Matt Wells (boxer) explained

Mat Wells
Weight:Lightweight
Welterweight
Height:5feet
Birth Date:1886 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Walworth, London
Death Place:London, England
Style:Orthodox
Total:86
Wins:50
Ko:7
Losses:30
Draws:3
No Contests:3

Matthew Wells (14 December 1886 – 27 June 1953) was a British professional boxer in the lightweight and welterweight divisions. In 1911, he held the Lightweight Championship of Great Britain, and in 1914 he claimed the Welterweight Championship of Britain and the Welterweight Championship of the World.

Biography

He was born in Walworth, London on 4 December 1886 and died in London on 27 June 1953.

Amateur career

During his amateur career, he held the Amateur Boxing Association British featherweight title, when boxing out of the Lynn ABC, from 1904 to 1907.[1]

Competing in the Olympics

He competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. In the lightweight event he was eliminated in the quarter-finals after losing to Frederick Grace who later won the gold medal.[2]

Professional career

1911 British title

Wells turned pro in 1909. On 27 February 1911, at the National Sporting Club in London he defeated Freddie Welsh in a twenty-round bout to win the lightweight championship of Great Britain and take home the Lonsdale belt, becoming the first Jewish boxer to hold the honor. The win simultaneously bestowed the EBU's (European Boxing Union) lightweight championship.[3] [4] [5]

On 2 June 1911, he defeated the great Jewish New York boxer Leach Cross at the Harlem Casino in New York by newspaper decision. The Montreal Gazette noted that the "bout went the full ten rounds, Wells having all the better of it." The New York Times agreed with the decision of the Gazette.[5] Wells delivered two hard blows in the ninth that proved his hitting power against a boxer who was noted for exceptional defensive skills.[6]

Remarkably, only three weeks after defeating Leach Cross, Wells defeated highly rated boxer "Philadelphia" Pal Moore on 24 June 1911 in a twelve round points decision at the Armory in Boston.[5] Moore fought a host of champions in his career.

Wells defeated "Knockout" Brown before an enthusiastic crowd as large as 14,000 on 30 August 1911 in a ten round newspaper decision at New York's famed Madison Square Garden. The bout was so popular, swarms of onlookers waiting to get in broke through the windows to gain entry. Wells employed a cool, well calculated defense which baffled Brown throughout the bout. Brown could not defend against Wells's left jab which played about his face at great speed, helping Wells to take as many as seven rounds.[7] [8] The match was one of the first legal boxing matches in New York that allowed the purchase of tickets rather than a membership in a club, and the Garden was packed with fans. A near riot occurred as those who were turned away rushed into the auditorium to try to purchase additional tickets to obtain seating. Ten thousand were inside the Garden, with an additional five thousand outside hoping to obtain seats.[9] Wells used his right almost at will throughout the bout, and dodged the blows of Brown by shifting his body or back stepping with exceptional speed. Brown used an effective left and got in some strong blows to Wells's face, but they rarely fazed Wells, nor slowed his attack. He wisely crowded Brown in the tenth to avoid a long range haymaker that might cause a knockout.[10]

On 26 April 1912 he lost to the exceptional American boxer Packey McFarland at Madison Square Garden, in Manhattan, New York City. The Boston Globe considered McFarland the better boxer in each of the ten rounds, scoring with frequent right uppercuts to the face and body. As he repeatedly but cautiously found openings to use his right, McFarland allowed Wells to remain the aggressor with head down through much of the fight.[11] In major competition, McFarland was nearly undefeated, yet never managed to win a title.[12] [13]

Wells impressively defeated reigning World Featherweight Champion Abe Attell on 20 September 1911 in New York. Attell was nearing the end of his ten-year reign as champion and his bout with Wells was not made a title fight partly because he was outweighed by Wells. The Pittsburgh Press wrote the fight was "the greatest exhibition of scientific boxing that has been seen here in years. The Press went on to note that "although Attell was clearly outpointed, his defeat was not a disgrace or anything like it for Wells was heavier, stronger, taller, and had a longer reach."[5] [14]

Wells defeated British boxer and former claimant of the 1907 British sanctioned World Bantamweight championship Owen Moran on 27 September 1913 in Sydney Stadium in Australia. Moran was a former contender for the World Featherweight championship against Abe Attell on New Years Day 1908 in Colma, California, but failed to knockout Attell in 25 rounds.

