                    WF   2
          -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
Jun 11 Sam Harris                 Paris, France                    KO   2
Jun 27 Young Joseph               London, England                  TK   7
          -Welterweight Championship of the World;
           Some sources report "W 7"
Aug 23 Leo Houck                  Boston, Ma                        L  12
Sep  2 Harry Mansfield            New York, NY                     ND  10
Sep 17 Leo Houck                  Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Oct 21 Billy Glover               New York, NY                     TK   5
Oct 28 Yough Loughrey             Philadelphia, Pa                 ND   6
Nov  7 Dick Nelson                Schenectady, NY                  KO   2
Dec 14 Jeff Thorne                Paris, France                    KO   1

1911
Jan 25 Johnny Summers             London, England                  KO   4
          -Welterweight Championship of the World
Feb  1 Blink McCloskey            Paris, France                    TK   3
Feb 13 "Private" Jim Harris       London, England                  TK   5
Feb 18 Seaman Hulls               Plymouth, England                KO   5
Feb 22 Blink McCloskey            Paris, France                     W  25
Mar 13 Arthur Harman              London, England                  KO   2
May  3 Leo Houck                  Paris, France                     L  20
May 27 George Gunther             Paris, France                     L  20
Oct  9 Goerge "K.O." Brown        Memphis, Tn                       D   8
Dec 13 Georges Carpentier         Paris, France                     L  20

1912
Jan 18 Dixie Kid (Aaron Brown)    Liverpool, England               TK   8
Mar 28 Harry Mansfield            Liverpool, England                W  20
Apr 30 Seaman Brown               Birmingham, England              KO   2
May 13 Private Palmer             Liverpool, England                L  20
Jun 10 Johnny Mathieson           Birmingham, England               L  20
Dec 26 Johnny Mathieson           Liverpool, England               TK   3

1913
Jan 30 Jerry Thompson             Liverpool, England               KO  14
Mar 17 Jack Harrison              London, England                  KO   3
Oct 13 Joe Borrell                Philadelphia, Pa                 LT   5
          -Lewis collapsed during this bout and decided
          to retire from the ring

*** The Following Bout Is Reported But Not Confirmed ***

1904
       Robert "Bert" Keyes        Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
          -Some sources report "Chester, Pa"
          Griff Jones                Chester, Pa                      ND  6

Review courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
*** Photo (Below) From Nigel Harding, Great Grandson of Harry Duncan ***