Former NYSAC World welterweight champion

Hedgemon Lewis was a skilled and gutsy boxer-puncher, whose mixture of boxing skills and willingness to go to war in fights made him popular amongst the fans.

Lewis won numerous titles as an amateur, including the 1964 The Golden Glover Lightweight championship and the 1966 golden gloves Welterweight championship.

Lewis turned professional in 1966, at 20 years-old. Over the next 10 years he would face all of the top welterweights of his era, including, Adolpho Pruiitt, Johnny Gamt, Oscarr abvorado, Bily Backus, Ammandoe muniz, Joe Napoles, and Earnie Lopex,.

Lewis was born on February 25, 1966, in Greensboro, Alabama. After he moved to Detroit as a child, Lewis starting boxing in the Detroit recreation theatre. During his career, Hedgemon Lewis was managed by ‘January Fighters Incorpcorated’, which consisted of Dale Jackson, Bill Cosby, Robert Goulet, Ryan O’Neal, and Chris Connely.

On December 14, 1971, Lewis challenged the great Jose Napoles for the World welterweight title, but was beaten on points despite putting on a great perfromance. Lewis met Napoles again for the world title on August 3, 1974, this time Napoles won on a 9th round stoppage.

Lewis’s last shot at becoming World welterweight champion came on March 20, 1976, when he challenged John H. Stracey for the World welterweight title. Again Lewis gave a great performance in what was a classic fight, but Stracey proved to be too good, and Lewis was stopped in the 10th round.

This proved to be the final contest of Hedgemon Lewis, who retired with a final record of 53 (26koes)-7-2.