Wells defeated American Ray Bronson, former holder of the World Welterweight Championship, in a seventh round technical knockout in Sydney, Australia on 28 February 1914. Wells "inflicted severe punishment on the American" and his seconds threw in the towel at the end of the seventh round. Bronson, who considered retiring after the loss, would not fight again for a decade, and then retire.[15] [16]

1914 title wins

On 21 March 1914 he won the Welterweight Championship of Britain and Welterweight Championship of the World by defeating Tom McCormick in a 20-round points decision at Sydney Stadium in New South Wales, Australia. On 1 June 1915, he lost the welterweight title to Mike Glover in a twelve-round decision at the arena in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe noted that Wells lacked the power he usually showed in his punch but was ready to mix with Glover, who had he been fighting less cautiously may have scored a knockout.[17] Wells competed for the British title again unsuccessfully against Johnny Basham on 13 November 1919 in Holborn Stadium in London.[5]

Wells lost decisively to future World Feather and Junior Lightweight champion Johnny Dundee in a twelve round points decision in Boston on 16 May 1916. In the one sided affair, Dundee jabbed and hooked Wells to the face and body throughout the bout. Dundee showed great blocking during the infighting where he also scored frequently and used fast footwork to elude punches.[18] Wells had previously lost to Dundee in a twelve round points decision before 3,500 fans on 10 December 1915 in New Haven that featured skilled blocking and countering throughout, but in which Dundee, the aggressor, always seemed to have the advantage.[19]

Wells succumbed to his only knockout on 11 July 1916, from the talented Chicago lightweight Charley White. In the fifth round, Wells' manager Danny Morgan stepped in to stop the fight. Wells was dazed by a left to the chest in the third round, though he fought on. At the end of the fourth, White caught Wells with a right hook as he rushed forward, putting him on the canvas for a count of five. He was down again for a count of eight from a left to the jaw. On the opening of the fifth, White went after Wells holding him with his right and battering him with his left. Wells's manager ended the bout a minute into the round.[20]

1919 title fight

Wells lost to Johnny Basham for the BBofC Welterweight Championship and the Commonwealth Welterweight Championship in a twenty round points decision in Holborn, England on 13 November 1919. The bloody affair involved too much clinching by Basham, and a too frequent use of head butts by Wells. By the eleventh, Wells, the older boxer by four years, was beginning to show signs of fatigue, but he never failed to mix when required. With a clear advantage, Basham excelled in long range fighting, having a reach advantage of several inches, but he seemed to have the better of the infighting as well. The eighteenth through twentieth rounds were all Basham's, who added to an already significant advantage in points, and though Wells took a beating and his face was bloody by the later rounds, he remained on his feet throughout the match.[21] Wells had formerly lost to Basham in a fifteen round points decision at the London Opera House on 22 March 1915. Welsh had gained a bit of weight prior to the match which may have affected his speed, and Basham had continued to improve his skills in the previous year.[22]

On 26 December 1919, Wells lost to the accomplished English boxer Ted "Kid" Lewis in twelve of twenty rounds at Royal Albert Hall in Kensington. Lewis and Charley White became the only two boxers in Welles's career to stop him before the end of a fight.[3] [5] Taking a serious beating, Wells's face was cut badly and his nose was broken, before he gave up the unequal struggle in the twelfth.[23]

He was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

Professional boxing record

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec,[24] unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
86Win31–18–2 Jack HartPTS15May 12, 1922
85Win30–18–2 Stanley GlenPTS15Apr 17, 1922
84Loss29–18–2 Ted MoorePTS15Dec 29, 1921
83Win29–17–2 Clement CarlosTKO13 (15)Oct 31, 1921
82Loss28–17–2 Seaman Nobby HallPTS15Aug 31, 1921
81Win28–16–2 Joe DavisTKO10 (15)Dec 11, 1920
80Win27–16–2 Kid PlestedKO6 (15)Nov 27, 1920
79Loss26–16–2 Ted MooreDQ13 (20)Aug 7, 1920
78Win26–15–2 Joe AttwoodTKO5 (20)Jun 26, 1920
77Win25–15–2 Gus PlattsPTS20Jun 12, 1920
76Win24–15–2 Fred NewberryPTS20Jun 4, 1920
75Win23–15–2 Bermondsey Billy WellsDQ15 (20)May 8, 1920
74Loss22–15–2 Ted MoorePTS20Apr 24, 1920
73Loss22–14–2 Phil BloomPTS15Mar 18, 1920
72Loss22–13–2 Ted Kid LewisRTD12 (20)Dec 26, 1919
71Loss22–12–2 Johnny BashamPTS20Nov 13, 1919
70Win22–11–2 Kid CarterPTS20Oct 20, 1919
69Win21–11–2 Harlem Eddie KellyPTS12Oct 29, 1917
68Win20–11–2 Young MaxwellDQ4 (?)Oct 9, 1917
6719–11–2 Charley WhiteNC9 (10)Oct 5, 1917
66Win19–11–2 Frankie NelsonNWS10Sep 28, 1917
65Loss19–11–2 Bryan DowneyNWS12Sep 17, 1917
64Loss19–11–2 Bryan DowneyNWS10Aug 27, 1917
63Win19–11–2 Kid CurleyNWS10Jun 19, 1917
62Win19–11–2 Phil BloomNWS10Jun 16, 1917
61Win19–11–2 Walter MohrNWS10Jun 11, 1917
60Loss19–11–2 Lockport Jimmy DuffyPTS10May 25, 1917
59Win19–11–2 Walter MohrNWS10May 1, 1917
58Loss19–11–2 Lockport Jimmy DuffyNWS10Apr 10, 1917
57Loss19–11–2 Charley WhiteTKO5 (12)Jul 11, 1916
56Loss19–10–2 Frankie MackNWS10Jun 9, 1916
55Loss19–10–2 Johnny DundeePTS12May 16, 1916
54Win19–9–2 Eddie MurphyPTS12Apr 18, 1916
53Loss18–9–2 Charley WhitePTS15Apr 6, 1916
52Loss18–8–2 Charley WhiteNWS10Mar 20, 1916
51Loss18–8–2 Johnny GriffithsNWS12Feb 29, 1916
50Win18–8–2 Charley WhitePTS12Jan 4, 1916
49Loss17–8–2 Johnny DundeePTS12Dec 10, 1915
48Loss17–7–2 Johnny GriffithsNWS12Nov 29, 1915
47Loss17–7–2 Steve LatzoNWS6Nov 25, 1915
46Win17–7–2 Young Abe BrownNWS10Nov 19, 1915
45Win17–7–2 Charley WhiteNWS10Oct 29, 1915
44Win17–7–2 Willie SchaeferNWS10Aug 7, 1915
43Draw17–7–2 Young NeilNWS10Jul 13, 1915
42Loss17–7–2 Mike GloverPTS12Jun 1, 1915
41Loss17–6–2 Johnny BashamPTS15Mar 22, 1915
40Win17–5–2 Gus PlattsPTS15Jan 21, 1915
39Win16–5–2 Young NipperPTS15Oct 12, 1914
38Win15–5–2 Tom McCormickPTS20Mar 21, 1914
37Win14–5–2 Ray BronsonTKO7 (20)Feb 28, 1914
36Loss13–5–2 Herb McCoyPTS20Jan 17, 1914
35Loss13–4–2 Harry StonePTS20Nov 29, 1913
34Loss13–3–2 Hughie MeheganPTS20Nov 3, 1913
33Win13–2–2 Owen MoranPTS20Sep 27, 1913
32Win12–2–2 Hughie MeheganPTS20Aug 9, 1913
31Win11–2–2 Hughie MeheganPTS20Feb 24, 1913
30Win10–2–2 Johnny BashamKO7 (15)Dec 26, 1912
29Loss9–2–2 Freddie WelshPTS20Nov 11, 1912
28Loss9–1–2 Hughie MeheganDQ14 (20)Sep 16, 1912
27Loss9–0–2 Bobby WilsonNWS10Jun 7, 1912
26Win9–0–2 Young Abe BrownNWS10Jun 5, 1912
25Loss9–0–2 Packey McFarlandNWS10Apr 26, 1912
24Win9–0–2 Billy DonovanKO5 (10)Oct 5, 1911
23Win8–0–2 Abe AttellNWS10Sep 20, 1911
22Win8–0–2 Knockout BrownNWS10Aug 30, 1911
21Win8–0–2 Willie MoodyNWS6Jul 28, 1911
20Win8–0–2 Dick HylandNWS10Jul 19, 1911
19Win8–0–2 Philadelphia Pal MoorePTS12Jun 24, 1911
18Win7–0–2 Leach CrossNWS10Jun 2, 1911
17Win7–0–2 Freddie WelshPTS20Feb 27, 1911
16Win6–0–2 Jimmy HowardDQ9 (10)Sep 13, 1910
15Loss5–0–2 Paddy SullivanNWS10Aug 8, 1910
13Win5–0–2 Johnny DohanNWS10Jul 19, 1910
12Win5–0–2 Nick MullerNWS8Jul 8, 1910
11Win5–0–2 Billy LearyNWS10Jul 5, 1910
10Win5–0–2 Charley LawrenceNWS10Jun 28, 1910
9Win5–0–2 Mark AndersonNWS10May 25, 1910
8Win5–0–2 Smiling Eddie KellyNWS8May 5, 1910
7Draw5–0–2Young NipperPTS6Apr 14, 1910
6Win5–0–1Jack TurnerPTS20Mar 14, 1910
5Win4–0–1Sid StaggPTS10Feb 19, 1910
4Draw3–0–1Dick LeePTS6Jan 10, 1910
3Win3–0Gunner HartPTS6Jan 1, 1910
2Win2–0Bob RussellPTS10Dec 20, 1909
1Win1–0Battling LacroixPTS10Nov 1, 1909

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
86Win51–30–3 Jack HartPTS15May 12, 1922
85Win50–30–3 Stanley GlenPTS15Apr 17, 1922
84Loss49–30–3 Ted MoorePTS15Dec 29, 1921
83Win49–29–3 Clement CarlosTKO13 (15)Oct 31, 1921
82Loss48–29–3 Seaman Nobby HallPTS15Aug 31, 1921
81Win48–28–3 Joe DavisTKO10 (15)Dec 11, 1920
80Win47–28–3 Kid PlestedKO6 (15)Nov 27, 1920
79Loss46–28–3 Ted MooreDQ13 (20)Aug 7, 1920
78Win46–27–3 Joe AttwoodTKO5 (20)Jun 26, 1920
77Win45–27–3 Gus PlattsPTS20Jun 12, 1920
76Win44–27–3 Fred NewberryPTS20Jun 4, 1920
75Win43–27–3 Bermondsey Billy WellsDQ15 (20)May 8, 1920
74Loss42–27–3 Ted MoorePTS20Apr 24, 1920
73Loss42–26–3 Phil BloomPTS15Mar 18, 1920
72Loss42–25–3 Ted Kid LewisRTD12 (20)Dec 26, 1919
71Loss42–24–3 Johnny BashamPTS20Nov 13, 1919
70Win42–23–3 Kid CarterPTS20Oct 20, 1919
69Win41–23–3 Harlem Eddie KellyPTS12Oct 29, 1917
68Win40–23–3 Young MaxwellDQ4 (?)Oct 9, 1917
6739–23–3 Charley WhiteNC9 (10)Oct 5, 1917
66Win39–23–3 Frankie NelsonNWS10Sep 28, 1917
65Loss38–23–3 Bryan DowneyNWS12Sep 17, 1917
64Loss38–22–3 Bryan DowneyNWS10Aug 27, 1917
63Win38–21–3 Kid CurleyNWS10Jun 19, 1917
62Win37–21–3 Phil BloomNWS10Jun 16, 1917
61Win36–21–3 Walter MohrNWS10Jun 11, 1917
60Loss35–21–3 Lockport Jimmy DuffyPTS10May 25, 1917
59Win35–20–3 Walter MohrNWS10May 1, 1917
58Loss34–20–3 Lockport Jimmy DuffyNWS10Apr 10, 1917
57Loss34–19–3 Charley WhiteTKO5 (12)Jul 11, 1916
56Loss34–18–3 Frankie MackNWS10Jun 9, 1916
55Loss34–17–3 Johnny DundeePTS12May 16, 1916
54Win34–16–3 Eddie MurphyPTS12Apr 18, 1916
53Loss33–16–3 Charley WhitePTS15Apr 6, 1916
52Loss33–15–3 Charley WhiteNWS10Mar 20, 1916
51Loss33–14–3 Johnny GriffithsNWS12Feb 29, 1916
50Win33–13–3 Charley WhitePTS12Jan 4, 1916
49Loss32–13–3 Johnny DundeePTS12Dec 10, 1915
48Loss32–12–3 Johnny GriffithsNWS12Nov 29, 1915
47Loss32–11–3 Steve LatzoNWS6Nov 25, 1915
46Win32–10–3 Young Abe BrownNWS10Nov 19, 1915
45Win31–10–3 Charley WhiteNWS10Oct 29, 1915
44Win30–10–3 Willie SchaeferNWS10Aug 7, 1915
43Draw29–10–3 Young NeilNWS10Jul 13, 1915
42Loss29–10–2 Mike GloverPTS12Jun 1, 1915
41Loss29–9–2 Johnny BashamPTS15Mar 22, 1915
40Win29–8–2 Gus PlattsPTS15Jan 21, 1915
39Win28–8–2 Young NipperPTS15Oct 12, 1914
3827–8–2 George MackND4Oct 5, 1914
37Win27–8–2Tom McCormickPTS20Mar 21, 1914
36Win26–8–2Ray BronsonTKO7 (20)Feb 28, 1914
35Loss25–8–2Herb McCoyPTS20Jan 17, 1914
34Loss25–7–2Harry StonePTS20Nov 29, 1913
33Loss25–6–2Hughie MeheganPTS20Nov 3, 1913
32Win25–5–2Owen MoranPTS20Sep 27, 1913
31Win24–5–2Hughie MeheganPTS20Aug 9, 1913
30Win23–5–2Hughie MeheganPTS20Feb 24, 1913
29Win22–5–2Johnny BashamKO7 (15)Dec 26, 1912
28Loss21–5–2Freddie WelshPTS20Nov 11, 1912
27Loss21–4–2Hughie MeheganDQ14 (20)Sep 16, 1912
26Loss21–3–2Bobby WilsonNWS10Jun 7, 1912
25Win21–2–2Young Abe BrownNWS10Jun 5, 1912
24Loss20–2–2Packey McFarlandNWS10Apr 26, 1912
23Win20–1–2Billy DonovanKO5 (10)Oct 5, 1911
22Win19–1–2Abe AttellNWS10Sep 20, 1911
21Win18–1–2Knockout BrownNWS10Aug 30, 1911
20Win17–1–2Willie MoodyNWS6Jul 28, 1911
19Win16–1–2Dick HylandNWS10Jul 19, 1911
18Win15–1–2Philadelphia Pal MoorePTS12Jun 24, 1911
17Win14–1–2Leach CrossNWS10Jun 2, 1911
16Win13–1–2Freddie WelshPTS20Feb 27, 1911
15Win12–1–2Jimmy HowardDQ9 (10)Sep 13, 1910
14Loss11–1–2Paddy SullivanNWS10Aug 8, 1910
13Win11–0–2Johnny DohanNWS10Jul 19, 1910
12Win10–0–2Nick MullerNWS8Jul 8, 1910
11Win9–0–2Billy LearyNWS10Jul 5, 1910
10Win8–0–2Charley LawrenceNWS10Jun 28, 1910
9Win7–0–2Mark AndersonNWS10May 25, 1910
8Win6–0–2Smiling Eddie KellyNWS8May 5, 1910
7Draw5–0–2Young NipperPTS6Apr 14, 1910
6Win5–0–1Jack TurnerPTS20Mar 14, 1910
5Win4–0–1Sid StaggPTS10Feb 19, 1910
4Draw3–0–1Dick LeePTS6Jan 10, 1910
3Win3–0Gunner HartPTS6Jan 1, 1910
2Win2–0Bob RussellPTS10Dec 20, 1909
1Win1–0Battling LacroixPTS10Nov 1, 1909

See also

External links

Major titles

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Roll of Honour. England Boxing. 14 January 2022.
  2. Web site: Matt Wells . Olympedia . 18 March 2021.
  3. Silver, Mike (2016). Stars of the Ring, Published by Rowman and Littlefield, Los Angeles, pps. 86-7.
  4. News: Twenty-round Fight. Matt Wells Lightweight Champion of Great Britain . Matt Wells won a twenty round fight tonight from Fred Welsh for the lightweight championship of Great Britain and the Lonsdale belt The ... . . 28 February 1911 . 7 November 2010 .
  5. Web site: Mat Wells BoxRec record. BoxRec. 12 June 2015.
  6. "Mat Wells Won", The Gazette (Montreal), Montreal, Canada, pg. 4, 3 June 1911.
  7. "Wells Victor in the Fight", El Paso Times, El Paso, Texas, pg. 7, 31 August 1911.
  8. Brown took as many as seven rounds, K.O. Brown No Match for Wells, The Post-Star Gazette, pg. 1, 31 August 1911
  9. "Mob Battles in Rain to See Prizefight", The New York Times, New York, New York, pg. 1, 31 August 1911
  10. Rice, Thomas, "Wells, Most Versatile of Boxers Easily Outpoints K.O. Brown", The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, pg. 10, 31 August 1911
  11. "McFarland Makes Wells Appear Like a Novice", The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, pg. 6, 27 April 1912
  12. News: Packey M'Farland Whips Matt Wells. English Lightweight Champion Outclassed by Chicago Stock Yards Boxer. . Packey McFarland of Chicago removed all doubts as to how he compares as a boxer with Matt Wells, the English lightweight champion, at Madison Square Garden ... . . 27 April 1912 . 7 November 2010 .
  13. [Packey McFarland]
  14. "Attell Beaten in Classy Bout with Matt Wells", The Pittsburgh Press, pg. 38, Pittsburgh, PA., 21 September 1911.
  15. "Matt Wells Hands Bronson A Bad Beating", Vancouver Daily World, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, pg. 10, 2 March 1914
  16. Bronson retired in "Ray Bronson Retires", Evening Star, Washington, D.C., pg. 18, 31 March 1914
  17. "Glover Whips Matt Wells", Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, pg. 6, 2 June 1915
  18. "Wells Gets Lacing From Johnny Dundee", The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, pg. 8, 17 May 1916
  19. "Dundee Winner Over Matt Wells", The Bridgeport Times and Evening Farmer, Bridgeport, Connecticut, pg. 8, 11 December 1915
  20. The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, pg. 6, 12 July 1916
  21. "Boxing at the Stadium", The Times, Greater London, England, pg. 32, 14 November 1919
  22. "Wells Anxious to Gain Crown", Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls, Montana, pg. 17, 21 March 1915
  23. "Stop the Bout to Save Wells", The Bridgeport Telegram, "American Fighters Clean Up in London Bouts", The Bridgeport Telegram, pg. 18, 27 December 1919
  24. Web site: BoxRec: Matt Wells.

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